Antigone Paper

Creon's persona in this play is that of a person so stubborn, that that stubbornness can make one guilty of causing death. Creon is depicted as a person who is so sure of them selves that they cant tell a good decision from a bad one. Creon's poor decision making skills and outright stubborn attitude cause deaths and for himself and others, and it takes many people to change just one ill-fated decision.

Creon's decision to not have Polyneices body buried is a decision that will eventually cause the demise of his rule. It's silly how he orders this to happen without thinking about the consquences of it. Creon doesnt realize how important it is to Antigone that her brothers body be buried and how set she is to do it, even if it causes her death. "Such, 'tis said, is the edict that the good Creon hath set forth for thee and for me,-yes, for me,-and is coming hither to proclaim it clearly to those who know it not; nor counts the matter light, but, whoso disobeys in aught, his doom is death by stoning before all the folk. Thou knowest it now; and thou wilt soon show whether thou art nobly bred, or the base daughter of a noble line." (Sophocles). Creon is so sure of his decision that he shakes off any suggestion that he change his mind about his sentecing of Antigone for doing what was right. He finally relents and realizes that he should release Antigone, but that decision came too late. The consequences of his actions already took place, and the fact that he could have chaged the outcome just by listening to others is the biggest flaw in Creons character and the fact that his poorly made decisions makes him guilty of the deaths of Antigone, Haimon, and his wife.

Creon may have, given in to changing his mind and giving the order to let Antigone free, but the decision to have her imprisoned is the one problem that causes death. He was so caught up in his own pride and his image of great glory for thebes that he made the law to punish anyone who buried that traito Polyneices. That one law causes the death of his family, and he later realizes his fatal mistake. "Ah me, this guilt can never be fixed on any other of mortal kind, for my acquittal! I, even I, was thy slayer, wretched that I am-I own the truth. Lead me away, O my servants, lead me hence with all speed, whose life is but as death! " (Sophocles).

Creons stubbornness and self pride are the causes of his terrible desicion making skills and the main but second hand cause for the deaths of Antigone, Haimon and Creons wife. Those two characteristics and the results of them are the reason why Creon is guilty of those deaths.