The Responsibility Of Creon In Sophocles Antigone

In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Creon has recently been appointed as king of Thebes due to the recent deaths of his nephews, Polyneices and Eteocles. Although he is new to the throne, he proves himself to be an extraordinarily well rounded king, simultaneously being reasonable, fair, and good to the City of Thebes, as well as his own family. Through his actions and words it is as clear that he wants simply the best for those around him. He also makes decisions for the interest of not only himself, but others. Creon is a good, reasonable, and fair king to his family and the City of Thebes by not sentencing Antigone to death, not allowing Polyneices to be buried, and imprisoning Antigone despite her being family. Creon proves himself to …show more content…
“I will carry her far away, out in the wilderness, and lock her living in a vault of stone.” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 844). By imprisoning rather than killing her, the City of Thebes will no longer be in sorrow over her death. This event reveals that Creon’s character is sympathetic. He is sympathetic towards Antigone by giving her a chance to live, despite her disobedience, and sympathetic towards the City of Thebes, by sparing them the sorrow of losing one of their own. Creon proves himself to be a reasonable king by not allowing Polyneices to be buried. After the death of their father Oedipus, Polyneices and Eteocles assumed the throne. The two share the throne, ruling in alternate years. The system functioned well, until Eteocles refused to give up the throne when the time came to. This causes a brawl between the two siblings, one that ended in bloodshed and a very cruel death for both. Creon assumes the throne after this incident quicker than lightning. He proclaims that there be a law against the burial of the brother Polyneices. The reason for this is that Polyneices did not die fighting for his country, but fighting against his native city. “No traitor is going to be honored with a loyal man” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 820). This law also is placed due to the death Polyneices caused his son, Megareus. Megareus was tragically killed in battle that was commanded by Polyneices, which would cause Creon to have an already strong hatred towards him. This decree is absolutely reasonable, as it is simply letting a guilty man receive the punishment that he deserves while in the afterlife, and a loyal man receive the proper burial that he deserves. This event reveals that Creon’s character rules with head and heart. He rules with his head by logically not giving Polyneices a proper burial due to his unfavorable actions before his death, and rules with his heart because of the death Polyneices caused his son,