According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “a person or thing that contrasts with and so emphasizes and enhances the qualities of another” is a foil. The play Antigone by Sophocles has a strong example of foils. Antigone is a play about the daughter of Oedipus Rex. She breaks a law made by her uncle Creon and buries her dead brother. She receives punishment for her actions and, consequently, dies. Antigone and Creon have differing motivations, making them foils of each other. Their interactions expose Creon’s tragic flaw of wanting power over love, making him a tragic hero and highlighting the play’s theme that loyalty to one’s family is more important than authority. One of the many differences between Antigone and Creon is their motivations.
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The gods and family are not as important to him as the law. His idea of justice is mortal, not immortal, so when Creon confronts Antigone for breaking the law, he says, “And you made free to overstep my law?”(pg 271 line 507). His response to this breech of his authority shows his motivation. Because he is so confused and surprised by her actions, Creon shows that he cares so much about the laws or rules he made that he can’t imagine her breaking them for any reason. When Teiresias confronts Creon about his problems Creon states, “I care not to retort upon thee, seer,”(pg 295 lines 1176-1177). This means that he does not want to argue with the prophet. This expression shows that Creon does not agree with the prophet that he has problems, but refuses to argue because the man is a prophet, therefore showing that Creon does have control issues. He can cause a prophet to stop arguing with him simply because Creon says he doesn’t want to. “Away with her! Wall her up close in some deep catacomb, As I have said,”(pg 288 lines 990-991). He acts on his impulse with Antigone and hurts a family member in order to keep power and follow the laws that he made. No one will question his actions, so he is free to act on his mortal motivations over immortal
The gods and family are not as important to him as the law. His idea of justice is mortal, not immortal, so when Creon confronts Antigone for breaking the law, he says, “And you made free to overstep my law?”(pg 271 line 507). His response to this breech of his authority shows his motivation. Because he is so confused and surprised by her actions, Creon shows that he cares so much about the laws or rules he made that he can’t imagine her breaking them for any reason. When Teiresias confronts Creon about his problems Creon states, “I care not to retort upon thee, seer,”(pg 295 lines 1176-1177). This means that he does not want to argue with the prophet. This expression shows that Creon does not agree with the prophet that he has problems, but refuses to argue because the man is a prophet, therefore showing that Creon does have control issues. He can cause a prophet to stop arguing with him simply because Creon says he doesn’t want to. “Away with her! Wall her up close in some deep catacomb, As I have said,”(pg 288 lines 990-991). He acts on his impulse with Antigone and hurts a family member in order to keep power and follow the laws that he made. No one will question his actions, so he is free to act on his mortal motivations over immortal