"Pride: Morality 's Poison"
Pride has poisoned mankind for centuries. Today, it is observed in positions of political power, where mankind refuses to step down from a challenge for fear of appearing weak. The theme of pride is also heavily influential in the events that take place in the play written by Sophacles, “Antigone.” As the story goes, two brothers, both sons of Odin, are fighting for their right to the throne as the new King of Thebes. Both men die in battle, and the new King, Creon, decides that only Eteocles will be buried, and Polyneices will be left on the field because he was leading an opposing army. Polyneices’s sister, Antigone, decides to go against King Creon’s will and buries her brother anyway. Creon, after learning of …show more content…
King Creon has made a decree that no one should bury him. This can be seen during the speech to the crowd of people by Creon when he says “proclamation has forbidden the city to dignify him with burial, mourn him at all” (Sophocles 27-28). Antigone and her sister continue to argue, causing Antigone to take action and bury Polynices herself. Because of her actions Creon was forced to punish her biased on the decree he made. The arguing continues with the two sisters. Antigone not fearing death continues to bury the body herself. An example of Antigone being fearless is when she says, “And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory. I’ll lie with the one I love and loved by him – an outrage sacred to the gods!” (Sophocles 86-88). Once Creon finds out he confronts Antigone and gives her and her sister the death sentence. Creon’s son, Haenon confronts him about the death sentence on Antigone who is his wife. The argument ends with Henry saying, “No, no, she will never die beside me don’t delude yourself. And you will never see me, never set eyes on my face again” (Sophocles 856-858). After Henry leaves Tiresias warns Creon that if he does not release Antigone death will fall upon his son. Due to Creon’s prideful ego he does not listen right away and it causes the death of everyone he …show more content…
There were many points in the story where he had the chance to make things right, but he chose his pride instead. For example, when Tiresias came to give him advice and warn him about how dangerous his pride has become (Sophocles 1091-1213). Initially Creon does not listen to Tiresias; however, he eventually comes to his senses and agrees to let Antigone out of her a cell. Little does Creon know Antigone has hung herself and this was a caused by Creon’s stubbornness and pride fullness ultimately causing the start of him very lonely life. Another example of how Creon’s pride fullness contributed to his loneliness is when he is told that his son and wife have killed themselves (Sophocles 1390-1414). This is a contribution because it if he was not so prideful he would still have his family.
The overall outcome of Creon’s fate could have been prevented if he was not so prideful. His pride is to blame because of the various outcomes such as death that he has called in his family. Creon’s pride sets Polyneices into looking like a villain; however, both can be seen as a villain because they were both after the same goal of trying to gain more power. He finally came to his senses and realized that he made a horrible mistake by not listening to anyone’s advice. The only way he suffered this mistake was feeling the punishments that the gods he once did not respect gave
Pride has poisoned mankind for centuries. Today, it is observed in positions of political power, where mankind refuses to step down from a challenge for fear of appearing weak. The theme of pride is also heavily influential in the events that take place in the play written by Sophacles, “Antigone.” As the story goes, two brothers, both sons of Odin, are fighting for their right to the throne as the new King of Thebes. Both men die in battle, and the new King, Creon, decides that only Eteocles will be buried, and Polyneices will be left on the field because he was leading an opposing army. Polyneices’s sister, Antigone, decides to go against King Creon’s will and buries her brother anyway. Creon, after learning of …show more content…
King Creon has made a decree that no one should bury him. This can be seen during the speech to the crowd of people by Creon when he says “proclamation has forbidden the city to dignify him with burial, mourn him at all” (Sophocles 27-28). Antigone and her sister continue to argue, causing Antigone to take action and bury Polynices herself. Because of her actions Creon was forced to punish her biased on the decree he made. The arguing continues with the two sisters. Antigone not fearing death continues to bury the body herself. An example of Antigone being fearless is when she says, “And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory. I’ll lie with the one I love and loved by him – an outrage sacred to the gods!” (Sophocles 86-88). Once Creon finds out he confronts Antigone and gives her and her sister the death sentence. Creon’s son, Haenon confronts him about the death sentence on Antigone who is his wife. The argument ends with Henry saying, “No, no, she will never die beside me don’t delude yourself. And you will never see me, never set eyes on my face again” (Sophocles 856-858). After Henry leaves Tiresias warns Creon that if he does not release Antigone death will fall upon his son. Due to Creon’s prideful ego he does not listen right away and it causes the death of everyone he …show more content…
There were many points in the story where he had the chance to make things right, but he chose his pride instead. For example, when Tiresias came to give him advice and warn him about how dangerous his pride has become (Sophocles 1091-1213). Initially Creon does not listen to Tiresias; however, he eventually comes to his senses and agrees to let Antigone out of her a cell. Little does Creon know Antigone has hung herself and this was a caused by Creon’s stubbornness and pride fullness ultimately causing the start of him very lonely life. Another example of how Creon’s pride fullness contributed to his loneliness is when he is told that his son and wife have killed themselves (Sophocles 1390-1414). This is a contribution because it if he was not so prideful he would still have his family.
The overall outcome of Creon’s fate could have been prevented if he was not so prideful. His pride is to blame because of the various outcomes such as death that he has called in his family. Creon’s pride sets Polyneices into looking like a villain; however, both can be seen as a villain because they were both after the same goal of trying to gain more power. He finally came to his senses and realized that he made a horrible mistake by not listening to anyone’s advice. The only way he suffered this mistake was feeling the punishments that the gods he once did not respect gave