The Complex Character Of Creon In Antigone

Creon is a complex character who seems to have more reasons to order his decrees than what one would normally notice. For instance, Creon made two decrees. One to not bury Polyneices and to bury Eteocles, the other to sentence anyone who attempts to or buries Polyneices be put to death, which ended up being Antigone. Creon’s first decree, to not bury Polyneices and to bury Eteocles, was influenced greatly by Greek culture. The Greeks believed that treason was one of the worst things someone could possibly commit, so it makes sense that Creon thought that the only way to make Polyneices pay for his crimes against Thebes was to make sure that his body was not buried. According to the Greeks, not burying the body basically meant that Polyneices would be sent to the Fields of Punishment where he would suffer eternal torment. Creon did this in order to show and exercise his power as the new king and to show that he was not weak. In the play, Creon says, “Do you want me to show myself weak before the people?” I believe that he says this in order to show that not following through with this is a show of weakness. He also says, “This is my command, and you can see the wisdom behind it.” This is said to justify his actions by …show more content…
When Creon is asked if he would back down because Antigone is going to marry his son he responds by saying, “If I permit my own family to rebel, How shall I earn the world’s obedience?” in reference to what he says in his first speech, “as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare, ––I have no use for him,” This shows that if he releases Antigone or she goes unpunished he would go back on his own word. Creon also sees breaking your word as a sign of weakness even if the gods want you too as he states later on, “Do you want me to show myself weak before the people? Or to break my sworn