The play Antigone by Sophocles is a well known classic that has been around for hundreds of years. Considering the messages and hidden commentary on monarchs, it is no surprise that the play has survived this long. A major theme is that a wise person is able to recognize when he/she is wrong. This can be seen through the character Creon as he struggles to realize this. When someone is unable to admit fault it can be the cause of his/her downfall.
There are many events that occur previous to Antigone which cause the conflicts to arise. Oedipus was predestined to kill his father and marry his mother. In order to escape this fate he runs away only end up completing his prophecy. With his mother he fathers four children: Eteocles, Polynices, …show more content…
This message does not reach Creon until after the damage has been done. He is an example of what could happen if a ruler always thinks that he/she is right and never listens to the advice of others. During the argument between Haimon and Creon, Haimon is desperately trying to persuade his father to change his views, “I beg you, do not be unchangeable: Do not believe that you alone can be right. The man who thinks that, The man who maintains that only he has the power To reason correctly, the gift to speak, the soul- A man like that, when you know him, turns out empty. It is not reason never to yield to reason!” (Scene 3 Lines 73-79). However, Creon does not listen. He refuses to believe that someone who is younger and has less experience could possibly be right where he is wrong, “You consider it right for a man of my years and experience To go to school to a boy?” (Scene 3 Lines 95-96). A person cannot rule by only listening him/herself without listening to the opinions of others. This will prove the downfall of Creon and enforce the theme even further by showing the outcome of being closed minded.
In the end it is Creon who suffers the most for his actions, not Antigone, as he originally planned. It takes the death of his wife and son for him to realize his mistake. After Teiresias and Choragos both speak with Creon he finally goes to release Antigone only to find
There are many events that occur previous to Antigone which cause the conflicts to arise. Oedipus was predestined to kill his father and marry his mother. In order to escape this fate he runs away only end up completing his prophecy. With his mother he fathers four children: Eteocles, Polynices, …show more content…
This message does not reach Creon until after the damage has been done. He is an example of what could happen if a ruler always thinks that he/she is right and never listens to the advice of others. During the argument between Haimon and Creon, Haimon is desperately trying to persuade his father to change his views, “I beg you, do not be unchangeable: Do not believe that you alone can be right. The man who thinks that, The man who maintains that only he has the power To reason correctly, the gift to speak, the soul- A man like that, when you know him, turns out empty. It is not reason never to yield to reason!” (Scene 3 Lines 73-79). However, Creon does not listen. He refuses to believe that someone who is younger and has less experience could possibly be right where he is wrong, “You consider it right for a man of my years and experience To go to school to a boy?” (Scene 3 Lines 95-96). A person cannot rule by only listening him/herself without listening to the opinions of others. This will prove the downfall of Creon and enforce the theme even further by showing the outcome of being closed minded.
In the end it is Creon who suffers the most for his actions, not Antigone, as he originally planned. It takes the death of his wife and son for him to realize his mistake. After Teiresias and Choragos both speak with Creon he finally goes to release Antigone only to find