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Creon Creon can be perceived as a protagonist of Sophocles tragedies Antigone and Oedipus Rex. Creon can be viewed as the central character of this play on many diverse levels. In terms of the arrangement of the play, Creon speaks roughly twice the lines of Antigone and is in more or less every scene of the play, while Antigone in last seen at line 943 in a 1353 line play. Since Sophocles wrote this play for a viewing audience, Creon presumes a greater importance than Antigone.
There is also the fact that the character of Antigone is not essential for this play, because without her, the Gods would still have punished Creon. She merely adds to the interest of the plot, whereas Creon is an essential part. Creon is not being fair and just to the people, and Teiresias warns him to be reasonable. Even with this warning, the king still does not change his opinion and misuses his power. Not taking guidance from other people can be a statesman's most serious mistake, and for Creon this is the fault which starts the entire sequence of events leading up to the death of his family. Abusing ones power can also lead to a downfall as a leader, and for Creon it is another fault which leads to his spectacular failure as a statesman.
For instance, Creon issues a decree that Polynices is to be left for the wild animals to eat, and not to be buried or mourned for because he was a traitor to his city. Not burying somebody is a very sacrilegious act because it does not allow a soul to pass on to the underworld. Creon knows that this act is against the unwritten code of the Gods but decides to go through with the decree anyway. Furthermore, the Chorus comments on Creon's abuse of power by stating, There was the proud Edonian king, / Lycurgus, in rock-prison pent / For arrogantly challenging / Gods laws (Ode 4. 799 - 802). The absolute power that Creon has corrupts him to the point that he thinks that he can challenge Polynices fate by changing the way he is handled on earth. Misuse of absolute power can have disastrous effects on life, and Creon abuses his power to try and change the fate of Polynices but as a result upsets the gods more than the act pleases them.
Creon's anger makes him act unjust and unfair, but his enraged state also blinds him from the truth that the sentry does not commit the crime but another person. In addition, when he is talking to his son about Antigone's sentence, he becomes furious when Haimon tries to defend Antigone, saying that the people of Thebes consider Antigone's acts honorable. Creon is finally so mad that he threatens to make his own son, would-be bridegroom to Antigone, watch her death right there on the spot. Creon's irritation again prevents him to see the truth that Haimon is just trying to help him see that Thebes has a different judgment than he.
Creon's rage blocks the rest of the world from him and only lets him see his judgment on the current situations. An explosive temper can lead to the loss of friends or, in Creon's case, loved ones. A statesman must have many qualities that Creon does not possess. Most of these qualities come from ones own morals and beliefs, but also by incorporating the philosophies of others, listening to others, and accepting ones faults. Creon does not manage to do any of these, which contributes heavily to his failure as a statesman. Creon's domineering determination, persistent pride, unmanageable fate, and massive grievances all portray the predictable outcome.
Sophocles states that the characters in the plays are reprimanding not because of something they had done in the past but simply it is their fate. Creon can not stop his fate regardless of what great lengths he goes to. Illuminating that catharsis is created when the audience has mercy or apprehension when they see that bad things can happen to good people. For this reason Creon was a bad leader because he was hypocritical tragic hero. Initially Creon exerts an overbearing determination that can be the tragic flaw that destroys his live. Creon's motive of determination was not to back down from his word and law.
The law was whoever buries Polynices would be openly stoned to death, because Polynices didn't earn a proper burial for his actions in war. Creon later finds out that Antigone has buried her brother and Creon replies " She has much to learn. The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron cracks first, and the wildest horses bend their neck at the pull of the smallest curb Breaking the law and boasting of it. Who is the man here she or I, if this crime goes unpunished?" (Western Literature 692) Creon's arrogance causes him to have a battle with his son Haimon about Antigone's penalty. The fight was never intended, but when Haimon offered how Creon should rule by what he thought was right and by what he had heard on the streets Creon's conceit couldn't take it. Creon was so engrossed in himself, he questions how could he take advice from a prince when he revels in his own wisdom.
Creon shows that bad things can occur to good people whether or not they deserved it and that fate controls everyone, even kings.
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