Andres Andrade And Kyra Rietveld - April 7, 2020

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The play Antigone by Sophocles depicts Creon as a leader. He is the ruler of Thebes and at the beginning of the play he comes out as a leader with rational reasons behind his punishments and laws. However, at the end of the play Creon’s extreme pride consumes him resulting in his ultimate downfall. Creon barely takes note of the extent of his pride and how it affects its rule up until Teiresia’s prophecy. However, by this time it is too late and hence his character is hence associated with a tragic flaw.

Throughout the play, Creon undergoes an ironic twist where he is forced to come to terms with the fact that things cannot go as he expected. In the end, Creon realizes that his rule and his pride only resulted in his own downfall. Because of the turn of events around him, Creon perfectly fits into Aristotle’s idea of a Catharsis where he elicits both pity and fear with the audiences. Creon goes from being a proud and mighty king who orders the killing of a young princess, to a suicidal man as a result of the decisions that he made as the ruler of Thebes. In the end, Creon follows his natural urge to do what is right, which eventually results in his downfall.

Creon hence allows for the audience to experience a catharsis at the end of the play which helps them to understand that society is in most cases right. In the play “Antigone”, Creon, who is the ruler of Thebes, elicits both fear and pity as he goes from being the proud and mighty king to being a man with suicidal thoughts. At the beginning of the play, Creon is portrayed as a very prideful king with strong beliefs as is echoed in the line; “These are my principles. Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot. But whoever proves his loyalty to the state—I’ll prize that man in death as well” (Lines). This statement establishes Creon’s firm stance on loyalty and his strict rule, which is characterized by stubbornness and pride that prevents him from acknowledging personal or societal faults.

Creon hardly listens to advice and is often very stubborn; he cannot bring himself to accept his shortcomings. For instance, during his exchange with Teiresias, his pride makes him suspicious, making him think that Teiresias is being paid off, which leads to a dismissive attitude: “Whatever you say, you will not change my will” (Lines 72–75). Furthermore, Creon’s self-righteousness is evident when he declares “The State is King!” (Line 527), which indicates that he perceives himself as above divine laws and even the gods, fostering his tragic downfall.

The prophecy by Teiresias exposes Creon as a ruler already doomed, as divine displeasure manifests through omens such as failing sacrifices and fighting birds—symbols of divine wrath. Teiresias warns Creon, saying, “Think: all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride” (Lines 33–37). Despite this, Creon’s pride prevents him from yielding, reinforcing his stubbornness: “You should be able to yield for your own good” (Lines 36–40). Such refusal to compromise signifies that Creon’s downfall is inevitable, rooted in his inability to recognize his faults.

In the conclusion of the play, Creon’s realization of his faults marks the cathartic aspect of the tragedy. He admits, “I have been rash and foolish” (Lines), acknowledging that his hubris led to the destruction of his family and himself. He further laments, “My own blind heart has brought me from darkness to final darkness” (Lines 87–90), expressing remorse for his stubbornness and poor judgment, which resulted in personal and societal catastrophe. This shift from pride to penitence evokes sympathy, fulfilling Aristotle’s concept of catharsis.

Creon’s tragic downfall illustrates how excessive pride impairs judgment and leads to ruin, a universal theme relevant to both ancient and modern audiences. His character demonstrates that rigid adherence to personal beliefs and societal laws, without humility or flexibility, can have devastating consequences. Modern audiences can relate to Creon’s internal struggle, recognizing that pride and failure to acknowledge errors are common human flaws that often precipitate downfall.

In conclusion, Sophocles’ Antigone effectively uses Creon’s character to evoke catharsis by illustrating his noble yet flawed nature. Initially portrayed as a proud leader committed to law and order, Creon’s tragic flaw—his hubris—ultimately causes his demise. The play’s emotional power lies in the audience’s ability to sympathize with Creon’s noble intentions corrupted by excessive pride, a mechanism that incites both fear and pity—core to the Aristotelian concept of catharsis. Therefore, Creon’s character serves as a timeless reminder of the dangers of arrogance and the importance of humility in leadership, making the tragedy resonate across eras and cultures.

References

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• Aristotle. (n.d.). Poetics. In The Art of Rhetoric (translated by W. Rhys Roberts).
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