Antigone

The Greek playwright, Sophocles wrote the last play in the Theban Trilogy, Antigone, around 442 B.C. The Theban Trilogy consists of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. The play was considered the last of the three but was ironically written first. Only seven of Sophocles's one hundred twenty three tragedies have survived the fire of the great library intact. The most famous of the three plays is Antigone. In the play Antigone the characters Creon and Antigone come to bitter ends because of similar character flaws. Creon and Antigone are both stubborn and rigid and have extreme views on government laws and ideals and both have psychological problems that lead to their downfall.

They are both inflexible and stubborn people. Both being unwilling to change, they both seal each other's fate. Creon is passionate. Antigone is full of rage. They are both so similar they can't see eye to eye. Creon and Antigone share many similarities throughout the story. They are both very independent people. Antigone is extremely independent. She doesn't mind doing anything on her own. For example, in the beginning of the story when Antigone is talking with Ismene, she asks for her help. When Ismene refuses she is furious with her. Then Antigone decides to act independently. Creon is also very independent. He refuses to accept anyone's opinions except his own. When his son Haimon comes to talk with him he refuses to listen, claiming that Haimon is corrupted by love. Teirsesais comes and tells him a morbid prophecy.

Creon will not listen to this either. He claims that Teirsesais has been corrupted by money. He finally listens to the Charagous when reminded that Teiresias has never been wrong. Antigone has no problem working by her self either. She demonstrates this when she slipped by all the guards that were protecting the dead body of Polyneices and gives him a proper burial. Antigone can be very stubborn even after her sister wants to share in her punishment and crawls back to her. She will not accept it to her own demise. Creon and Antigone are both remarkably similar people. Ironically, they are both so much the same that they can not see it. The flaws they share make neither of them willing to listen to the other. Many of their traits are identical, but their opinions are so different that they can't stand each other.

Antigone and Creon both have extreme views on government laws and ideals Creon is especially loyal to his laws. Antigone is loyal to her beliefs. Creon will not change his laws. An example of this occurs when he and Antigone argue. He calls her "A traitor" for giving a burial for her dead brother Polyneices. He is so loyal to his own laws that he fails to see that he is disobeying the law of the gods. Antigone puts the laws of the gods ahead of the laws of the states. She goes ahead and buries her brother. Creon strictly prohibited this ceremony. This act shows her extreme idealistic view that she only does what she thinks the gods want. Instead of abiding by the law that Creon declared. Creon also has extreme ideals because he refuses to believe any other opinions or laws than his own. Creon and Antigone are both so loyal which can also make them very extreme in their thinking. Creon is an extremist in reason. He thinks his law is the most important. Antigone is an extremist of passion. Creon is unwilling to put the god's law above his law. He is unwilling to listen to the passionate pleas of his son to let Antigone live. He instead puts his laws first, and states that if he lets Antigone live after she has broken his law, "How shall I earn the worlds obedience." His extreme beliefs will later