Morally Responsible For Hoeman's Death

Hubris: (as defined by the Greeks) "excessive pride or arrogance, wanton (or merciless) violence." In the Greek drama Antigone it is clear that Creon is morally responsible for the death of his son, Haemon. However, no matter what your opinion is at this point it does not matter, because just like every single character in Antigone, you too, by the end, will be in agreement with them and myself in knowing that Antigone was NOT to blame. This is evident in three main points, one being that he held himself and his actions above anyone else. The other two are branches of the Ancient Greek ideals being, freedom from political oppression and freedom of religion; instead he showed contempt for both these ideals. Although many reasons can be attributed to why it is his fault, they all seem to derive from the same general problem, Creon's tragic flaw; hubris.

"Those who the gods wish to destroy they first make them all powerful." (Ancient Greek saying) In every law or rule system there are some regulations that are deemed more important than others, the ideals of the Ancient Greeks are no exception, it was stated that the government must grant the people freedom from oppression of the government, in other words the King's actions should truly be those of the people. However under Creon's "rule" this is not so, he develops a sort of "power-trip", where instead of the civil law being controlled by the people it is being pushed on them by Creon. Antigone says on her way to the cave, "I go, his prisoner, because I honoured those things in which honour truly belongs." There is emphasis on "...his prisoner..." because that's exactly what she is, Creon's prisoner, no one else's, for it was he who decided to capture her, and in dealing with Antigone on a personal level he is abusing his powers as king. This is proven, because it is actually true that most Thebans sided with Antigone. This is reveled to Creon when Haemon says to him, "...Has she not rather earned the golden meed? - Such is the secret of the town." Creon says it himself, that Thebes is his land to rule and not the land of the people. "Is Thebes about to tell me how to rule?" "Am I to rule this land for others - - or myself?" -Creon "It is no city at all, owned by one man alone." -Haemon. It is said that the people should not fear the government, for it is the government who should fear the people.

Another vital ideal of the Greeks was freedom of religion, another principle in which Creon defied. Not allowing Antigone to perform her religious ceremony of burying her brother is interfering with religious affairs, which denies Antigone freedom of religion. In regards to Creon's act, Antigone retaliates by saying, " Isn't a man's right to burial decreed by divine justice? I don't consider your pronouncements so important that they can just overrule the unwritten law of Heaven." In this quote she states that the gods give all men the right to a proper burial, and seeing