Antigone and Creon's Vanity

The Problem of Creon’s Pride

In Sophocles’ drama Antigone, the society of Thebes is troubled by yet another set of standards and rulers. As the plot is introduced and conflict established, Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, remains committed to the standing laws of his society rather than adjusting the rules to allow for the heartfelt needs of the Antigone and those who defend her honorable actions. Creon is a strong ruler—but he turns into a bullheaded tyrant and winds up becoming a shattered man who ends up alone. King Creon misuses power and poisons himself with pride, resulting in his downfall as well as the suffering of others.

Sophocles first depicts Creon as having a sense of justice and respect for the people of Thebes. He rules with an eye for unity and community, declaring that “whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing” (Sophocles 203-205). While Creon wants the best for his city, his pride, however, causes him to make tragic decisions that lead others to suffer.

Instead of listening to wise council, Creon follows the only sources he trusts— his own heart and mind. When Antigone tries to bury Polyneices, he orders her to be entombed alive and then ignores his own son’s instruction to reverse his order. Because of Creon’s arrogance, he denounces the humane advice stating that “the city is the king’s…that’s the law” (Sophocles 825). From this statement, readers can infer that Creon rules for his self-glorification rather than for the benefit of the citizens. He remains rigid about enforcing his self-made laws and thus exhibits his poor judgment and causes harm for Antigone. A humble ruler should have taken Antigone’s situation into consideration and sought the wisdom of his comrades.
Tiresias explains to Creon the problem he himself had created, and urges him to be unselfish and reverse his ruling. Tiresias explains that “a man can turn his back on folly, misfortune too, if he tries to make amends, however low he's fallen, and stops his bullnecked ways. Stubbornness brands you for stupidity… pride is a crime” (Sophocles 1135). With these words, Creon understands his mistake but is ultimately too late. His unfounded pride and self-confidence delays his decision to annul his terrible order, which ultimately incites the bloody chain of suicides that follow Antigone’s.

Through Creon’s actions in the play, his value as a ruler in society begins as high then drops as some begin to question his wisdom; and finally he falls into a pitiful man who creates a problem that is irreversible—the loss of his loved ones. While people’s pride can create problems, many of these situations can be reversed and not leave permanent damage. Sophocles takes Creon’s problems to the highest level leaving him completely distraught. If Creon would have taken others’ outlooks into consideration as soon as he received them, he could have spared everyone so much trauma and tragedy and made Thebes a stronger society.