Journal+1

=**Journal: Compare and Contrast Antigone and Creon**=

Sophocles' play Antigone is a classic tragedy about the consequence of pride and stubbornness. The king of Thebes, Creon, appears rational and logical at first, which completely differs with his niece Antigone. Antigone is a craze of passion and fury, and she is in no state after her brothers' deaths to try and find reason. Creon's paranoia causes him to become stubborn and brash, insisting that the entire city is being bribed to commit treacherous acts against him. Both Antigone and Creon are unable to see eachother's viewpoints. Antigone is unable to realize that Creon is so adamant about Polyneicies' corpse rotting because he caused the death of his own son. Similar to Antigone, Creon is unable to realize that Antigone is suffering from the loss of her two dearly loved brothers. Regardless if he betrayed Thebes, she still honors him as her beloved brother. Although they are poor at empathizing for others, both characters highly value family ties. Creon is a logical and passive king at first, but he eventually changes to become more rash and irrational like Antigone. Although they both have fiery tempers and value family loyalty, Creon is finally able to accept fault at the end; whereas, Antigone fights to her last breath believing she committed no heinous act.

Creon and Antigone both care about protecting and caring for their family members. From a young age, Antigone cared for her blind father and her younger sister. As the oldest sister, she most likely took on a maternal role, thus growing up without a childhood. However, she still exhibits certain teenage behavior by trying to control her sister by threatening that she "shall be hating" her soon (Prologue 193). Although she was expected to grow up quickly in a dark world, she still is a naive teenager at heart, and she does care deeply for her sister. She tries to convince Ismene to save herself when she realizes that death is scarier than she thought it would be. She also shows the same care for her brother by breaking the laws, knowing it might mean certain death. Antigone stays true to her brother and believes she must save his spirit from becoming lost. Creon tries to give her a chance when she is found guilty because he cares about Antigone as his own daughter. He immensely values family obedience and servitude as reflected in his own son, Haimon. He believes "this is what a man prays for, that he may get [s]ons attentive and dutiful in his house" (Scene III. 217). If Antigone had apologized or held her tongue, then he would have pardoned her. He only wanted her respect. Creon kept giving her chances after she refused each one. He even suggested that she must have not heard the proclamation "touching this matter" (Scene II. 208). However, Antigone fails to see what Creon is doing and sasses him, thus making him angry which unlocks his bold rage.

Antigone's and Creon's obsessive pride and recklessness is what ultimately leads to the downfall of the play and the destruction of their family. After Antigone rudely replies to Creon's implied offer to help her, he begins to show his paranoid illogical side that is not to be trifled with. She remarks that his "strength is weakness itself", which makes him angrier than the fact she disobeyed his law (Scene II. 208). Antigone is "[l]ike [her] father ... both headstrong and deaf to reason" (Scene II. 209). Creon is mostly infuriated with her attitude and believes that she is treacherous mentally and physically. She not only broke his law, but she also dared to deride the king. Creon accuses her of being a "wicked woman" and wants her no where near his own son (Scene II. 214). Creon also states that Antigone must have "[n]ever had a mind at all" (Scene II. 213). It is understandable why Antigone does not care if she offends Creon. She has given up on hope and life because it offers her no comfort. Her mother committed suicide; her father was banished by the same king that she must now obey, and her two brothers are now dead. She has no strength left in her body and cannot ever admit that she was wrong or it might simply break her once and for all.

After it is too late, Creon is finally able to see the error of his ways; however, Antigone kills herself, still as fiery and angry as she has ever been. Before she is sealed away in her vault, she cries, "May his punishment be equal my own!" (Scene III. 228). Even before she dies, she still wishes pain and suffering on Creon for what he has caused her. She still won't admit that her own recklessness and foolishness seals her fate. It is not his decision, but her own. Creon's own beliefs change at the end, when he puts the immortal laws above those of his own since "[t]he Gods laws are mighty, and a man must serve them" (Scene V. 236). Everything around Creon falls apart because of his own mistakes. His wife, sons, and Antigone are all dead. All of them spat his name before falling into their everlasting, cold slumbers, and they left Creon to suffer through life which is now worse than death.

Creon and Antigone are both foolish, lingering away from moderation and turning towards the path of war. No one has a happy ending, and it would be impossible to do so. Creon and Antigone both suffered as their family members died around them, and ultimately their own selfishness carved out their family's destiny of destruction.