Antigone And Creon As A Tyrant - 1452 Words

Antigone takes place just after a war between Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices. Eteocles fought on the side of Thebes whereas Polynices resembled an invader. Afterwards, Eteocles is buried and seen as honorable. However, Polynices is denied a proper burial because he is considered a traitor to Thebes. In this play, Sophocles uses Antigone and Creon as foils by characterizing Antigone as a martyr and Creon as a tyrant to urge the reader to realize that one’s own morals are more significant than the decrees of any government. Sophocles at first depicts Creon as a ruler who values his authority and city more than anything, but he gradually becomes more despotic. With his role as king so recently acquired, Creon must first establish his position as superior to other citizens. He does so by declaring that â€Å"the ship of state is safe†(180) and â€Å"the gods who rocked her... have righted her once more†(180-182). Creon is attempting to prove that he deserves the position of authority because the gods that the citizens value so much have granted him the divine right to rule the state. By using the metaphor of the state as a ship, Sophocles shows that citizens are either in or out of the ship that Creon leads; they are either with or against his rule. He is also saying that there is a specific reason that the ship was stabilized when he gained power because he is destined to be in this position. To strengthen the citizens’ respect for him, Creon announces that it isShow MoreRelatedCreon : the Complicated Tyrant1170 Words   |  5 PagesIbrahim Prof. Sophie Bourgault POL2107 June 13th, 2012 Creon: The Complicated Tyrant Since the beginning of political thought, the issues surrounding the ‘ideal’ regime and the ‘ideal’ ruler have been hotly contested. These issues have been manifested in various works ranging from ancient plays to philosophical dialogues. 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One is a king new to the throne who will not be ruling for long, and the other, a martyr whose strong convictions will live on even after her death. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; In the first lineRead MorePolynices Should Be Buried In Sophocless Antigone1681 Words   |  7 PagesSophocles’ play, Antigone, is centered around the conflict of whether Polynices should be buried or exposed to the elements for the wild dogs and vultures to tear apart his body. The play opens at the end of Polynices’ attempted invasion, which made him a traitor of Thebes, and it is revealed that both Polynices and Eteocles had fallen. The new king of Thebes, Creon, decrees that Eteocles will be buried with honored, but Polynices will be left unburied and exposed to the elements. Antigone tells IsmeneRead MoreReview Of Oedipus Rex 1342 Words   |  6 Pagesplay. Antigone Reading Questions How is this version of Creon in comparison to the Creon presented in Oedipus Rex? Why? - In the myth about Oedipus Rex, Creon is portrayed as an honest, fair character who uses reason when confronted. For example, when Oedipus accuses him of conspiring against him, Creon explains to why he has no need for Oedipus’ crown. When the truth is revealed about Oedipus, Creon is also shown as understanding towards his troubles. In the myth of Antigone, Creon is depictedRead MoreDrama Analysis1366 Words   |  6 Pagespractices. This amendment is where the popular interpretation â€Å"Separation of church and state† comes from. There is a constant battle of government made laws versus divine laws, which can be seen throughout history, even in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, the character Antigone says â€Å"†¦ I will bury him myself./ And even if I die in the act, that death will be glory./ I will lie with the one I love and loved by him—/ an outrage sacred to the gods! I have longer/ to please the dead than please the living here:/