Chorus In Antigone

Creon realizes his mistake and regrets everything he has done in the past, “I can’t fight against what’s destined… I must personally undo what I have done. I shouldn’t have tried being unorthodox. I’ll stick by the established laws in the future”, he said. (Scene 5, Lines 95-99).

Because of his interactions with multiple characters that are telling Creon that he is in the wrong, and he doesn't listen to the warning the gods are sending results in the punishment of disobeying the gods. “Guard: Then suddenly a swirling windstorm came, whipping clouds of dust up from the ground filling the plain—some heaven-sent trouble.” (Line 470-472) the Guard is telling Creon that it was a very unusual storm that came through. Especially when it was near the body that they were trying to guard. The Gods were watching Creon's actions, to the point of him not burying the body to watching all of his family die and they all go to the underworld where Hades is.

This is explaining how she does not care if she dies she will die with her brother and by his side. She will die with pride and she will feel at peace knowing her brother's soul was set free and he is resting in peace. This is shown when antigone said ¨ Creon is not enough to stand in my way¨(sophocles pg3). Antigone is using emotional manipulation to get in creon's head by saying he is nothing saying he won't stop her from burning her brother because she wants him to die in peace and to be buried with respect. This gets to creon because he sees that nothing he says to antigone will stop her not even

After Teiresias tells, Creon his advice, he tells him the consequences if he does not reverse his action, for example, “Before you lose a child of your own loins a corpse in payment for these corpses. You’ve thrown down to those below someone from up above- in your own arrogance you’ve moved a living soul into a grave, leaving here a body owned by gods below, unburied, dispossessed, and unsanctified. That’s not concern of yours or the gods above” (Sophocles 1195-1201). Teriesias says honestly that not only will Creon loose his only son left, but when he dies he will live in the underworld because of his arrogance. This an ultimate consequence for protecting his pride fullness.

Creon does not keep an open mind, and refuses to see her point of view. Antigone said she buried the body because of God’s law, but Creon puts his law above the God’s. This shows an extreme amount of pride and confidence. Another example of Creon showing hubris is when Haimon says. “It is no City if it takes orders from one voice,” (221).

Where There Is Pride There Is Pain “ All men make mistakes… But when they do, they’re no longer foolish… If they try to fix the evil into which they’ve fallen… Men who put their stubbornness on show invite accusations.” (lines 1140-1147) Antigone’s words, actions, and ideas, contrast with Creon’s character to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations.

In lines 599 to 601, Creon’s states that, due to his selfishness and stubbornness, he will not allow a woman, that woman being Antigone, to change his mind and defy his judgement. He declares that, if Antigone chooses to not change her ways, she will be killed, as to not waver from his own decree. Antigone therefore dies as a result of Creon’s insufferable and ignorant ruling, causing her to suffer at Creon’s hand. Creon’s ruling for the murder of Antigone also causes Haemon to suffer. Creon finds Haemon, in his last moments, mourning the loss of Antigone, “now among the dead, his father’s work,” as described by the messenger in line 1364.

“The one in the grave before her death, the other, dead, denied the grave. This is your crime.” (scene 5 lines 80-83). Tragically, Creon did not change his mind until it was too late. Finally, he realized, “the laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them to the last day of his life!”

As long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man. But whoever shows by word and deed that he is on the side of the State,––he shall have my respect while he is living and my reverence when he is dead ( Scene 1). Creon’s regards towards his own laws cause him to withdraw from all other beliefs or opinions that others have to offer him. He believes that the people of Thebes should obey his rules if they want his support.

The quote means that anyone who didn’t follow Creon’s decree will die. Another support can be seen when Creon said, “ Not to take sides with any who disobey.” (Antigone 8). This quote shows that he wants everyone to obey him and anyone who disobeys him will get in trouble. The last support can be found when Creon said, “ Not to take sides with any who disobey.”

“You’ll never marry her while she’s alive,” blusters Creon, to which Haemon retorts: “Then she’ll die and in her death kill someone else” (859). Haemon means he will commit suicide, but Creon interprets this as Haemon’s threat to kill him. While Haemon’s efforts to establish ethos with his father his unquestioning love and his loyalty are a promising first step towards making Creon listen to him, this approach is ineffective as Creon is unable to see beyond his own selfish paranoia in the matter of Antigone, and Haemon is unable to reach his father through logical arguments. In the end, even the Chorus Leader doubts that any good will come of Creon’s “iron will:” “He’s angry [Haemon] in a young man at his age/ the mind turns bitter when he’s feeling hurt” (878-79). The second Ode is the turning point in the play, where the Chorus sings of how loyalty (to the law) and love (to one’s lover and family) are

Only remember: I will not pay you for them. Creon takes Teiresias’ words with a grain of salt, if only Creon knew that Teiresias was correct all along. As the new king, Creon must make complicated decisions and the people must trust him to choose wisely.

In addition to the chorus, Creon’s son Haemon turns against him as well. In the play, Haemon and Antigone are in love, but Creon’s decree to execute her will abolish this. Creon confronts Haemon, and states that “[he has] to feel within [his] heart, / subordinate to [his] father’s will in every way” (Antigone 713-714). This statement exposes how Creon feels that his power alone gives him sufficient justification to execute Antigone, but Haemon disagrees, and states that “he should not be quite so single-minded, self-involved, / or assume the world is wrong and [he is] right” (Antigone 789-790).

The Greek tragedy “Antigone” written by Sophocles, like any other tragedy deals with the downfall of certain characters and events. As the title suggests, the play revolves around Antigone, and her actions towards her society. Like other Greek dramas, the play consists of a prologue, the episodes and most importantly the Chorus. As we read more of the play and the plot begins to unwind itself, does the role of the chorus make any sense to us? Since the Chorus are there throughout the play, it makes the reader curious to know the role of the Chorus, how it is important to the development of the play as well as the Greek theatre.

Love is a powerful motivation it can even drive you into hating someone, love drives you to do even what you wouldn’t normally do. Creon makes a law that forbids anyone from burying Antigone’s brother. When she finds out she goes against the king and buries her brother. When he is informed about what happened he punishes her. Antigone kills herself and then his son kills himself when he finds out that his love had died.