Should the play Antigone be called Antigone or should it be called Creon? To me it seems as though Creon is the most influential character of the play and Antigone makes his character stronger and helps lead Creon to his demise. Throughout the play, Antigone is only in about two scenes, whereas Creon is in almost every scene. Although the reader draws a connection and a respect with Antigone, by the end of the play, the reader is solely focusing on Creon, and what is to become of him. Antigone is seen as a tragic character, but could Creon be one as well? I believe he is. He paved the way to his own downfall (with the help of drama Antigone caused), and even though throughout the story I was angry with him, by the end, I sympathize for him. He realizes that he had become too proud and because of his hubris, the ones he loved had taken their own lives. I will admit, it did take him a long time to confess to his wrong-doings, and to allow others to help him realize the corruption he caused, but once he confronted it, he took full responsibility for his actions. When Antigone was going to be killed for burying her brother, she gives in, and kills herself. Whereas, when Creon realizes that he was a part of the cause of both his son and Antigone's death, and was becoming feared by the townspeople, he confesses and feels remorse for his wrong-doings, and is punished by death.
Despite the fact that both Antigone and Creon cause a great impact on the reader, I believe the true focus of the play is on Creon. The reader finishes the play thinking of Creon's death and is left pondering the words, "There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise." That is why I believe that play should be named after Creon and not Antigone.
(345 words)
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2 comments:
Wow, Karen, you have made a really really good point. Creon is the one that ultimately realizes his wrongdoings - something Antigone, with all her spite and hypocrisy, never did. We are shown the workings of his struggle - his attempt to do good, even thought it is not good he ends up doing at all. I wholeheartedly agree, Creon is the main character of this story, it is in effect about a man making all of these mistakes and eventually having the guts to come to terms with them. And might I add, guts Antigone obviously did not have. It so funny I think that before reading the play, but knowing the story I thought Antigone quite the ideal heroin. That is definitely not what I think now.
KJ--I've often asked myself the same question, and you do a good job developing at least a preliminary answer. You could no doubt develop this idea at even greater length, but your point is a good one: Creon matches as many of the qualities of a tragic character as Antigone, perhaps even more. Well done.
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