Anitgone vs. Creon

Reading the Introduction to Antigone I really didn’t know what to expect. There were long descriptions about the arguments of various disciplines about what exactly should be taken from this play and long character descriptions including motives, flaws and criticisms of each speaking character in the play. It talked a lot about how a Greek audience could’ve responded to the play, but what about a modern audience?

In Greek culture women submitted to men, as with many ancient cultures. There is nothing surprising about that or the fact that many Ancient Greeks might not have liked Antigone for her fiercely independent nature. In modern culture, though, times have changed. Women have fought hard and at least in many cultures have won a place equal to men. Our novels today are filled with stories of fiercely strong women who fight alongside and against men. I have always personally enjoyed the strong female characters and so I find Antigone intriguing and of course root for her. However, there are a few things in the way she expresses her feelings for her brother. Considering her background is it possible that her love for her brother goes beyond the love of one sibling for another? If it had been Eteocles who had been the traitor would she have felt so strongly about his proper burial? Also, she never denies her crime or tries to make it seem less severe making it seem like she has a death wish or is she just slightly unhinged? What bearing does her birth have on her actions?

On the flip side I, so far, find Creon extremely frustrating. He seems very full of himself as a ruler. He listens to no one and seems to think that if he changes his rules or makes exceptions his people will view him as a weak ruler. One thing I find very interesting is that both Antigone and Haemon know, and point out Creon’s one major flaw: that he won’t listen and his people fear him too much to speak out against him. When Antigone points it out Creon simply ignores it and when Haemon points it out Creon accuses him of being a slave to women and taking Antigone’s side over his. Is Creon so insecure and pompous that he can’t listen to what anyone else says? How has remained ruler for so long with such a strict refusal to listen? He appears to love himself and his place as ruler more than he loves his city and its people.