Creon- Fatherly Figure?

In Sophocle’s Antigone, King Creon of Thebes orders that no-one bury the body of Polynices, a traitor to the state who died in battle. Antigone’s refusal to accept Creon’s laws set a series of events into motion which represent not only a clash between the state and the citizen, but also the inner-workings of a parent-child relationship. The struggle between King Creon and Antigone in Sophocle’s Antigone is uncannily similar to a fight between a parent and a child.

A characteristic that one can often remember about one’s parents is their use of language to assert their authority. While the parent has the child’s best interests at hand, he or she can express more anger than is intended, leaving behind an outrage that affects the parent’s actions and words. Creon’s anger is the result of disappointment in a child’s disobedience. He uses extreme language when Antigone’s sister, Ismene, doubts his judgment to punish Antigone: “‘Her? Don’t even mention her [Antigone]-she no longer exists’. ‘What? You’d kill your own son’s bride?’ ‘Absolutely…A worthless women for my son? It repels me’” (639-644). Parents often believe that their word is final, and that just by stating their rules the children will obey them. Because Creon’s statements are not true, and Antigone still “exists”, he must have another reason for speaking these words. Like a parent attempting to convince himself and the child that he is right, Creon is using strong language to justify his actions and convince his court that Antigone is useless. Parents and children often use strong language in fights, and the parents attempt to assert their authority by stating an extreme opinion or rule. Creon is no different than a father, venting his frustration at Antigone’s disobedience.

Creon’s interactions with Haemon demonstrate how parents assert their power in relationships with their children, and how children can lose favor with their parents. Haemon criticizes his father for being too harsh towards Antigone. Creon responds forcefully, alleging that Haemon is lecturing him: “‘So, men our age, we’re to be lectured, are we? Schooled by a boy this age’ ‘Only in what is right…if I seem young, look less to my years and more to what I do’ ‘Do? Is admiring rebels an achievement?’”(812-817). Creon perceives Haemon’s criticism as disrespectful, sarcastically asking his son if “admiring rebels” is an achievement, and whether he is “to be lectured”. By perceiving Haemon’s recommendation as a disrespectful, rebellious comment coming from a “boy”, Creon is asserting his fatherhood and power in the relationship (814). Creon’s assertion that he is the elderly, wise half of the relationship makes him like a parent asserting his authority over a child. One’s parents can often justify their actions and opinions by claiming that they have more experience or wisdom. Creon dismisses Haemon’s criticism by saying that it is just that of a child, just like a parent can dismiss a child’s dispositions and caprice as immature. Haemon loses favor with Creon as the argument continues. After Haemon leaves the scene in frustration, declaring that Creon will never see him again, Creon replies “‘Let him do-dream up something desperate, past all human limit! Good riddance’” (863-865). Creon’s statements contradict his tone before their argument: “‘do you love me, no matter what I do?’”(708). Before their dispute, Creon is seeking to validate his decision to punish Antigone, asking Haemon to support him “no matter what [he does]”. After their argument, we see a completely different picture- Creon cries “Good Riddance!” to show he does not need Haemon. The king’s change in attitude toward his son reflects how children can lose respect with their parents if they are perceived to be disrespectful.

A parent, however, can sometimes feel remorseful or regretful for their anger if they learn that it can result in resentment. It is Creon’s remorse for his anger, when he becomes aware of their consequence that makes him the true “father” of his kingdom. Much like a parent realizing that his aggressiveness may have resulted in more harm, Creon recants his actions when he learns that Tiresias’s warnings of coming disaster might be true. His ability to recognize the idea that he may have been wrong makes him less decisive and brash than a true leader, and more like an everyday father. Similar to a parent, Creon takes responsibility for his actions, but he also does not want to yield to the will of the “child” or the subject. Creon’s parental reactions to the events in the play show the reader a different perspective from which to analyze an argument between a father and his children.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Akshay---------


"There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, the other is getting it."
~Oscar Wilde