Sophocles, Antigone

• Why does Creon refuse to allow Polynices to be buried? What does this decision tell us about Creon’s worldview and values?
• Why does Antigone believe that she not only must bury Polynices, despite Creon’s order, but also “shout it out” (Part I)? What does this tell us about Antigone’s worldview and values?
• Does Creon or your view of Creon change over the course of the play? If so, how and where and why? Though Antigone and Creon and the values each represents are obviously in conflict in the play, are the two alike in any way

Creon refused to allow Polynices to be buried and Antigone was not happy about it. The reason he did not want Polynices to be buried was because; according to part II of Antigone, he said he was a traitor and traitors did not deserve to get a burial above or as a patriot would. This act shows how much he values his city over a human being. He is degrading Polynices while choosing city-loyalty by not allowing a burial because he was a “traitor”. He seems as if he sees the world as a job where he keeps everything strictly “business” and is emotionless about how others got affected regarding his decisions.

Antigone disobeyed Creon by going out of her way to bury Polynices even though she knew death would be the consequence. Antigone believes Polynices deserved a burial, not only because he was her brother but because in part III she says Creon could not “override the gods, the unwritten, unshakable traditions”. It was a disgrace not to be buried and no man could take that from her brother. She did not want to keep it a secret either; instead, in part I of Antigone, she told her sister Ismene to “shout it out”. She seemed to be disappointed at the world due to Creon’s order and simply didn’t care what HE said is “wrong”. I believe she wanted everyone to know and agree with her that her brother deserved a burial. I believe not knowing about a burial is the same as not having one. You can tell Antigone values the Gods and their rules/traditions as well as her family if she was willing to go through extreme measures by going against Creon.

At the end of the play, Creon seems to have changed perspectives. His son Haemon was very upset that Creon sent Antigone to death because he believed Polynices deserved a burial and also because they were supposed to have a marriage. When Creon finds out bad things will happen if he does not take his actions back, he goes after Antigone to save her. Word got out that Haemon killed himself, so his mother, Creon’s wife goes to commit suicide due to not being able to handle the news. Creon finds Antigone dead and Haemon trying to kill himself (not dead yet, as his mother heard). Haemon then kills himself next to Antigone, in front of Creon. When Creon got back he found out that he did not only lose a son but his whole family. He felt that all the deaths were his fault. He showed sadness and regret for once.

Although Antigone and Creon shared different values, they seemed to be alike in a way. They did not let anyone’s advice change their thoughts. They both had strong personalities, and firmly believed in what they thought was right.