Antigone provides insight into the complex mind of a lawmaker who creates legislation that is predicated on projection of personal insecurities. Creon makes his stance on governmental intervention clear: “For I believe that who controls the state / and does not hold to the best plans of all, / but locks his tongue up through some kind of fear, / that he is worst of all who are or were.” This statement perfectly contrasts that of Antigone to her sister Ismene “I shall hate you more / if silent, not proclaiming this to all.” The law is determined by the individual: Creon’s stance that respecting the dead does not supersede his rule is for Ismene. In contrast, Antigone sees the gods as having the final word, so she chooses death to bury her brother over life to disgrace his corpse.
Creon clarifies what is ultimate justice: “Never shall I, myself, / honor the wicked and reject the just. The man who is well-minded to the state / from me in death and life shall have his honor.” This indicates that, despite the fact that Polyneices is kin to Creon, the law-maker has one golden rule: loyalty gets absolute honor, treachery receives the greatest disgrace. The chorus initiates the first deconstruction of Creon’s rule directly to his face: “Lord, while he spoke, my mind kept on debating, / Isn’t this action possibly a god’s?” Creon completely rejects the proposal. But it is clear that the chorus is alluding to some uncertainty in the order of law. Perhaps the gods do want Polyneices buried even though he “…came / to burn [the gods’] pillared temples and their wealth, / even their land, and break apart their laws.” Creon mentions the laws of the gods to contextualize his decree: since Polyneices had attempted to break the laws of the gods, Creon is going to break the law of convention and respect for that same man. This is an instance of ‘an eye for an eye.’ Further, the Chorus subtly alludes to Creon’s downfall: “When he honors the laws of the land and the gods’ sworn right / high indeed is his city; but stateless the man who dares to dwell with dishonor.” Ostensibly, the second half of this statement is about Polyneices. However, when put in the greater context of this play, it is clear that the chorus is referring to Creon’s ultimate demise. Instead of contemplating the values of the gods, he focuses on his own and projects them as the will of the gods. Creon is truly stateless, for he dwells with dishonor.
Antigone goes further than the chorus had: “For me it was not Zeus who made that order. / Nor did that Justice who lives with the gods below / mark out such laws to hold among mankind. / Nor did I think your orders were so strong / that you, a moral man, could over-run / the gods’ unwritten and unfailing laws…And if you think my acts are foolishness / the foolishness may be in the fool’s eye.” Antigone topples the law system on its head by making one thing clear: even if you kill me for burying my brother, your justice is not the god’s justice, and you are the fool.
All becomes abundantly clear when Creon says to Antigone: “No woman rules me while I live.” It is clear that what lies at the core of Creon’s will is not justice, but insecurity of his power, and possibly his masculinity. He is being brought down by a woman. So much so that he exclaims “Slaves, take them in. They must be women now.” That is to say as if they threatened his power like a man would. Creon goes on later to say “So I must guard the men who yield to order, / not let myself be beaten by a woman. Better, if it must happen, that a man / should overset me. / I won’t be called weaker than womankind.” Haemon encourages his father to be open to learning new things. Yet, heaven forbid a man should learn from a woman. The chorus even supports Haemon’s words. And Haemon points out further that the townspeople disagree with Creon’s decree. Everyone is fighting against Creon, who is getting offended and defensive. So much so that he yells at his son, “Your mind is poisoned. Weaker than a woman!”
The chorus completes the allusion to Creon’s impending demise: “You twist the minds of the just. Wrong they pursue and are ruined.” His rule is undone, and Creon has been made the fool for his injustice.