Character Analysis of Creon
Creon is the uncle of Antigone and Ismene. He is also the King of Thebes after Oedipus. He has a son named Haemon. Thebes has just been in a war against the city of Argos. Creon’s nephews Eteocles and Polynices have killed themselves in battle, being that Polynices was fighting alongside Argos. Creon is very patriotic, evidenced by him passing a law that no one is allowed to give the dead Polynices an honorable burial. While Polynices was Creon’s nephew, he was also the enemy of Thebes and killed Eteocles. Creon does not like enemies. He demands respect and loyalty from the people of Thebes and his soldiers. He tells one of the guard leaders “see that you never side with those who break my orders…death is the price”. Creon is not a man to be messed around with. He is also very proud to be king and loves Thebes. He wants to steer Thebes in the right direction. He says “I could never stand by silent, watching destruction march against our city, putting safety to rout, nor could I ever make that man a friend of mine who menaces our country (Polynices)”.
-Paul Spyropoulos
I agree with you also, but I don’t think that Creon loves Thebes. Instead he loves the power that he gets from being the king of Thebes. I actually think that Creon might have enjoyed watching the two brothers battle it out. Oedipus was dead, and the only obstacle between the throne and him were the two brothers. A ruler who rules with fear can never be a good one. Atleast that’s what I believe. If he truly loved Thebes, he wouldn’t have a sword hanging over it, for those who disobey him.
I pretty much agree with everything you have.Creon’s character is not hard to figure out and this reading of Antigone makes it obvious to show who Creon is and which is also not complicated or confusing to understand. It is safe to say that the story can revolve around Creon because there is a lot mentioned about Creon or things related to Creon in this story.Creon is the King of Thebes and the uncle of Ismene,Antigone,Polynices and Eteocles.Creon is very patriotic, he loves Thebes with all his heart . I also think that he is very confident and very decisive. He talks with confidence and doesn’t hesitate when making decisions(ex. deciding to have Antigone executed.)He shows leadership ,like how you say,” he wants to steer Thebes in the right direction”. He is also very stern and strict, a very demanding person, wanting things the way he wants them to be and who is very judgmental.(telling the sentry to find out who did the burying and after the sentry finds out for Creon that Antigone is the suspect ,later on, Creon tells the sentry that there finally is a huge burden off of the sentry’s back.