In the Greek tragedy; Antigone; by Sophocles, Antigone is trying to bury his brother; which goes against the King Creons Orders. Creon is a character that changes drastically throughout the play and his decisions lead him to suffer in the end. It is also his decisions that affect many other characters in the story; making of Creon a very, if not the most important individual in this story.
When I see any danger threatening my people I shall declare it. Creon starts off as a noble king who wants to protect his people from any possible harm. He also states in his first speech: Our country is our life; only when she (Thebes) rides safely, have we any friends at all. Such is my policy for our common weal, stating his loyalty to Thebes, and that he is willing to protect it. The reader can notice how devote Creon is to Thebes, and understands that Creon loves his kingdom and wouldnt stand it if someone mocked his rules.
On the other side though, Creon is often portrayed as a selfish and egotistic ruler, and sometimes even quite paranoid: Theres a party of malcontents in the city, rebels against my word and law. He seems to have little patience and doesnt seem as understanding as he did during his first speech. He does not only have several panic attacks during the play, but he also makes several misogynistic remarks towards Antigone calling her She-Devil among other things.
Although Creon is the antagonist of this play, he is definitely the character that goes through the most different emotional stages, first by being honorable, then he goes into a very aggressive posture when he finds out about what Antigone has done, and, blinded by his ego, he decides to have his future daughter-in-law killed. Later he realizes he was wrong and decides to set Antigone free: It is hard but I must do it. Well I know there is no armor against necessity.
Creon is definitely the most unlikeable character in this Greek tragedy, but at the same time, the reader can feel sympathy, and even sorry for him, since he is the one who has caused himself the suffering that he goes through at the end of the play.
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