Comparing Antigone and Creon Essay

Antigone

Creon and Antigone are two very different yet similar people. They have their have certain traits about them which compare to the other. These traits are often created by the environment they grew up in and past experiences which have affected their out look on life. These are what mold people into who they are when they grow up and we continue to change from each experience. However even though they may be from two separate classes or social groups, they can experience the same things and become very similar to one another. This is because classes are not what mold people into who they are, it is the way people interpret things while in these classes.

Classes can play a huge role in the way people act and perceive different things that go on around them. This was a major factor for both Antigone and Creon, because of how Antigone is perceived in the public and how she looks she has now become focused on her wants and needs and hers only. She no longer takes into account what the consequences might be or how they may affect those around her. This is the complete opposite of Creon who is all about being a good king for the entire city and creating happiness for everyone in it. This is why his first instinct after hearing that Antigone had broken one of his first orders was to execute her, because it was for the better of the city. He doesnt care about whether these decisions are going to affect him or his personal life, as long as it is the right thing for the people of Thebes. He acts like this because he is the king and is at the top of the pyramid, while Antigone is at the bottom because of her family history and her looks. All though they are different in so many ways they are also the same. These two factors have greatly affected both of the characters decisions through out their entire lives.

With every difference they had between the two of them they also had their similarities. Creon and Antigone were very stubborn people who were not willing to change their decisions no matter what the consequences or the effect it will have on other people as long as they get what they want. In the beginning of the story when Antigone is trying to convince her sister to properly berry their brother she wouldnt change her mind. No matter how many points her sister brought up to make here think about the danger! (1. Prologue. 34) and what Creon will do! (1. Prologue. 34) to her if she went against the him. She was dead set on her decision and to her Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way (1. Prologue.35). Creon was very stubborn when he decided to execute Antigone with a spur of the moment decision, he wouldnt change his mind no matter who talked to him, it was his way or the highway. They are also the same in the fact that they want to make themselves happy and only them, they dont care about anyone else as long as its what works for them. By doing this it effects every decision they make, often in the wrong direction. Often times ignoring what the consequences to those around them may be.

Consequences come with every decision in life and the decision maker has to live with what ever those end up being. For Antigone and Creon these consequences were very extreme. Antigone in reality killed her sister and fianc by deciding to berry her dead brother, even though everyone around her begged her not to. By choosing to berry her brother she forced her uncle to not only kill her but everyone around her who she loved. She became so lonely when she was forced into captivity that she killed herself. All this because of one decision she made to berry her brother caused her life to fall apart and everyone she loved to disappear. This was in some ways similar to the consequences that Creon had to face with the decision. He was left alone with no one because he killed his family; he killed his own son because its what he thought was right for the town. He didnt know that his decision was going to force him to live alone. All of this was because they were too stubborn and selfish to change their mind or listen to other peoples view. They both were forced to lie in the bed they made for themselves.

Both Antigone and Creon got what they deserved in the end you can say. By being so stubborn and selfish about their decisions and they cost the lives of those whom they loved and ruined their own. Creon was left alone in his throne while Antigone killed herself because she could no longer bear to be in isolation. These are the outcomes of poor decisions and both these people had to pay the consequences for their actions. This is the way life works because everything comes back to you in the end.

Work Cited

Barnet, Sylvan, William Burto, and William E. Cain. Literature For Composition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008.