Antigone: Conflicts & Characterization

Burying Polyneices

-Polyneices was exiled and died unhonorably

- Ismene decides to not help Antigone, which means she is putting her life first

"No, we should be sensible: we are women, born unfit to battle men; and we are subjects, while Kreon is king." (Ismene, 73-75)

Kreon & Wise Counsel

-Kreon refuses to listen to the wise counsel

-He is arrogant, foolish, & prideful

"I believe that he who rules in a state and fails to embrace the best men's counsels, but stays locked in silence and vague fear, is the worst man there... This is an example of my thinking. I shall never let criminals excel good men in honor. I shall honor the friends of the state while they live, and when they die." (Kreon, 216-219, 243-247)

Kreon Does Not Believe it

-Kreon says Antigone will be put to death

-Ismene tries to also take blame, & this is a complete change to how she acted earlier

-Antigone will not let her take any blame since she did not help

-Antigone is willing to sacrifice herself for righteousness

"Ask your uncle Kreon (what is there to love in life). You have so much in common." (Antigone, 675-676)

Three Deaths

-Eurydice, Haimon, & Antigone kill themselves

-Kreon's heartlessness caused them too much grief & loss

-Their deaths are his punishment

-Kreon finally sees how he has changed for the worst, he became a tyrant

-Weeps over the death of his son & wishes death for himself.

"Nobody else; it's my fault. I killed you. Me, really me. Men, take me away." (Kreon, 1507-1509)

Antigone

How Conflict Contributes to Characterization

Kreon vs. Haimon

-Haimon & Kreon are about to fight over the fate of Antigone

-Haimon tries to reason with Kreon since he is the next heir to the throne

-Kreon does not listen, he only wants to be right.

-Haimon changes to a defender of Antigone's life

"If I rear a disorderly family I am feeding general disorder." (Kreon, 801-802)

"Please, be different this once...it's no shame even for a wise man to learn and relent." (Haimon, 856, 861-862)

Kreon Finds Out

-Kreon needs to find out who broke his law

-Becomes power hungry & threatens innocent men

-The people begin to notice a change in Kreon

-Antigone does not deny burying Polyneices even when threatened with death

"I did not intend to pay, before the gods, for breaking these laws because my fear of one

man and his principles. I was thoroughly

aware I would die..." (Antigone, 562-565)

Antigone Buries Polyneices

-She is willing to break the law to honor her family

-She wants justice beyond law

-She does not revere Kreon

"Is that your idea? Can you see gods honoring criminals? Impossible." (Kreon, 364-366)

Eteokles

-Kreon, the new king, honors Eteokles but not Polyneices

-This is where Kreon begins to change for the worse

"For of our two brothers, Creon gives honorable burial to one, but dishonors the other." (Antigone, 26-27)

Antigone & the Curse

Teiresias' Warning

-The nation tells Kreon that Antigone is not evil, & he does not listen

-A curse runs through her family; only her & Kreon accept it

-She accepts the curse out of principle, & he accepts his out of imprudence

-Antigone is put in a tomb to die, & all believe that this is undeserved

"Death is a god who wants all of his laws obeyed." (Antigone, 632)

-Teiresias, the prophet, accuses Kreon of being greedy

-Kreon will not give Teiresias any attention even though he has the gods in mind

-Teiresias says the gods will punish Kreon for causing the end of his family

-Kreon is too prideful to admit to the mistake that Teiresias pointed out

"...it's you wonderfully clever people that fall hardest in disgrace when you hide ugly ideas in pretty speeches in order to make money." (Kreon, 1208-1209)