Creons Downfall

Words: 498
Pages: 2

There were several factors that led to Creon’s downfall. Creon had self-destructive pride, impulsiveness, excessive stubbornness, and inability to accept other’s judgements and opinions. All of the factors leading to Creon’s downfall were self-inflicted, and were brought upon by Creon’s lapse in judgement and evaluation of the war’s aftermath. Throughout the events of Antigone, Creon demonstrated his excessive pride in many instances; One of the most prominent being the discussion between Tiresias and Creon. Tiresias is known as one of the smartest in the land, with much wisdom, and the ability to foretell prophesies. At first, Creon hoped to hear Tiresias, but when he did not hear a favourable answer, he chose to discredit Tiresias and instantly …show more content…
“My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city.” Creon continuously expressed the belief that his orders should not be put into question even if they are considered unfair, “Should the city tell me how I am to rule them?”(790) “There is nothing worse than disobedience to authority.”(723-724). At this point it becomes clear that Creon is only focused on his self-made rules, and is incapable of accepting anything that deviates, no matter the reason or cause. He has put the authority of man above the authority of the gods. Creon’s biggest mistake was his idea of morality. When the chorus proposed that the act was the work of the Gods, Creon brushed the idea aside. He believed that the Gods would be on his side, and that they would not choose to honour someone as dishonourable as Polynices. The idea of Antigone was the conflict between man-made law and god-made law. By choosing man’s law, he ultimately placed himself in a position above the gods, which at the time was against the general philosophy and practice of the people. "His refusal to bend to the will of the gods effectively ruins his