Pride In Sophocles Antigone

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One theme to learn in Sophocles's Antigone is that people can be blinded by pride. Brothers Polyneices and Eteocles die in battle against each other for the throne. Consequently, Creon becomes king and makes the decree that Eteocles should be buried but traitor Polyneices should be left out for the dogs. Antigone, the sister of Eteocles and Polyneices, decides to do the forbidden and sprinkles a light dust on Polyneices in ceremony. Creon is mad that she dare go against him, and decides she deserves death. Haimon, Creon’s son, tells him that the city is scared to speak their minds, “but [he], at any rate, can listen; and [he can hear] them muttering and whispering in the dark about this girl. [The city] say no woman has ever, so unreasonably, died so shameful a …show more content…
Creon dismisses the right idea, rather than admit his own fault. He tells everyone it is the law and Antigone does it anyway, chipping at his ego. He puts Antigone in a vault to starve, so he can look less guilty for his actions. After a while of Creon’s ignorance, Teiresias, the blind prophet, warns him of the fate that will continue to unwind, unless he listens to the gods and change his irreverent ways. Creon decides “it is worse to risk everything on stubborn pride” (5.93-94). Choragos advises Creon to “free Antigone from her vault and build a tomb for the body of Polyneices … And it must be done at once: God moves swiftly to cancel the folly of stubborn men” (5.98-100). Choragos tells Creon he is wrong and needs to fix the predicament or they will feel the wrath of the gods. The gods agree with Antigone and disagree with Creon. Creon stands alone from the beginning of the story. It did not occur to him because his pride kept him from feeling mistaken. He only thought of himself as a great king that should always be followed. It took the gods threatening him to realize that he is

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