Creon's Conflicting Values In Antigone

In the play “Antigone,” Sophocles manifests Creon and Antigone's distinct conflicting values to address the issue of government authority over the people. Creon’s regard for the laws of the city causes him to abandon all other believes and therefore, he feels that all of the citizens should obey the laws set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral or religious, state otherwise. On the other hand, Antigone holds the belief of the gods in high reverence which is proven when she states, “A sinless sinner, banned a while on earth, But by the dead commended; and with them I shall abide for ever. As for thee, Scorn, if thou wilt, the eternal laws of Heaven” (Antigone 9; Act 1). Antigone elevates religious law over the law of the state which causes her to neglect the king’s will and bury her brother’s body. …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Ismene accepts her fate without conflict, who is “born too feeble to contend Against the state” (Antigone; Act 4). Later on in the book, Ismene goes through significant change as she stands by her sister to share the fate that Creon set with them. Free will is also important when talking about Creon, a character who considers himself superior, all-powerful, and the master of any who oppose him. Creon ignores the consequences of his action and attempts to correct his mistakes when the prophet Tiresias predicts his own fate, but since free will ultimately dominates fate in the play, it was too late to save Antigone and Haemon, who have already killed themselves. Similarly, Antigone's fate was to live, but her free will allows her to choose to disobey Creon’s law about burying her brother and therefore, her choice to go against Creon ultimately changes her