Austin Kastel
Kastel1
Mrs Schalter
11 Lit Honors
December 17,2011
Pride Goes Before the Fall
Around 430B.C Sophocles writes the famous play Antigone. Creon King of Thebes declares
that Polyneices body is not to be buried, and instead left to rot, allowing carrion birds to feast on his
flesh. Even though they are related Creon can not let the fact go that Polyneices betrayed Thebes.
While Antigone fiercely loyal to her brother Polyneices, goes ahead with the burial. Creon angered by
Antigone’s betrayal to him sentences her to death. Only later on he realizes that he is wrong. But Creon
is to late, his pride has already crippled him and because of this he falls. Pride is self destructive, and it
will destroy, even the greatest people.
Haimon betrothed to Antigone, son of Creon refuses to yield in thought when his father
sentences Antigone to death. Rebutting his father’s sentence, Haimon's pride forces him to respond,
“Then she must die. - But her death will cause another” (Scene 3. 124). Haimon’s pride forces him to
pull a Romeo once he knows that his love is sentenced to death. Creon fuming in anger talks down to
Haimon for not showing him any loyalty. Seizing the chance for another insult Haimon replies “There
is no threat in speaking to emptiness” (Scene 3. 127) that insult sends Creon over the edge the fact that
his son has the audacity to stand up to him completely flabbergasts him.
Antigone when asked did you bury your brother by Creon, Antigone simply replied "I do. I
deny nothing" (scene 2. 56). Even though Creon decrees Polyneices is not to be buried . But Antigone's
loyalty to her brother Polyneices forces her to bury him, while her pride force her to admit to it. Creon
angered about this betrayal from his niece, calls in Ismene so she to can take part of the blame.
Ismene falsely admits to this. Antigone angered at her false admission exclaims "You shall not lesson
my death by sharing it" (Scene 2. 155). Antigone's pride will not allow her sacrifice to be lessened by
Kastel2
her sister. Ismene is given the chance to help bury Polyneices but refuses for fear of being
prosecuted. Because of this she is rejected by Antigone.
Because Creon's pride refuses to yield to the reason of his son, Creon must fall. When
Haimon's pride forced his hand making him oppose his father. Creon responded likewise, insulting his
sons integrity he exclaims "Fool, adolescent fool! Taken in by a women!" (Scene 3. 118). Refusing to
concede too another opinion, Creon's pride refuses to consent. Even when given an irrefutable
argument, that burying Polyneices is the right thing to do Creon simply retorts "An enemy is an enemy
even dead" (Scene 3. 785) . After Polyneices attacked Thebes In order to gain power he was branded a
traitor because of this Creon grew an intense hatred towards his nephew one that could not be quenched
even after death. So even after his death Creons pride prevented Polyneices burial. Antigone was sent
to live in a stone cave instead of death in order to appease the state and absolve the guilt from Creon.
Creon finally realizing his mistake involving the burial of Polyneices, goes to free Antigone.
But when he arrives it is to late, she has already hung herself. Haimon who arrived prior to Creon is
wallowing in grief at his fiancé death, so when he sees Creon, Haimon attempted patricide, barely
missing he accidently commits suicide. When his wife Euridice learns of there sons death she also
commits suicide. Realizing how his pride was the cause of all of his misery, he also wishes he was
dead. Creon has everything except a family now, this is one of the greatest falls, and all due to pride.
Kastel3
Works Cited
Sophocles. Antigone. Literature Platinum. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
2002. 772-808