Wednesday 25 December 2013

What fatal flaws does Creon show?

Pride

Creon's chief flaw, and ultimately his downfall, lies in his refusal to admit that he is wrong. By the time that he does, it is already too late to save Antigone. He only admits to his pride at the very end, when he decides to free Antigone.



Creon: That is true…. It troubles me. Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride.



Selfishness


Creon doesn't think of his son, who is engaged to Antigone, or his son's happiness. He justifies his actions to Haimon by telling him that she wouldn't have been good for him in the end.



Creon: So you are right
Not to lose your head over this woman. Your pleasure with her would soon grow cold, Haimon,
And then you’d have a hellcat in bed and elsewhere. Let her find her husband in Hell!



Anger 


During Creon's argument with his son, Haimon, he allows his anger to cloud his reason. He even childishly repeats Haimon's question to make his own point.



Creon: Then she is not a criminal?


Haimon: The City proposes to teach me how to rule?


Creon: And the City proposes to teach me how to rule?


Haimon: Ah. Who is it that’s talking like a boy now?



Hypocrisy


Creon professes to be a leader who is committed to doing the right thing for the people. However, he allows himself to be corrupted by his own biases and desires. He expresses the following value during his initial monologue:



Creon: I say to you at the very outset that I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State....



Creon's professed values as a leader contrast with the way he actually led, which caused dissent among his people. His anger and pride blinded him to the reality that he made the wrong choice until it was too late. His selfish behavior ultimately led to the death of Antigone, Haimon, and Euridice.

No comments:

Post a Comment

How can a 0.5 molal solution be less concentrated than a 0.5 molar solution?

The answer lies in the units being used. "Molar" refers to molarity, a unit of measurement that describes how many moles of a solu...