Character Analysis Of 'Pride And Bull-Headedness In Antigone'
Excessive Pride and Bull-Headedness Leads To Demise and Downfall Antigone's relentless pride and ego leads to her overall downfall and, ultimately, she pays with her life because of her excessive pride. Kreon, the King of Thebes, is obligated to his duties as a king to rule his kingdom. Kreon is Antigone’s uncle, and he is an older man that surrendered himself to his throne, “You cannot measure a man’s character, policies, or his common sense- until you see him in action. I’ll always speak out when I see Thebes choosing destruction rather than deliverance,” (712). Antigone is stubborn and possesses excessive pride, which leads to her downfall. Antigone is devoted to maintaining and protecting divine laws, which includes burying her brother, “The city is forbidden to mourn him or bury him- not tomb, not tears. Violate any provision- the sentence is you’re stoned to death in your own city,” (707). Antigone is
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Kreon’s only concern is with social and political order, and he has committed himself to the throne in the kingdom of Thebes, “Our country is the ship that must keep us safe. It’s only on board her, among the men who sail her upright, that we make true friends. Such are the principles I will follow to preserve Thebes’ greatness,” (712). Kreon ordered Antigone’s crime covered up to save her from damnation and death, but Antigone refuses to accept anything other than what she wants to do, “Take me and kill me- is that your whole plan? Then what stops you? Are you waiting for me to accept what you’ve said? I never will.” (719). Because Antigone is reluctant to accept Kreon’s forgiveness and wants to do her own thing, Kreon has no other choice then to sentence her to death, “Both my mind and your mind. No more delay, men, take them in. Make sure they behave like women. Don’t let either slip away. Even the brave will try to run when they see death closing in.”
Kreon’s only concern is with social and political order, and he has committed himself to the throne in the kingdom of Thebes, “Our country is the ship that must keep us safe. It’s only on board her, among the men who sail her upright, that we make true friends. Such are the principles I will follow to preserve Thebes’ greatness,” (712). Kreon ordered Antigone’s crime covered up to save her from damnation and death, but Antigone refuses to accept anything other than what she wants to do, “Take me and kill me- is that your whole plan? Then what stops you? Are you waiting for me to accept what you’ve said? I never will.” (719). Because Antigone is reluctant to accept Kreon’s forgiveness and wants to do her own thing, Kreon has no other choice then to sentence her to death, “Both my mind and your mind. No more delay, men, take them in. Make sure they behave like women. Don’t let either slip away. Even the brave will try to run when they see death closing in.”