Creon as a Sympathetic Character Kienyen Chen 12th Grade

In the play Antigone, Creon, the demonic king of Thebes, seems extremely evil and cold-hearted and wants to kill his niece for an act that is more heroic than a crime. He is stern and seems extremely heartless. But when examined closer, Creon may stir sympathetic feelings in readers when considering his motives because he has a heart of a leader, he has a parental heart, and he suffers from misery and regret.

Creon shows a true heart of a leader for his city even though he reacts with severe and bitter words to all who wanted Antigone to be freed, especially since she is his kin. However, he knows that if he wants to keep his city together and avoid chaos, he has to follow through with the punishment, even if the criminal is part of his family. While expressing his opinion on the matter with the Priest and Antigone herself, he explains that he has no choice but to punish her: “This girl is guilty of a double insolence, breaking the given laws and boasting of it. Who is the man here, she or I, if this crime goes unpunished?” (9). Creon knows that the crime cannot go without consequence. He says that she is guilty of breaking the law he so firmly set into place. Everyone accuses him, wondering how he could be so cruel to his own...