Antigone

In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, the character Creon goes through many different conflicts. Each of these conflicts helps to shape the way he feels and how he judges people and actions. His point of view and feelings change from the beginning of the play to the end due to these conflicts he has with people.

The first conflict in the play is between him and Antigone. She has broken his law and buried her brother Polynices when Creon had declared he would never be buried for he was a traitor and an enemy of the state. Creon feels he is right in his judgments because Polynices was an enemy and attacked their homeland and thus was not worthy of being buried as a normal man. Antigone felt she was right in her actions because she felt that the laws of the gods greatly outweighed those of man. In the end, Creon sentenced her to be buried alive for her crimes.

The second conflict occurs between Creon and his son Haemon. Haemon comes to Creon to ask him to reconsider his point of view on Antigone's supposed crimes. Haemon tried to explain to Creon that everyone felt he was wrong in his judgment and that Antigone was right in her actions. However, Creon felt his judgment was just and as King and Haemon's father he was not in the position to be questioned about his judgments. Haemon left upset with his father, swearing Creon would never see him again.

The third and final conflict for Creon is between him and the seer Tiresias. Tiresias comes to him after he has seen some bad omens to tell him what he has seen and learned. Tiresias tells Creon that he has made a mistake and needs to free Antigone and right all the wrongs. Creon claims that Tiresias has been paid off to tell him that. Tiresias tells him that if he does not heed his warnings then there will be death for many of Creon's loved ones and he leaves. Creon reconsiders what he has said.

Throughout the play, Creon's judgment and feelings about things were tested and attacked by various characters. With each new conflict Creon's thoughts on the entire situation shifted and, in the end, he ultimately changed his mind about all of it.