Sophocles Antigone is a story that depicts the life in ancient Greece. It is set in a time where tradition was one of the most important aspects of culture. The story is set in Thebes. The ruler of Thebes is the tyrant Creon. Creon is a typical king. He is loyal, strict, cruel. He is extremely loyal to his country and its traditions. Perhaps he was just too loyal.
Creaon will not allow Antigone's brother ,Polynices, to have a proper burial, because he attacked the city of Thebes. In Greek culture having a proper burial is necessary, so that they may pass on to the afterlife. Creon is very cruel and abuses his power. He uses his power to speak to people of the higher class so they may not bury Polnices:
"His erstwhile kinsman, however, I mean Polynices, who returned from exile with hopes of burning his
native land and ancestral gods from top to bottome, wishing to feast on kindred blood and lead the
rest into slavery, it has been decreed that in this city he shall be neither buried nor mourned by
anyone, but everyone must leave him unburied."
Being a tyrant had put nothing but power on the brain of Creon. He had to show that he was a stong king. In doing this he punished Antigone for burying her brother Polynices. Creon is stubborn and will not be changed even after much warning. He must always follow through with his actions. This stubborness is what eventually led to his downfall.
As the story goes on Creon realizes how wrong he has been all of this time. He tries to go save Antigone, but she had hung herself with linen. After the death of Antigone, Creon's own son Haemon commited suicide. Haemon blamed his father for all that had gone wrong in the city. Creon's wife also killed herself after hearing of Haemon's death.
Being cruel and tyranical led to the downfall of Creon. He lost all he had. His son and wife had killed themselves. He was a man robbed of all he loved. Yes Creon was a good king, but he was just too stubborn. Too loyal to his country, and not to his family.
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