Antigone Compare/Contrast Essay

            In Antigone by Sophocles, the basic problems between Antigone and Creon would be claims of state, and quarreling between families. The conflicts between the characters are the result of both their similarities and differences. The major conflict between Antigone and Creon would be over the burial of Polyneices. The least conflict between Antigone and Creon would be about beliefs.

            Antigone is loyal to family in certain ways. Antigone says, “I will bury the brother I love” (Prologue. 69). Antigone is loyal to gods because in Scene II she says that everyone is to follow god’s laws, and no one below them are to make such laws. Creon is loyal to state when he says, “You will give no support to whoever breaks the law” (I. 59). Creon is not loyal to family because in Scene II he didn't want to bury Polyneices even if he was his nephew.

Some similarities of Antigone and Creon would be how they show “pride”. Pride is a major character trait for both Antigone and Creon. Antigone shows pride when she says, “I do. I deny nothing” (II. 59). In scene II, she tells Creon she isn't guilty of anything she’s done. She is prideful because she disobeys Creons law, and buries Polyneices body because she loves him. Creon shows pride when he says, “If we must lose, lets lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (III. 50-51). In scene IV, he shows us how “women” were defying him so he sends Antigone to be locked in a vault to live or die. He is prideful because he doesn't have any respect for women. Even if Antigone and Creon have pride it all ends up as a tragic flaw for Creon.

At the end, I think each character deserves to be blamed. Antigone is arrogant in pride which defies the law and buries her brother who was a traitor. Creon is arrogant in pride which caused his downfall of losing his niece, son, and wife. After all, I think the tragic hero would be Creon because he failed to pay attention to Tiresias causing three tragic flaws all due t o his “pride”.