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Crime in Antigone Essay

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Hubris is a word that the ancient Greeks used to describe pride, or, more often, the negative effects of possessing too much pride, namely when one has too much of it. When people are too prideful, they can become blind to their mistakes, believing that they alone are in the right. It is difficult to swallow ones pride and admit when one is wrong. The consequences of not doing so and letting ones mistakes escalate at the expense of ones ego are often more severe than a simple bruised pride.

Tiresias, a wise seer who is renowned for his wisdom and foresight in Antigone by Sophocles says:

All men make mistakes, it is only human. But once the wrong is done, a man can turn his back on folly, misfortune too, if he tries to make amends, however low hes fallen, and stops his bullnecked ways. Stubbornness brands you for stupidity pride is a crime. (Page 1497).

This statement is true, but it is incomplete. This statement does not address the effects peoples mistakes have on others. If a man makes a mistake that results in the injury of another, but he corrects his mistake, hasnt he still committed a crime against another? A man may be called a good man for fixing his evil, but it does not change the fact that he still has committed an evil. If we are still evil, then why do we call ourselves good? We call ourselves good to help ease our conscience of the evil we caused.

Creon was made king in ancient Greece after a bloody battle in which the previous king. Eteoclyes fought his elder brother. Polynices, the rightful king, outside the gates of the city. Both brothers were killed in battle, leaving Creon the throne. Polynices, even though he was the rightful king, had attacked his mother city and as such Creon decided that only Eteoclyes would be given proper burial in accordance with the gods. Polynices body was to be left on the battlefield to rot. This punishment was even more severe in ancient Greece than in our time, as it was believed that if one didnt receive a proper burial, ones spirit would wander forever. With those traditions and beliefs along with Tiresias wise statement, Never stab the fighter when hes down. Wheres the glory, killing the dead twice over? (Page 1497) Creon still wouldnt allow the burial ceremonies. His anger and his damaged pride was all that he was thinking about when he made his decree forbidding the ceremonies. Being an authority figure, like Creon, means that you have to make decisions that benefit your people, and those decisions have to be based on logical thinking. If you do not base your decisions on logical thinking and allow your emotions to play a role, like Creon did, then you will make a rash decision that you will regret in the future. The most dangerous of these emotions is pride. Pride is the most dangerous because you are being egotistical where as some of your other emotions can actually be beneficial to others.

Antigone, the sister of both Eteoclyes and Polynices, was fiercely opposed to this decision, saying that the gods divine rules -in this case, proper burials for all, even traitors- over ruled any of the laws of the State. Creon disagreed, claiming that Polynices was a traitor to their kingdom, as he had led an opposing army to conquer the city, and deserved to remain unburied. Antigone, ignoring Creons decree, crept out at night and preformed the burial rites for her brothers body. She was caught. Creon was furious, and decided to make an example out of her. Antigone was locked in a tomb and left to die. Creon refused even to listen to his son Haemons pleas on behalf of his fiance, Antigone. Distraught, Haemon attacked his father, and was accidently killed in the ensuing fight. The consequences of his decision were all around him and Creon was beginning to see the flaws of his decree. I know it myself-Im shaken, torn. Its a dreadful thing to yield. . . but resist now? Lay my pride bare to the blows of ruin? Thats dreadful too. (Page 1499) confesses Creon. Finally, Creon decided to retract his decision, but it was too late. Antigone had hung herself in the tomb. Creons swallowed pride amounted to nothing, because he had taken too long to admit his mistakes.

In modern words, Tiresias stated, Think: all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil: The only Crime is pride. Creons pride made Antigones punishment for doing what she believed was right much more severe than necessary. Creon maintained his decree due to his pride and eventually realizes that his decree was wrong. I and my better judgment have come round to this- I shackled her, Ill set her free myself. I am afraid. . . its best to keep the established laws to the very day we die. (Page 1499). Tragically, the Creon took too long to change his course, and to repair the evil. Because of his pride, both Antigone and his own son, Haemon, died needlessly. With time you almost always realize you evils and have regrets about how you shouldve done something different. All you need to do is think of others when you make decisions and occasionally sacrifice something of your own for the benefits of the people. All you can do is make decisions for the benefits of more than yourself.

It is human nature to try to appear strong and to stand up for what you believe is right. But if one becomes overconfident and prideful, as in the case of Creon, such traits often do more damage than good. Only those that openly admit their mistakes are able to correct the errors that pride made them ignore, before they escalate into tragic consequences. When one looks at the many archetypal characters, especially heroes that have succumbed to hubris it is no wonder that the ancient Greek gods continually condemned mortals. Remembering the words of the wise Tiresias, The only Crime is pride. You can fix your evils, but you can never erase your evils from history and for that you are still guilty. The only way to stay innocent is to make decisions based on others than yourself and be willing to sacrifice your pride if the cause calls for it.

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