Irony in Antigone: King Creon Essay

In the tragedy Antigone, Sophocles pens a tale around a stalwart and distrustful king, Creon, and his misuse of the business office he possesses. In the romp he disregards the law of the gods to fit his whims, something that the heroine of the number, Antigone, wholeheartedly dis retards with she disobeys his order to leave her asleep(predicate) brother, Polynices, unburied and sentences herself to closing in the process. Antigone is engaged to Creons son, Haemon, who does non agree with his fathers actions in regard to the interment of Antigones disloyal brother.The disagreement between father and son leads to Haemons suicide ironically, Creon thinks it is his liveness that allow for be letn and non his sons. Creon and Haemon argue ab out(p) Antigones impending fate their disagreement on the subject prompts a threat from Haemon No. Dont ever hope for that. Shell not wear out with me just standing there. And as for you your eyes will neer inflict my face again. So let your rage charge on among your friends Who want to stand by you in this (870-875)Haemon decl bes that Antigone will not die without reaction from himself Creon will neer see Haemon again be get to if Antigone is killed Haemon plans to join her in death by his testify hand. Haemon then says that Creons rage will force Haemons experience hand to do something that Creon will regret. Creon does not understand that Haemon is threatening his own flavour instead, he believes that his own life is being threatened, and his reactions to Haemons words be lined with fear, ignorance, and jeering.The irony of the incident is that Creon is so blinded by his own ego that he thinks his own life is in danger, when it is actually his sons that is. Creon only realizes the hallucination of his assumptions and actions after Haemon commits suicide. More irony arises with the death of Haemon he has joined Antigone in death to have what Creon denied them while living each other. At the secretive o f the run away Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice, Creons wife, have all committed suicide because of Creons actions.Creon is suspicious through the entire play in the beginning he accuses Antigone and Ismene of plotting to sneak his throne, saying You thereyou snake lurking in my house, sucking out my lifes blood so secretly. Id no idea I was nurturing two pests, who aimed to rise against my throne. Come here. (607-610) These words are directed towards Ismene more so than Antigone because Creon already suspects her of wrongdoing. He is surprised to see Ismene lurking in the shadows as she eavesdrops on the judgment of Antigone upon seeing Ismene, Creon is convinced that she has conspired with Antigone to fall away his life and throne.In short, he is aware of one pest, Antigone, but does not consider Ismene as a pest until she is discovered eavesdropping. After Ismene is discovered Creon calls her over to be judged alongside Antigone. This is the first sign of Creons utmost(prenomi nal) suspicion that the reader sees not only does he accuse Antigone and Ismene of conspiring to steal his kingship, but he accuses them of trying to take his life as well. Creons suspicion of his impending death is ironic because at the end of the play both Antigone and Haemon take their own lives instead of Creons.Creon does not realize the disparage he has caused until it is too late to fix the time for rectification of the patch has passed and he feels deep anguish at the loss of his son. He never imagines that Haemon spoke of killing himself when they had their exchange of words earlier in the play when next to Haemons corpse Creon says Aaiiimistakes made by a imprudent mind, cruel mistakes that bring on death. You see us here, all in one family the killer and the killed. Oh the profanity of what I planned. Alas, my son, you died so younga death before your time. Aaiii . . . aaiii . . . oure dead . . . gonenot your own foolishness but mine. (1406-1414)Creon explains with gri ef that he now realizes his actions caused the death of Haemon his mistakes are cruel and Haemon is gone not of his own foolishness, but of Creons. Further irony shows after Creon discovers that his wife, Eurydice, is also dead he asks for death by double-edged sword, when earlier he was extremely fearful about his own death and vehement about not dying. He says, Aaaii . . . My fear now makes me tremble. wherefore wont someone now strike out at me, pierce my heart with a double bladed sword?How negligible I am . . . aaiii . . . how full of misery and pain . . . (1453-1457). Creon begs for the death that he is unreasonably obsessed with earlier in the play it takes the fulfillment of Haemons threats to make Creon seek death, and is most definitely ironic in comparing to his attitude towards death earlier in the play. Ironically, Creon now feels the misery of Antigone and Haemon, which he caused he pierces each of their hearts respectively when he denies Antigone proper burial of her brother, Polynices, and when he denies Haemon his bride, Antigone.Creons final words are Then take this foolish man away from here. I killed you, my son, without intending to, and you, as well, my wife. How unimportant I am, I dont know where to look or let out support. Everything I touch goes wrong, and on my head fate climbs up with its kindle load. (1485-1490) Once filled with immense confidence and arrogance, Creon now feels helpless and useless ironically, he feels hopeless and distraught not because of anyone trying to steal his power or take his life, but because of his own distrustful actions and ignorant thoughts that cause his world to unravel before his very eyes.