Creon: Guilty

Bayley Taple
Peifer
10 IB Hr 4
26 November 2008

Creon: Guilty

To the jury of the Theban court,
Creon, King of Thebes and son of the late Menoeceus, is guilty on three counts. One, he prevented his nephew, Polyneices, from receiving a proper burial. Two, his hand caused the death of Antigone. Three, the two above actions led to the stress and suicide of his own wife and son. He shall be punished for the problems he has caused in the House of Thebes.

The first count, on which Creon is guilty, was commented on by Antigone before her murder. She said, “Dishonors which better fit our enemies are now being piled up on the ones we love” (Johnston 12-13). Antigone was referring to the fact that Creon would not allow Polyneices a peaceful journey across the River Styx, while Eteocles received a full funeral and lament. Subjects close to Creon may argue that Polyneices was indeed an enemy of Thebes, but that is countered by the fact that he was a noble warrior fighting for the cause of his country. Another point made by Antigone was that no matter what side Polyneices was battling for, he still shared Creon’s blood. In response to Creon saying that Polyneices was part of the ungodly army, Antigone replies, “Yes- from the same mother and father, too” (Johnston 585). Ask Creon this: does the bind of family not override the triviality of matters of state?

Now, the second count on which Creon is guilty shall be examined. There is no possible way to deny that Creon commanded the execution of Antigone. There is evidence: Creon himself said to Antigone, “Then go down to the dead” (Johnston 599). As examined in the first count, Polyneices deserved a proper burial. Therefore, Antigone’s action to bury him was better than innocent; she was performing a great deed. Though she was willing to take any punishment for what she thought was right, and is right, she should not have been killed.

The third and final count on which Creon is guilty has been attested to. When Creon saw the bloody corpse of Haimon sprawled on top of Antigone and that of Eurydice as well, he took the blame. “I have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and my wife” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 134-135).

If none of the evidence above satisfies this jury, there is one more confession that certainly will. Creon said himself, “I alone am guilty” (Fitts and Fitzgerald 122). This disclosure of his wrongdoings will surely have him chastised.

Works Cited

Sophocles. “Antigone.” Literature Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 814-826.

_ _ _ “Antigone.” Johnstonia. Trans. Ian Johnston. May 2005. Malaspina University-College 25 Nov. 2008 .

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