Analysis of Creon’s Fatal Flaw in The Play Antigone

Our first impression of Creon is his fair manner of dictating laws. As his pride starts affecting his reasoning, he dismisses other people’s opinion, Creon thinks he is always right. This is evident where Creon says “whatever you say, you will not change my will.” Pride ultimately caused Creon’s downfall. Creon shows his ruthless nature feeds the dead body of Polyneices, to dogs and birds despite peoples cries “With leavings of the dogs and birds; their feast was on that fated, fallen Polyneices.” This shows a disrespect for morals from Creon.

He refuses to heed the advice given by his son Haemon who pleads with his father to listen to wisdom and try being open minded but he shuts him down “At my age I'm to school my… This boy instructor is my master, then?” Haemon tells his father to judge him by his actions and not by his age. He advises him that God has given people common sense and that it was the only pure possession people had.

When Teiresias tried to advise Creon of the consequences of his actions “on younger men, and learn to calm his tongue, and keep a better mind than now he does…”. Creon in turn branded Teiresias disloyal and accused him of bribery. Creon accuses the prophet by saying, “Now say that I am bribed! At no far time shall men and women wail within your house” Creon felt that the prophet had sold out and this justifies he uses this to justify. The prophet tells Creon that his pride would cause him to lose his family. Creon is warned against his blasphemous nature but again he ignores Teiresiase’s advice and this eventually contributes to his downfall. By not heeding to his prophets advice and not taking his son’s words and actions seriously, Creon displayed a characteristic of narrow-mindedness. Disposing the body of Plyneices to the animals shows his disregards for the proper burial laws that the Greek people were renowned for. This foolish behaviour along with his pride eventually led to Creon’s downfall.

Creon’s fatal flaw, pride, can be used to draw parallels to actions by people in modern times. In our society many people exhibit pride in their actions. Individuals who are too proud to listen to other people’s perspective or advice at times cause their own downfall and bring about bad fortunes to themselves as well as their families.

A few years ago, a friend of my uncle had everything going for him. His businesses were flourishing and his family was living a comfortable life enjoying the fruits of his good fortune. This individual was getting most of the city contracts and making a killing from his contracting business. The individual started losing his way and could be found in the night clubs. The man threw his family out of his home and got a second wife who dictated every move. The man stopped taking advice from his friends. Pride, however, comes before a fall. In an economically harsh six month period, the man lost his company and fortunes because of tax evasion and fraud. Overnight, his mistress left with his remaining property and was not his daughters the man almost committed suicide. His plight taught me how pride leads to downfall and misfortune.