A master artisan and innovator of the Greek tragedy, Sophocles's insightful plays have held their va
lue throughout countless time periods and societies. Through the use of common literary techniques,
Sophocles was able to express themes and ideas that reflect all of humankind. On particular idea w
as that Sophocles believed that hubris is destructive and will eventually lead to one's demise.
Creon, the proud king of Thebes has such a fatal flaw. His hubris alienates Teiresias, Ha
imon, and his people. Teiresias attempts to explain to Creon the severity of Creon's actions, but C
reon only shuns Teiresias. No matter how potent the signs, Creon 'would not yield,' (Scene 5, Line
47). Creon's hubris prevents him from recognizing his self-destructive behavior. Instead, he accus
es Teiresias of disloyalty and succumbing to bribery. He feels Teiresias has 'sold out' (Scene 5, L
ine 65) and that Creon was 'the butt for the dull arrows of doddering fortunetellers' (Scene 5, Line
42). Such inventions of Creon prove to be both counter-productive and foolish, for Teiresias did s
peak the truth and Creon is only further drawn into his false reality dictated by hubris.
Creon's fatal flaw overcomes him in a discussion with his son. Haimon confronts his father abou
t Creon's reckless and unreasonable actions dealing with Antigone. His hubris transcends his better
judgement and causes Creon to become defensive. Creon then ignores his son's recommendations on th
e basis of age and seniority as follows: 'You consider it right for a man of my years and experienc
e to go to a school a boy?' (Scene 3, Line 95). His anger intensifies until he explodes at his son,
'Fool, adolescent fool!' (Scene 3, Line 114). At that point, Creon was far too immersed in his own
foolish pride to recognize his perverseness. His hubris had reduced him into a raving lunatic only
capable of destructive behavior.
Not even the Choragos was too insignificant to suffer
the wrath of Creon's fatal flaw. The Choragos asked if the gods might have had some part in the bur
ial of Polyneices. To this he replied in a most vile manner, 'Stop! Must you doddering wrecks go o
ut of your head entirely? 'The gods!' Intolerable!' (Scene 1, Line 92). The attitude of Creon's r
esponse demonstrates the counter-productivity of his fatal flaw.
The resolution of Ant
igone is Creon's loss of everything dear to him. Creon is left a pitiful wreck, 'I am alone guilty.
', 'My own heart... darkness to final darkness', 'I have been rash and foolish.', 'To risk everythin
g for stubborn pride.' (Scene 5, Lines 121, 87, 143, and 93 respectively). Creon is in such a posi
tion because he allowed hubris to cloud his judgement.
While Creon did not directly ki
ll his family, his foolish pride did, 'I have killed my son and wife.' (Scene, 5 Line 135). Antigo
ne committed suicide because her situation, which was dictated by Creon, seemed hopeless, 'hanged he
rself... father had stolen her away...' (Scene 5, Line 60). His hubris had led to the destruction o
f all he loved.
Creon is the representation of all humanity and his misfortunes were b
rought about through hubris, which eventually leads to unhappiness, demise, and or destruction. Sop
hocles presented this idea to his audience over two centuries ago, and it is still a subject of much
conversation. His plays have influenced past works and they will continue to affect literary works
to come.master artisan innovator greek tragedy sophocles insightful plays have held their value thr
oughout countless time periods societies through common literary techniques sophocles able express t
hemes ideas that reflect humankind particular idea that sophocles believed that hubris destructive w
ill eventually lead demise creon proud king thebes such fatal flaw hubris alienates teiresias haimon
people teiresias attempts explain creon severity creon actions only shuns teiresias matter potent s
igns would yield scene line hubris prevents from recognizing self destructive behavior instead accus
es disloyalty succumbing bribery feels sold scene line butt dull arrows doddering fortunetellers sce
ne line such inventions prove both counter productive foolish speak truth only further drawn into fa
lse reality dictated fatal flaw overcomes discussion with haimon confronts father about reckless unr
easonable actions dealing with antigone transcends better judgement causes become defensive then ign
ores recommendations basis seniority follows consider right years experience school anger intensifie
s until explodes fool adolescent fool point immersed foolish pride recognize perverseness reduced in
to raving lunatic only capable destructive behavior even choragos insignificant suffer wrath fatal f
law choragos asked gods might have some part burial polyneices this replied most vile manner stop mu
st doddering wrecks your head entirely gods intolerable attitude response demonstrates counter produ
ctivity resolution antigone loss everything dear left pitiful wreck alone guilty heart darkness fina
l darkness have been rash foolish risk everything stubborn pride lines respectively such position be
cause allowed cloud judgement while directly kill family pride killed wife antigone committed suicid
e because situation which dictated seemed hopeless hanged herself father stolen away destruction lov
ed representation humanity misfortunes were brought about through which eventually leads unhappiness
demise destruction presented this idea audience over centuries still subject much conversation play
s influenced past works they will continue affect literary works comeEssay, essays, termpaper, term
paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, fr
ee research, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers