Antigone And Creon Analysis

"Morality is always the product of terror; its chains and strait-waistcoats are fashioned by those who dare not trust others, because they dare not trust themselves, to walk in liberty," writes author Aldous Huxley. In "Antigone" the root of Creon's immoral behavior is not an inability to distinguish between what is wrong and what is right, but, rather, a fear or a terror of what may occur if he were to choose the morally right way to operate. "Very well, I am afraid, then. Does that satisfy you? I am afraid that if you insist upon it, I shall have you killed. And I don't want to (46)." Antigone acts in the complete opposite manner to Creon. She, as Creon can, is able to differentiate from right and wrong and is not afraid of the consequences of what acting on her morals may bring. These consequences have almost a reverse effect when compared with Creon; when faced with the consequences, she expects
Creon was at one time what Antigone was: young, happy, enjoying the fine arts and such, free from control, free from everyone, free from everything. "Don't think me fatuous if I say that I understand you; and that at your age I should have done the same thing. A moment ago, when we were quarreling, you said I was drinking in your words. I was. But it wasn't you I was listening to; it was a lad named Creon…he was thin and pale, as you are. His mind too was filled with thoughts of self-sacrifice (50-51)." Creon understands Antigone's train of thought because he himself went through the same inner feelings. But as he ascended to his position of power, however unwillingly, he needed to detach himself from his beliefs in order to do his job according to how he believed the job must be done. Essentially, he understands Antigone because she feels the same he did when he was younger, but his position and power hold him back from acting and processing the