Sophocles and Pride

PRIDE Pride – “A high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing & conduct Pride is basically feeling proud of something you accomplished or did. On the other hand pride can also be the total opposite. People can take advantage of their pride and hold it against others. In Antigone there were an exotic amount of examples of pride. Pride can from many characters; although the main signs of pride came from Antigone and Creon. It all started with the sons of Oedipus. Oedipus' sons were completely full of their own pride. Neither one of them could come to an agreement as to what was the best decision for the city of Thebes. Eteocles wanted the power to rule everything and so did Polyneices. Instead, Polyneices and Eteocles were constantly fighting over the kingship until they had both killed each other, leaving neither man to be the ruler. Creon then takes over; since he was their uncle he was entitled to the position. Creon- one who is a king; but full of overtaken power and pride. “You wait and see! The toughest will is first to break: like hard and untempered steel, which snaps and shivers at a touch, when hot from off the forge”, (pg 211). This shows Creon’s pride and self confidence. He refused to have anyone rule him, especially a woman. He showed no respect what so ever for females in general, not even for his own wife. He believed that only a man could have a final say. He believes that even the toughest willed of a person could be broken. Antigone- one who stands up for what she believes and stands up for her pride. Her pride took thing to another level which consulted to bad consequences. "Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgated such a law, nor will you find that Justice, Mistress of the world below, publishes such laws on humankind. I never thought your mortal edicts had such force they nullified the laws of heaven."(pg. 358)This is an excerpt from Antigone’s speech to Creon. She disagrees with his edict not to bury her brother. She tells him that she doesn’t think he has the right to make a law against the laws of god. This quote shows Antigone’s bravery and pride. Pride can be a terrible choice by the way one interrupts it. One may have over extensive power and their pride can possibly turn into self-cockiness. As you can see; Antigone, Creon, and Oedipus sons’ pride wasn’t always a good thing because at the end they all ended up regretting what they did to themselves. As explained in this book their pride led them through the wrong path in life. For example, Oedipus sons’ were at war with each other which led them to death because pride overwhelmed them. Antigone committed a crime due to her courage and pride to doing the right thing which led her to death by hanging. Creon’s pride led his wife to committed suicide which made him miserable and depressed through his journey of being a selfish king.