Creon And Haemon Analysis

The Blind Listener “I’ll not consider any marriage a greater benefit than your fine leadership.” (Lines 722-724) Haemon states as his father tells him of his ill-fated bride. Though Haemon begins with remark we soon learn that this is just a mask to get Creon to listen. In this story of weaknesses and love Haemon’s ideas, words, and actions contrast with those of of his father Creon to the point of causing conflicting motivations between them both. Conclusively these clashing motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by ultimately losing his temper and thinking irrationally as his father does. These character interactions advance the plot and develop the theme by proving that even from Haemon’s own wise words and Creon’s power both of their weaknesses ultimately prevail.
A man with many flaws or weaknesses Creon, he has no bigger one than that of his quick-temper. In his heated encounter we see with Haemon he instantly attacks and throws his rage onto Haemon as soon as he feels his son is threatening his judgment. “You’ll never marry her while she’s alive.” (Line 858) Creon announces to Haemon, this is what ultimately pushes Haemon over the edge as he replies back “Then she’ll die—and in her death kill someone else.” (Line 859) Here Creon instantly thinking Haemon is referring to killing him but is actually foreshadowing a threat on his own life if Antigone is killed. At the end of Antigone when the king goes to retrieve Antigone from her stony grave Haemon is already there. When they discover her limp body hanging from her own torn shreds of clothing that is when Haemon takes his own life. This moment is when Creon becomes this tragic hero realizing his mistakes “Aaiii-mistakes made by a foolish mind, cruel mistakes that bring on death.” (Lines 1406-1407) Creon cries out realizing his mistakes and the damages his foolish mind has caused locking in his spot as a tragic