certain ideas in his writing. For example, when Tereisias is
speaking to Creon of his vision and the bad things to come,
he relays his dark omen by saying, "Dark slime poured out the
chambers/oozing from the thighs, which smoked and spat,/
bile was sprayed high up into the air" (Sophocles lns. 1121-1123).
This image creates a crystal clear image in the head of the reader,
as they understand Teirisias' description is an omen of bad things
to come. Sophocles shows his great command of words in this
excerpt.
In Antigone, Creon has a very apparent fatal flaw: his
overconfidence. For example, after Haimon suggests that the
execution of Antigone would cause another death, instead of
heading the warning and thinking about the situation, Creon
yells at Haimon. He says, "Are you so insolent you threaten me?"
(ln. 860). this is a very arrogant and rude thing to say to his son,
especially since he is hinting at suicide. The peripeteia of this play
occurs when Eurydice, the last person close to Creon, dies.
Anagnorisis happens very shortly after, when a messenger burdens
Creon with this unfortunate event. In response, Creon says,
"I murdered you. . . I speak the truth./ Servants-hurry and lead me
off,/get me away from here, for now/what I am in life is nothing"
(lns. 1319-1322). This line is Creon realizing what he has done:
caused the death of his family. His self esteem takes a huge plunge,
as he was king on top of the world and now everyone close to him
is dead. As the audience witnesses Creon's guilt and self-esteem
plunge, they can't help but to feel sorry for him. Catharsis occurs.
This catharsis is especially fulfilling for the audience, because
anagnorisis and peripeteia occur in such short succession.
In Antigone, women are regarded as a possession of the men
they are close to, and inferior. For example, Creon treats Antigone
as if she should mindlessly do everything he says. For example,
Creon states, "Those views of yours-so different from the rest-/
don't they bring you any sense of shame?" (lns. 579-580). This
quote explains everything. Creon simply believes that Antigone
should not be able to think for herself: that all women should
think the same way. He seems to be very sexist.
Works Cited
Sophocles. "Antigone." Sophocles Antigone. Trans. Ian Johnston.
9 Aug. 2008. Vancouver Island University Malaspira.
24 Nov. 2008.
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