Creon's Internal Conflict--Antigone Blog Post

Antigone's AP Essay Prompt

1999: The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Stern wrote, "Nobody, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man's mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time."

From Antigone choose a character (not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Then, in a well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain how this conflict within one character illuminates the meaning of a work as a whole. Avoid plot summary.

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     In Sophocles’ “Antigone”, Creon, the new king of Thebes, has his mind pulled on two different directions in front of a conflict. After his niece tries bury her brother, who has betrayed Thebes, Creon orders for the traitor to be killed, until he learns that it’s his niece who has committed the crime. Creon now faces a moral conflict, with two sides of equal strength, either to appear strong and determined as the new king of Thebes, or to follow his heart and pardon his niece’s life.

     Creon’s first reaction to hearing of this crime is of rage. He’s very upset towards this criminal, until he learns that it’s his own niece, Antigone, who has committed this terrible act. He has just become the new king of Thebes, and wants to be seen as a strong leader by his new people, but his heart thinks otherwise. Through Sophocles’ description of Creon’s emotions, we see that he is deeply concerned about being an unmovable and capable leader for his people.

     While Creon tries to maintain his position as robust king, he’s also profoundly worried about his niece, Antigone. Creon feels a very strong bond towards her, both as her niece and fiancée of his son. However, this feeling is not reciprocal, as Antigone seems stoic, almost like she doesn’t care about being executed at all. This family connection affects Creon’s opinions about the sentence for Antigone, and makes it very hard for him to make a decision.

     Creon’s internal conflict it’s a very humane one, and is relatable to most of us readers. Every time we make a decision between two plausible outcomes we face this conflict, to choose one alternative or the other. Creon’s case is especially appealing to readers since his conflict doesn’t really have a ‘right’ choice. Both alternatives have its pros and its cons. It’s the socially correct alternative against the morally correct one.