Antigone Essay part 2

When Oedipus accuses Creon of treason, Creon keeps a level head and is able to carefully counter each point made by his brother-in-law. This shows that Creon is not only well-educated, but also logical. Creon made many good points in this argument. However, one point by Creon stands out; “Who would choose uneasy dreams to don a crown/ when all the kingly sway/ can be enjoyed without?/ I could not covet kingship for itself/ when I can be a king by other means/ All my ambitions now/ are satisfied through you, without anxiety.” This statement proves that while Creon may not have been a king, he shared all the power of one. However, Creon is not corrupt. The reason for this is obvious, and also contained in Creon’s statement; Creon does not share the responsibility of a king. So, between Oedipus the King and Antigone, not much has changed about Creon’s position. The only difference is that in Antigone, Creon was burdened with responsibility. It only took this small change to cause a series of larger changes in Creon.
In Antigone, Creon’s character has changed drastically. He is no longer insightful, compassionate, or respectful. He is now blind, cruel, and pig-headed. This Creon displays none of his original traits, or his original way of speaking. He left behind his pity for others, only to become pitiful, himself. The death of his two sons, who died in battle with one another, had a great effect on Creon. Not only did it make him emotional, it made him irrational. Creon ordered that only one of his sons be buried, as the other, Polynices had fought against the city, and thus was not worthy of a warrior’s burial. Of course, Creon had let his emotions get the better of him when he made this edict. Things only become worse when Antigone, Creon’s niece and daughter to Oedipus, went against Creon’s law and buried Polynices. Outraged, Creon locks Antigone in Polynices’ tomb to die, without even considering any of what Antigone had said to him. This does not seem like the Creon who once said, “Listen to my answer to your charge./ And when you’ve heard me, judge.”*(Oedipus pg. 28) In fact, it sounds just the opposite, proving that Creon has become corrupt. However, since the only thing that he has gained since Oedipus the King is responsibility, it does not take a genius to figure out what caused him to divert from his path of justice. It is only when it is too late, and Antigone is dead that Creon realizes the error of his ways. However, unlike Oedipus before him, Creon admits to it being his fault. This shows that Oedipus and Creon may have been similar to an extent, but they were always different beings. The difference between them could have been fear. Oedipus never had a second thought about his boastful nature. Creon, having seen that, may have been fearful of pride, and tried to avoid it at every turn. However, there is truth in the old saying, “If you fear it, you shall become it’s slave.”
While power may not have lead to Creon’s downfall, it certainly contributed to it. After all, without his royal power, Creon would not have been able to order Antigone to death, and thus add more demerits to his fate. However, power only ended his downfall. It was responsibility that began it. The sad truth is, without the power, Creon may have never been able to break away from damnation.
Power is simply an object. It is a sword to be kept at your side, and used only when you see fit. It causes no harm unless you command it to. Responsibility is another object; a crown without jewels. It is indeed harmless, to both you and the world. However, without jewels, there is little point in wearing a crown. It is the jewels that make the crown, after all. Thus, one would seek as many jewels as they could, and use them to adorn their crown. With each jewel they would find, their crown would become greater, but also heavier, slowing the wearers pace and weighing them down. It is only a matter of time before the jewels weigh down the crown so much that it cuts of the brain-circulation of the one wearing it, making them unable to think of much besides the crown and the jewels. What do these jewels represent, you ask? The answer is simple; each jewel represents a person whom one is responsible for. Responsibility starts out harmless enough, as it is not difficult to provide one or two people with the things the need. However, the more people one is responsible for, the more they are burdened. The burden drives them to madness, and eventually a disinterest in anyone but themselves. Power is not like that. No matter how many people one is in charge of, they are never burdened. It is only when they feel the need for responsibility that they are plagued. After a period long period of thought, I have decided that phrases like, ”Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” do not accurately depict the relationship between power and corruption. Indeed, I have learned the more proper phrase for the subject is, “Heavy the head that wears the crown.”