Creon Foils In Antigone

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Does one ever truly know who they are? Sometimes in life, one will encounter someone who knows more about them than themself. In literature, these people are termed “foils”. A foil is used to show another character’s traits through dialogue. Foils can be found in most plays. In the play Antigone by the Greek playwright Sophocles, the mighty King Creon has his flaws exposed by multiple foils. His very own son, Haemon serves as a great foil, as does the play’s chorus leader, because they conflict with Creon at times. These two characters also develop Creon’s role as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who is the central figure of a tragic play. Haemon and the Chorus Leader depict Creon’s role as a tragic hero. They show that …show more content…
When Creon’s son approaches him to speak of Creon’s actions, he ends up getting very angry. Haemon tries to reason with Creon, as Creon has decided to kill Haemon’s fiance. Creon responds by calling his son a “woman’s slave,” and “a person with an empty brain.”(pg 355, ln 854,864). When Creon’s logic had been eloquently dismantled by his Haemon, he resorted to name-calling. On his own son! This shows a tremendous amount of weakness from Creon, thus contributing to Creon’s development as a tragic hero. In another case, the Leader of the Chorus puts forth the idea that the gods may have acted against Creon’s wishes. Creon furiously tells him, “Stop now--before what you’re about to say enrages me completely and reveals that you’re not only old but stupid, too.”(pg 329, ln 324-326). Creon is unable to control himself and listen to others’ opinions, which continues to display that he has a hot …show more content…
Throughout the play, several people ask Creon to change his mind on his decision to punish Antigone. Time and time again, he ignores these voices of reason. Finally, after a visit with the blind prophet Tiresias, Creon is convinced to forgive Antigone. The Chorus Leader finally reaches Creon and assists him in coming to the realization that he was wrong. He tells Creon, “Go and release the girl from her rock tomb. Then prepare a grave for that unburied corpse.”(pg 371, ln 1230-1). Instead of hinting at what Creon should do, the Choral Leader makes Creon’s needs clear to him. Creon acknowledges that “it's difficult,” but, “it's not right to fight against necessity.”(pg 371, ln 1235-7). At long last, the King decides to right his wrong. As for his downfall, Creon dies shortly after checking Antigone’s tomb. Creon experiences the loss of his niece, his wife, and his son, all because of one decision he made. In the end, he pays the price and learns his
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