Sophocles: "Antigone"- The differences between Creon and Antigone.

Throughout the play, the difference between Creon and Antigone is vividly shown. By the end of the play, Antigone, it is evident that a total of five characters have lost their lives. This is due to the characters' failure to choose where their loyalty and obligation should stand, thus creating conflict. The main character of the play, Antigone, is forced to choose a decision between abiding by the law, and showing obligation to her family. King Creon is also forced to make a decision between his moral obligation and his family obligation, but his actions create a series of tragic happenings.

Moral obligation is an obligation arising out of considerations of right and wrong. With this in mind, one could say that Creon, Antigone's uncle as well as the king of Thebes, chooses to act with moral obligation. His decision to forbid the burial of his nephew Polyneices was to prove that he would not allow a traitor to be honored by being given a proper burial. His niece, Antigone, refuses to tolerate his order, and buries her brother, Creon's nephew, anyway, so she is sentenced to death. Not even his own son was unable to sway his decision. Creon was a man of the law, and since he was king, he was not about to bend his rules in fear that he may lose control of his people. His actions show a neglect of his family and a failure to drift from the responsibility that his job impresses upon him.

On the contrary, Antigone demonstrates family obligation. Family obligation is an obligation arising out of consideration of ones family. Antigone shows consideration for her family with whatever she does. When Antigone first hears of the decree Creon has imposed, stating that no one is to bury the body of...