Free Essays,College Free Essays,Free College Essays at Anti Essays

What qualities make the ideal man? Is there such a thing as a man who does what is moral, ethical, or righteous? One example that might describe this almighty man can be found on lines 377-412 of Antigone. The words found in this passage of Antigone describe men, in fact, all men, but one… The man left in the dark is none other than Creon.
The story of Antigone is detailed and known by many. The story tells of two brothers who inherit a kingdom, squabble over power, and end up dead. The city is left to their Uncle Creon, who loses everything dearest to him in his efforts to give unequal burial rights to Polynices, one of the fallen brothers, who brought outsiders to attack the city on his behalf. Antigone, the boys’ sister wants an equal burial for both, but Creon will not allow it. This is where things turn miserable for Creon.
The chorus in the play of Antigone, often cut in at times to state an abstract point of view. In lines 377-412 the chorus tells the story of man, “He conquers all…training the stallion…never without resources…(and) when he weaves in the laws of the land, and the justice of the gods that binds his oaths together he and his city rise high.” These ideas sound courageous and great, but as the chorus tells the audience they turn this idea into a contradictory statement when they proceed to lines 413-416. The words found in this section of the play talk of a man who is “reckless” and someone “someone who weds himself to inhumanity.”
At first glance it might be hard to see whom the chorus is referring to, but as someone reads the entire play, it’s only obvious that they are speaking of Creon. This is a man that often paid little attention to the gods or their laws. Creon was selfish and made his own laws, he couldn’t see past his own power. The great story of man that is told by the chorus, is told tell of what man has done and accomplished, and should be. Creon is a far stretch from that. He plays a...