Position paper: Creon is morally correct

The Moral Justification of Creon's Actions in "Antigone”

~Esha, Khushbu, Shivani, Keval, Varun, Muskaan, Yashvi

Introduction: The play Antigone, by Sophocles, shows a complex moral issue based on the
character of Creon, the king of Thebes. This position paper aims to argue that Creon's actions
were morally right in terms of maintaining law and order, upholding state authority, and
promoting societal well-being

CLAIM - I: Keeping Thebes' residents safe and secure is one of Creon's primary objectives.
Creon’s act of prohibiting Polynices from being can be perceived as an act to maintain stability
in his community. After Polynices betrayed his own country, Creon had to ensure that everyone
living in the country was treated equally under the law and that there was no discrimination
based on a person's identity. And so, Creon was correct to sentence Polynices to this penalty. His
acts guarantee that everyone in the state abides by the same disciplinary guidelines. Additionally,
Creon’s verdict aligned with the mindset of the time wherein, kings in ancient Greece wouldn’t
allow any traitor to be buried. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to consider Creon’s actions as
immoral and label Polynices innocent of taking up arms against his own fatherland.

CLAIM - II: Creon was also right to punish Antigone for her actions. Antigone had gone
against the state’s law and as a fair king, it was up to Creon to not discriminate against any
member of the society. So, he was right in punishing her, for she broke the law. As the fiancé of
his own son, Haemon, Antigone was shortly to become a part of the royal family. But if she
rebelled against the king, the other state citizens wouldn't regard him seriously. If Creon had
been lenient in punishing Antigone, people would have thought that the rules were different for
different people and would have viewed him as an unjust king. This would have strained Creon's
relationship with his citizens, who he always wanted the best for. Furthermore, Antigone took
great pride in her actions and showed no remorse. He was therefore correct to punish her.

CLAIM - III: Creon is a character who is rooted in the politics of Thebes in Ancient Greece,
particularly focusing on being a just ruler. He has faith in the necessity of his actions, made with
rationality. His distrust of other people stems from a need to be certain, which, unfortunately, is
unattainable, leading to the failure of his decisions. His prior experience with oracles and
soothsayers - who make him vulnerable - leads him to judge Teiresias wrongly, however, that is
a fault of his judgment, not his morality. This highlights the sacrifices needed for collective
welfare.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Creon's moral position can be supported by his dedication to

maintaining the rule of law, stressing the value of authority and regulation, and putting society's
overall welfare first. Creon's viewpoint makes a strong case for the need for strong leadership
and the maintenance of social order. Thus, a more complex and fair evaluation of Creon's moral
position in the tragedy is possible when his reasons are considered in light of his position as a
king.