Read the following statements and explain the irony in one.
"There is no art that teaches us to know the temper, mind or spirit of any man until he has been proved by government and lawgiving." (Creon's proclamation of the edict)
"But it is those that are most obstinate suffer the greatest fall." (Creon at Antigone's arrest)
When Creon tells Haimon, "You shall not marry her this side of the grave," he does not want his son to marry a disobedient woman like Antigone. The irony in this is when after the prophet, Tiresias, tells Creon about the upcoming plague because of his order not to bury Polyneices and locking Antigone away. Creon makes sure Polyneices has the proper burial, then sets off for the tomb that Antigone was locked away in. When Creon arrives he sees his son, Haimon, holding Antigone, as she is hanging from a cloth that she used to hang herself with. When Haimon sees his father he pulls out his sword and tries to attack his father, Creon, but he runs away. Haimon kills himself with his sword to be reunited with Antigone. Basically, to marry her on the other side of the grave.
2 comments:
The statement "But it is those that are most obstinate suffer the greatest fall." is ironic because when one is obstinate they will not gain very much. Since little is gained, not much can be lost. Therefore you cant really fall that hard.
"But those who are most obstinate suffer the greatest fall." The irony is that Creon is the obstinate one. Obstinate means that you are too stubborn to listen to other people's opinions. In the end, he suffered the most. He tried to save Antigone, but he was too late. He saw his son kill himself and his wife also committed suicide. His family was gone and he was left to ponder about his mistakes.
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