is point out the serious consequences that will follow if Creon goes ahead with executingAntigone. He informs Creon, quite rightly, that Antigone is immensely popular with the people of Thebes; executing her will only add to their growing discontent. Haemon is acting out of genuine love and concern for his father; he does not want to see him lose his throne over this.

However, it is important to acknowledge that Haemon's intercession on Antigone's behalf is not based on his feelings for her, but on the basis of a calm, rational assessment of the political situation in Thebes. He is acting in the capacity of a counselor, a loyal servant of his father the king, who feels duty bound to provide his master with sage advice.

It is all to no avail, however. Creon is so stubborn and so arrogant that he is not prepared to listen to reason, whether it is from his son or anyone else. Once more, the old adage is illustrated that you cannot reason someone out of a position if they did not reason themselves into it.

Haemon initially approaches his father in an amiable, respectful manner by informing Creon that no marriage means more than his wisdom. Creon is pleased with how his son approaches him and justifies his decision regarding Antigone's punishment. Haemon then responds by explaining to Creon how the citizens disagree and speak about Antigone's punishment behind his back. Instead of directly opposing Creon's decision, Haemon wisely attempts to transfer Creon's focus to his subjects instead of onto himself, effectively portraying himself in a positive light in the hopes that his father will not view him as an opponent. Haemon proceeds to display his affection and concern for his father by encouraging him to listen to other reasonable people, so he will not make a terrible decision. He then reminds Creon that stubborn individuals often needlessly suffer because they do not listen to others. When Creon realizes that his son opposes his decision to punish Antigone, Creon criticizes Haemon's age and lack of respect. Creon once again reveals his stubborn, authoritative personality by saying that his voice is the only one that matters in the city. Haemon proceeds to disagree with his father and argues for justice, individual rights, and the gods' authority. After realizing that his father will not budge on his decision to punish Antigone, Haemon vows that he will die if Antigone loses her life.

After King Creon decides to put Antigone to death for her crime against the state, he is approached by his son Haemon, who is Antigone's lover and fiance.  Haemon pleads with his father to spare Antigone's life.

Haemon begins by declaring his allegience to his father (always a good idea when asking Dad for a big favor):

Father, I am yours, and as you have me, you guide the best course for me to follow.(645) No marriage will ever be more important to me than justly carrying out your precepts.

After listening to his father rail against Antigone, Haemon presents several lines of reasoning.

a) The public is on Antigone's side; since the "city does not belong to one man [only]," Haemon feels that his father should bend to public opinion.

b) Antigone's actions were not wrong:

She didn't let her brother, who had fallen in combat, lie unburied, to be devoured by some ravenous dog or bird. They ought to give her an award!

c) By punishing Antigone, who has obeyed the divine obligation of burying the dead, Creon is placing his entire kingdom at risk:

Am I wrong to protect my own empire?(755)

You don't protect it when you trample the honors of the gods!

At first, Haemon flatters the absolutist king Creon by declaring his complete loyalty to him and by extension the state. This was a smart move as it puts the king at ease and hopefully in a better position to listen to good counsel. Haemon is not questioning the king's authority but his wisdom in this matter.Haemon relates the intelligence that the people of Thebes think the punishment is too much for a pious deed. Creon sidesteps the argument reverting back to his unquestioned authority to rule. He is missing the point. He may have absolute authority but is still subject to errors in his judgment like any mortal. His ego appears to cloud his reason. He accuses Haemon of being under the influence of love for a woman (true) and insults Haemon. Again, that sidesteps the issue of whether the king's harsh decree will be good for the kingdom (it will not). Creon is questioning Haemon's motives rather than addressing the objection directly. Haemon explains that men are not omniscient with perfect judgment and that this should make them open to reason and good counsel. Consequently, they should be flexible and not rigid and unbending (exactly how Creon is behaving). That is how trees survive the storms. Haemon is right again. Creon keeps missing the point. If his ruling is too out of line with the morals and values of his people he may even end up undermining the state and his authority by his entombment of Antigone. This is a danger he simply refuses to see. Haemon argues that this death penalty could lead to other unintended deaths. Right again.

Haemon is correct in encouraging Creon to change his mind, but the tragedy is that even though Haemon has made all the correct points and truly has the best interest of the state at heart, Creon misjudges, ridicules, and dismisses him. The chorus and the audience can see this, but Creon cannot.

Haemon tries to convince Creon to spare Antigone's life by telling of him of the restless mood of the people. They're not at all happy about Creon's treatment of Antigone, and Haemon's genuinely worried that their murmurings of complaint could eventually lead to an uprising against his father. Haemon knows that Creon's throne is the most important thing to his father so tries to play on that in convincing him to spare Antigone.

However, Creon stubbornly refuses to accept his son's argument, so Haemon tries a different tack. He draws upon examples from nature to warn his father of what will happen if he persists on his present course of action. Trees that yield to a winter storm manage to save their branches whereas those that remain firm and unyielding are destroyed in their entirety—branches, trunk, and all. No prizes for guessing which tree Creon is and which he must become if he's to save his throne.

Once again, Haemon is rebuffed by Creon, who for good measure angrily accuses his son of disloyalty. For his part, Haemon realizes he's wasting his breath, and so walks out on his father, vowing that he will never submit to Creon's shamelessness.

In addition to Haemon's pleads for his father to listen to the reasoning of the people of Thebes, Haemon also uses appeals to Creon's authority to convince him to spare Antigone's life.  Haemon tells his father that he will forever be his son and that no other union can replace the bond that he has with his father:  "[F]or there is no marriage shall occupy a larger place with me than your direction, in the path of honor."  Haemon knows that his father likes to be in control, so he submits himself as one of Creon's subjects to make his father feel like he is reasonable and in control.  Haemon wants his father to understand that he loves him and that he is not trying to make him appear foolish in front of the people; Haemon tells Creon that "beside your welfare there is nothing more prized by me" to stay in his father's good graces.  So, Haemon's appeals to his father's authority are another method that he uses to convince Creon to spare Antigone.