At the end of Antigone, who deserves more sympathy, Antigone or Creon?

The question as to who deserves more sympathy all depends upon the reader. There is no right or wrong answer. In the eyes of the gods, Antigone deserves more sympathy due to her piety and love, but Creon is not without sympathy either, even though there is no question as to the injustice of his actions.

Antigone is a heroic character whose nobility, love for her family, and respect for the gods gets her into trouble. She dies for what she believes in. However, some have argued that Antigone might be a bit too stubborn for her own good. Even though she completes the burial undetected earlier, she returns for a second rite and this second time she is caught and arrested.

Critics and audiences have been unable to determine why Antigone returns to the graves; however, there are a variety of theories, anywhere from the gods did it the first time to Antigone forgetting a part of the ritual. Some have argued Antigone returns when she sees part of the grave is uncovered, not because this endangers her brother's soul according to religious tradition (and it doesn't) but because she is stubborn to a fault. This could make her seem more hardheaded.

Creon is tyrannical throughout the play and creates his own problems in the end. When his entire life ends up in ruins, one's sympathy for him but be twinged with a sense of "he had it coming." However, some might argue he too is tragic, since his hamartia is what causes him to make all those bad decisions in the first place.

Some might argue both he and Antigone were trying to do what they believed best given the circumstances. Creon wanted to retain civil order after a destructive conflict, no matter how cruel his measures, and Antigone believed in obeying the dictates of the gods and loving her brothers in spite of everything.

Who is more honorable, Antigone or Creon?

The question of whether Creon or Antigone acts with greater honor is a central issue in Sophocles' tragedy. The area of disagreement between the two characters is whether Polyneices, Antigone's brother, deserves a proper burial, as Antigone maintains, or whether he should be denied burial, as Creon decrees. 

We can use the responses of the Chorus to sort through this conflict. First Creon states that Polyneices, for his treachery against Thebes, must not receive an honorable burial. Creon asserts that if he valued his family more than the state, he would dishonor his fatherland. The Chorus acknowledges that Creon has the power to make such laws and therefore acknowledges that he acts honorably. 

After Antigone is brought in and explains that she cannot submit to a law from a mere mortal when the pre-existing laws of the gods requires otherwise, the Chorus does not agree with her. After Haemon's attempt at intercession, the Chorus attributes his arguments to his love for Antigone.

As Antigone is led forth to the tomb, the Chorus tells her that she can be praised for her reverence toward the gods, but that Creon can't be blamed for not allowing his laws to be violated. So the Chorus seems to be attributing more honor to Antigone than at first, but still gives more honor to Creon.

Then, after Teiresias comes and warns that Creon is dishonoring the gods by refusing to bury Polyneices, the Chorus changes its tune. The Leader advises Creon to bury Polyneices as quickly as possible and release Antigone to avoid the prophesied judgments. The Chorus has now swung over fully to Antigone's side. When Creon reaps the judgment of his son's death, the Chorus exclaims, "Ah me, how all too late thou seemest to see the right!" They blame Creon for not seeing "the right" earlier. The ending line from the Chorus Leader states: "Reverence towards the gods must be inviolate." This was Antigone's position from the beginning.

The Chorus in this tragedy performs the role of interpreting the action for the audience. Since the Chorus moves from first believing Creon to be in the right or more honorable, to respecting Antigone's position, to advocating for her side, we must conclude that Antigone actually displayed more honor in her beliefs and actions than did Creon.