Discussion Topic
Tiresias' Prophecy and Creon's Response in Antigone
Summary:
In "Antigone," Tiresias prophesies that Creon's refusal to bury Polynices and his punishment of Antigone will bring disaster upon Thebes and his own family. Creon initially reacts with anger and disbelief, accusing Tiresias of being bribed. However, as the prophecy's implications become clearer and the chorus advises him, Creon reluctantly decides to reverse his decisions, but it is too late to prevent the ensuing tragedies.
In Antigone, what prophecy does Tiresias deliver and what is Creon's response?
In Sophocles's Antigone, Tiresias, the blind prophet, tells Creon that his treatment of Antigone and his failure to grant Polynices a proper burial will anger the gods and bring a curse down on the city of Thebes.
Prior to hearing Tiresias's prophecy, Creon agrees to obey whatever advice the soothsayer gives him. His attitude changes upon hearing the prophet's warnings, as he does not like what Tiresias has to say. Creon accuses Tiresias of being a self-serving, false prophet who is only interested in personal gain.
After Tiresias departs, Creon finds himself perturbed by Tiresias's words and decides to do whatever the citizens of Thebes think is best. The people urge him to release Antigone and bury Polynices. Although he does not want to, Creon leaves the stage with plans to obey the will of the public.
A messenger informs Eurydice that Creon and his men heard Haemon...
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crying in Antigone's tomb as they were burying Polynices. In the tomb, they found Antigone dead, her lifeless body hanging from a noose. Grief-stricken over the death of his betrothed, Haemon tried to stab his father with his sword. He missed and turned the sword upon himself, committing suicide.
Upon hearing the news of her son's death, Eurydice is heartbroken and heads back to the palace, where she stabs herself and dies.
When Creon returns to the stage, he is carrying his son's dead body.
A messenger informs Creon that his wife is dead, having taken her own life out of grief over the death of their son. He tells Creon that just before she killed herself, Eurydice cursed her husband for his foolish pride.
The play concludes with Creon mourning the losses of his wife and son, while lamenting his pride and the choices he made which contributed to their deaths. He prays to the gods for a swift death just before his guards escort him back to the palace.
In Antigone, what is Creon's immediate reaction to Tiresias' prophecy?
In Antigone, Creon's immediate reaction to Tieresias' prophecy is to claim that Tieresias has been paid to lie. By the time Tieresias comes to give counsel to Creon, Creon has already made up his mind to follow through with the plan to punish Antigone for burying Polynices' body. Tieresias is well known in Thebes as being a blind seer and for accurately predicting future events. Tieresias was able to predict the fate of Oedipus, but Creon believes that he and his actions are beyond the realm of the gods. So when Tieresias tells Creon that his actions will have detrimental effects on his family, implicitly Haemon and Eurydice, Creon does not heed the warning and tells Tieresias that he must have been lured by greed and paid to make such claims.