In Antigone, we see the dangers set forth by power through Creon. His power makes him prideful and dangerous as he uses it to threaten (not just criminals, or Antigone who he believes to be a criminal, but also Haimon who has done nothing).
Because he is king, he believes that he knows best. He shows his pride when he says things such as, "You consider it right for a man of my years and experience to go to school to a boy?" "And the City proposes to teach me how to rule?" "My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city!" (pg. 1339) As he gets increasingly angry, his words show how he resents the thought of anyone trying to tell him anything about ruling. He is clearly arrogant in his power, and this arrogance gives him a willingness to abuse this power. He wants everyone to know that he has power and control over them. Basically, he is arrogant and a control freak! :P
Creon becomes so angry with Haimon that he rashly threatens to use his power to kill Antigone right then and there in front of him. While Haimon keeps calm and rational, Creon is completely out of control, yelling how he is an adolescent fool and how he is weak to be "sold out to a woman." Creon threatens his son's marriage, saying, "You'll never marry her while she lives." Haimon comments that she must, then, die, but that her death will cause another. I find this an obvious statement that he plans to die with her, so that he can be with her; however, Creon, obsessed with power (and perhaps paranoyed about losing it) takes this as a threat on his own life. Shortly after he calls for Antigone to be brought out and killed before Haimon's eyes. He says this, wanting to punish his son for his words, and Antigone for her actions. He seems to speak this threat in the heat of the moment.
It is clear that Creon's power makes him prideful and dangerous.
I would also like to point out (though I referred to it above) the difference in Haimon's and Creon's attitudes. Their responses foil eachother in this interaction. Creon is out of control, angry, and rash, while Haimon is controlled, calm, and mature. Haimon's attitude highlights Creon's craziness.
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Nat--hope your auditions are going/have gone well. Not sure why your blog has no comments, so here's a short one at least.
Nice discussion of the way the play shows the dangers of a certain kind of pride. Read in that way, it becomes a sort of cautionary tale, reminding all of us that the equivalent behavior in any of our lives can lead to hardship, even ruin. Good point.
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