As Aaron Swartz once said, “Steadfastness is a noble quality, but unguided by knowledge or humility, it becomes rashness, or obstinacy.” Obstinacy, throughout our society, is a prevalent issue. We often times are steadfast in our principles which often results in negative consequences. The consequences can include close people to you becoming irritated because you are unwilling to listen their perspectives. Sophocles, two thousand five hundred years earlier, explores this idea through Antigone and Kreon in his play Antigone. Antigone, a girl who is wholeheartedly devoted to her family, decides that her love for her family is more important than abiding by the law. Kreon, a King who is profoundly invested to his state, decides that his duties …show more content…
Kreon declared that whoever buried Polyneices will be executed. He mentions that, “And they say he intends to enforce it: ‘Whoever shall perform any prohibited act shall be liable to the penalty of death by stoning in the presence of the assembled citizens” (22). Kreon is determined to prosecute Antigone. Kreon could have enforced a less harsh punishment, especially after he realized that it was Antigone who buried Polyneices. But, as a ruler, Kreon felt the need to inflict harsh punishment in order to maintain his people’s loyalty and respect. “Laws were made. She broke them. Rebellion to think of it, then to do it and do it again, now more defiance, bragging about it, she did it and she’s laughing” (40). Kreon does not care who buried him, even if it was Antigone. The same punishment is going to be applied no matter who committed the crime, with no guilt or regret. “I caught her in open rebellion, her alone out of all the nation. I won’t be a leader who lies to his people. No: I will kill her” (47). Kreon declares that he will not let her away from her crime but instead harshly punish her for it, no matter the family ties. In addition, Koryphaios, Haimon, and Teiresias were attempting to get Kreon to change his mind, stop being obstinate, and weigh out the consequences in order to try to save Antigone. Haimon declares, “Please, be different this once. Believe in what someone else says for once. Whenever a man suppose that he alone has intelligence or expression or feelings, he exposes himself and shows his emptiness. But it’s not shame even for a wise man to learn and to relent” (49). Haimon tries to respectfully convince his dad that even though respecting him is his top priority, it would not harm him to think about and consider the other perspectives. But, because Kreon is selfish and obstinate, he believes