In the play, Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone and Creon conflict so much because they are so different; yet so alike. They are both loyal to what they care most about and suffer from having excessive pride which leads to a tragic situation.
Sophocles explains how Antigone and her uncle Creon contrast each other. Antigone is loyal to her family and the gods while Creon is loyal to the state and not his family. Antigone says, "I am not afraid of the danger if it means death. I will not be the worst of deaths -- deaths without honor" (Prologue. 87-88). Antigone is sacrificing her life just so her brother could have a proper burial. Ismene, Antigone's sister, agrees that Antigone is loyal to her loved ones saying, "But a loyal friend indeed to those who love you" (Prologue. 91). She is saying that Antigone is willing to do anything for her loved ones. Antigone is not only loyal to those who love her but to the gods. In scene two, Antigone says that she refuses to follow Creon's law because it wasn't based on the gods. Antigone believes that Creon's law is unfair and does not follow god's proclamation. When it comes to the state, Creon is the most loyal. He shows his loyalty by saying, "For you honor a traitor or not, and equal in blood. He made war against his own country "(2. 126-128). In scene 3, Creon states that Polyneices, Antigone's brother, was a traitor for going against his own city so he does not wish to give a burial to someone who is not loyal to his city.
Despite Antigone's and Creon's differences, they both suffer from excessive pride. Antigone says, "Then I beg you kill me. I should have praise and honor for what I have done. All these men here would praise me were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you" (2. 109-115). Antigone reveals her hubris by owning up to her actions and being proud of them. She also claims that everybody would praise her doing this, but they'd be too afraid of what Creon would do to them. Antigone also shows her arrogance by not obeying the law Creon has made for Theban citizens: no one can bury Polyneices. In the prologue, Antigone says that she is determined to bury Polyneices no matter what obstacles choose to stand in front of her not even Creon. Creon's arrogant pride won't even show mercy to Antigone and Ismene even though they are related. This is justified on page 786, when he sentences death for both of the girls saying, "For they are but women, and even brave men run when they see death coming" (2. 184-185). He also shows his prideful side in scene 5 when he contradicts Tiresisias who was believed to be one of the smartest men in Greece at the time. Both Antigone and Creon have exaggerated pride which leads to a lot of conflict throughout the play.
Antigone and Creon both share the blame for the tragic outcome because they take what they care most about to heart and sometimes push it to the edge. Antigone wishes to bury her brother Polyneices, but it's against Creon's law. Creon believes Polyneices is a traitor and uses his law against which angers Antigone and brings the worst out of her. Antigone begs for death which Creon almost immediately grants which leads to the "flesh-for-flesh" prophecy. Since Creon is the cause for Antigone's death, someone from his family has to be killed. Not only did the prophecy kill his son Haimon, but his wife Eurydice.
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