Antigone Response to Literature

Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles in which a generous act is punished by King Creon. Haimon, Creon’s son, plays an important character in the story. In scene three, lines 55-94, Haimon uses his persuasive skills in talking to his father King Creon. He blatantly expresses about his opinion towards him, Antigone, and what he thinks Creon should do. He does this effectively using the rhetorical device of Pathos. Throughout the story, Haimon is saying many dishonorable and downgrading things about his father, making the audience dislike Creon. “Your temper terrifies them-everyone” (Antigone, scene 3, Line 62). This quote shows that Creon is an openly angry person, a tyrant king that many are afraid of. Haimon goes on to describe how Antigone should not be punished for burying her brother, but Creon disagrees and wishes to kill her. “…no woman has ever, so unreasonably, Died so shameful a death for a generous act” (Antigone, Scene 3, Lines 66-67).

This quote makes the audience feel sympathy towards Antigone. She’s being given the ultimate punishment for wanting to pay respect to her brother, someone that she loved. In addition, it helps establish a general understanding that Creon is a ‘bad’ person. In conclusion, Pathos is the rhetorical device used most effectively by Haimon. Pathos is the rhetorical device of emotion; it makes the audience feel both sympathy and hatred for the characters in the material exhibited. In the play Antigone, Haimon describes his father in such a way to make the audience dislike him and sympathize for Antigone.