Creon tries to treat Antigone as best as he can considering her sympathy towards her brothers' deaths. Creon is now the ruler of Thebes, much to the dismay of Antigone. She is much more of a fighter and sympathizer compared to her sister, Ismene. Ismene does what she is told and acts the way that is expected of her. So when Creon deems Eteocles the hero brother and Polyneices the unworthy shameful brother, this begins a rift between Antigone and her uncle. Antigone does not follow her uncle's edict against proper burial for Polyneices and attempts to get Ismene to help her, but without success. Antigone was following her familial duties and felt that both her brothers needed to receive proper burial no matter which side they died fighting for. Creon, angered by the blatant disregard for his orders, imprisons both sisters regardless of Ismene's innocence.
Creon's son, Haemon, is engaged to Antigone and pleads with his father to spare her. Creon will not be bullied and against his pleas Haemon vows never to see Creon again. Creon spares Ismene, but leaves Antigone to be buried alive in a cave. His fears deep down are that if he leaves her to roam free and marry his son, he will certainly be uprooted and Antigone will be ruler.
He gives into his fears but properly buries Polyneices after a prophet foresees terrible things happening to his kingdom and his son due to his actions toward Antigone. Unbeknownst to Creon, Antigone hangs herself, so it is too late for redemption for himself and his son. Haemon out of rage towards his father's actions attempts to kill Creon and in the end kills himself.
Creon in the end learns too late that he should have focused on ruling the kingdom as a proper ruler and following the gods' edicts rather than trying to punish Antigone for her sympathy towards her family.
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