ces is not punished, then Creon's power may be taken for granted by the people of Thebes. Creon is also offended by the action that Polynices took against his family; he sees Polynices as a traitor. If he does not enforce this law, he fears that the people would think of him as a weak king, who can be dishonored without fear of punishment. Creon wants to be respected and feared as a king because this will give him more power. He does not want to be a bad king, using his power for evil things, but a strong king. However, in order to be a strong king, one must be strict and firm in one's decisions. Creon is a strong king because Thebes is important to him, and he wants Thebes to be a great city. Antigone and Creon have different ideas of what is right and what is wrong. However, one cannot say who is right and who is wrong, what is important and what is not. Both Antigone and Creon have their reasons for their actions. Antigone has the laws of heaven as well as her family in mind; on the other hand, Creon's concern is his city and its greatness. Moreover, Antigone has the more convincing argument. The gods come first. They are all powerful and no mortal has the right to override the laws created by the gods. Antigone makes a very good point in justifying her burying Polynices. She says, "I have longer to please the dead than please the living here. (Antigone, 86-89) By this, she means that people live for only a short time, and when they die, it is forever. Therefore, she aims to please those she will spend the most time with--the dead. Overall, some may see Creon as the protagonist and Antigone as the antagonist because she is going against this law he set. However, perhaps the gods are the protagonist and Creon is the antagonist, going against the gods' will....
