iendship stronger than blood bonds of kinship. Creon feels that loyalty to the city and state are his standards and they are what keep our city great (1272). Even though Polynices is his nephew, he is also a traitor to the city and Creon views the latter as more important. He values that the treasons Polynices has committed are to out weigh his relation as uncle to this traitor. His loyalty lies with the state not kinship.Associated with Creons loyalty to the state is his skepticism of the gods to the point of impiety. Creon mocks the gods, and his mockery is evident when he is arguing with his son, Haemon. Referring to Antigone, he says, Thats rightso let her cry for mercy, sing her hymns to Zeus who defends all bonds of kindred blood (1284). Creon feels that Antigones belief in the gods will not save her from the death that he prescribes for her. Creon does not believe that even the gods can save her from his wrath. Creons sarcasm towards the gods is demonstrated when he says, There let her pray to the one god she worships: Deathwho knows? may just reprieve her from death. Creon fells that if Antigone buried her brother to appease the gods, then leave it up to the gods to save her. Creon feels that it is a waste of breath [for Antigone] to worship Death (1288). In this quote, Creons impiety is noticeable. He says that it is a waste, useless for Antigone to worship or pray to the gods because they wont save her from Creons order of death.Creons impiety is also seen in his treatment of Tiresias, a representative for the gods. Creon is so stubborn that while speaking to Tiresias, the blind prophet, he states that Polynicess body will never be buried, not even if Zeuss eagles rip the corpse and wing their rotten pickings off to the throne of the god! He continues saying, Never, not even in the fear of such defilement will I tolerate his burial, that traitor (1294). Creon places his laws above the laws and traditions of the...
