Creon is Antigone's uncle. He is a ruler, and he has surrendered his whole life and energy to the exercise of government. This makes him tired and weary, as this is closer to a burden than a blessing. His only interests are politics and maintaining the social order, which means that he does not get involved in the tragedy and the concerns that surrounds Oedipus' family. However, even though he has nothing against Antigone, he cannot let someone defy the government so openly. His pride does not allow him to forgive her challenge, and he feels forced to execute her. His pride, therefore, leads to his downfall, serving both as a cautionary tale for the reader and as a device to clarify the theme of the play.
