Essay --

In both Things Fall Apart and Antigone, Okonkwo and Creon faced many similar difficulties along their paths to their predetermined fate. In white men trying to convert Okonkwo’s village to Christianity, ultimately leading to the suicide of Okonkwo. And in Antigone, Creon faced difficulties as well. King Creon, a dictator, creates his own laws without considering the desires of the people. Creon declares Polyneices not to be buried, punishes and kills Antigone for trying to give her brother a proper burial, lets no one mourn his death (SP4). Although Creon didn’t kill himself he has to live with his knowing that he brought this tragedy on himself. Both characters were challenged together in separate ways with both unfortunate outcomes. In both stories we know that Okonkwo and Creon rule by fear and they both believe that having power is the most important thing; it isn’t (SP1). That trait of fear of weakness may as well of been both Okonkwo and Creon’s trag ic flaw which caused the two their devastating downfall. Likewise, to make decisions, they use their own reasoning rather than consulting or listening to others. This is what compels us to believe why they had their downfall in each of the stories. They are similar, Okonkwo and Creon, in the way that they both are the two tragic heroes. They both are challenged in the way that their lives have been upset by something new. Antigone’s attempt at a heroic action, burying her brother when it was against Theban law to do so. The Theban law prohibited the burial of those that were not loyal to Thebes; however Antigone did so anyways (SP1a). She created chaos for Creon when his whole family died. Creon supposes that all his decisions benefit the whole community, whereas they really on... ...sively never end up in their favor anyways. In both Antigone and Things Fall Apart, they were challenged in ways where at first they believed their verdict of the situation was appropriate and equitable they come to realization at the end that they were very incorrect in thinking so. Okonkwo finds, at the conclusion of the book that everything he ever aimed to become was essentially inevitable. Mirthfully enough, he becomes just like his father, a disgrace to the clan. Creon as well realizes his fault at the end of the book, where he has his anagnorisis. He understands that making this law, and entombing Antigone lead to the death of all his loved ones. The two together rule by fear and don’t like showing weakness. They are oblivious to the desires of those around them, and don’t take into account that the view of the people and their families may be quite different.