Post by kingcreon on Dec 10, 2015 3:05:58 GMT
I want to start out by saying this will be very difficult for me. There are very few happy moments in my story and it does not have a happy ending. Due to some very unfortunate circumstances with my brother-in-law and his children, I was named King of Thebes. My brother-in-law passed away and his two sons, Polyneices and Eteocles, were to share the power of the throne. Eteocles was to rule for a year and then Polyneices would have a turn; however, after a year passed Eteocles refused to give up power. Polyneices, furious at his brother, stormed the city and a horrible battle ensued. I stayed out of that dispute. It wasn’t really my business anyway. Both brothers ended up killing each other leaving the throne open. I was thrilled, of course. It was finally my time to shine. With them out of the way, there was no one stopping me from ruling Thebes the way I saw fit.
I was worried though. Thebes had had so many rulers in such a short span of time I fretted that I wouldn’t be taken seriously. I also worried that the rabble in the street would learn from Polyneices and think it was okay to storm the castle anytime they saw fit. I wanted to put an end to that way of thinking so that I could enjoy my newfound power in peace. I had a beautiful funeral service for Eteocles and then publicly decreed that Polyneices would not be buried, refusing him passage to the afterlife. The decree also stated that if anyone was caught trying to bury Polyneices they would be put to death. It was my first law. I was incredibly proud of myself. In my eyes, this law set an example for any rebels squashing any idea of revolution or uprising. I was in total control, or so I thought.
You see I had forgotten one crucial person in my carefully laid out plan. Besides Polyneices and Eteocles, my brother-in-law had two daughters. One of the girls, Ismene, didn’t cause any trouble for me. She accepted her brother’s fate without a word, her sister, Antigone, on the other hand was headstrong and stubborn in insisting that Polyneices be buried. I liked Antigone. I liked her spirit and character, I had agreed for my son, Haemon to marry her. I actually had no idea that Antigone felt as strongly as she did on the subject of her brother’s burial, until my guards caught her sprinkling dirt on him performing a burial ritual. Imagine my surprise when they dragged her in front of me exposing her crime. I was distraught. I dismissed the guards and confronted Antigone. I expected her to be scared or at the very least ashamed, but she fiercely took credit for this heinous crime.
I tried to imply that she should denounce her part in this horrible crime and pretend that she was in her room all day. I told her I would back her up. She took offense to this rather than see it as a generous gesture on my part. I grew impatient with her fury and called the guards to take her away. I was consumed by rage. How dare she, a woman, openly defy me like that? The law was in place for the citizens of Thebes not my own family! The more I thought about it the more my anger flared. My son came to me asking me to refuse punishment on Antigone. I tried to reason with him and set a good example for when he would become king, but he refused to be silenced. I told him that the mob that had gathered outside knew of Antigone’s guilt and if I pardoned her they would know I was making an exception for my son. My son then burst into tears and ran from the room. He was still so much a boy then.
I refused to be swayed by my son’s emotions. I ordered Antigone to be buried alive with just enough rations to keep her alive for a while, that I relieved myself of the guilt. She did not physically die by my hand. I should have been fine. I was following my own rules, my country wouldn’t see me as weak - everything was fine. My mind would not let me rest though. I kept feeling conflicted about it. Finally, I called for my blind prophet, Teiresias. Teiresias advised me to keep Antigone alive. His prophecy changed my heart and mind. A feeling of dread washed over me. I wanted nothing more than to see Antigone alive and well. It wasn’t too late. I rushed out and demanded the guards unbury Antigone. They moved the stones of her burial chamber and I rushed in. What I found still haunts me to this day.
Antigone for all her fiery energy had decided it was better to die by her own hand than die of starvation. She swayed in the breeze as I stared in horror. I was too late. If only I had come to my senses a little faster I could have prevented this. I kept my face somber; it would do no good to show weakness. I turned to see Haemon run at Antigone crying. He let out a horrible wail then turned his eyes on me. I was shocked to see them full of hatred and disgust. He walked up to me and hit me. I staggered backwards in shock. Nothing could prepare me for my son’s next actions. He drew his sword and pierced his own heart. I watched horror-stricken as his body fell to the ground. I got up and stared numbly at the lifeless form of the two lovers.
I turned away and as I was going walking away a guard stopped me. He looked nervous and saddened. I demanded he tell me what was troubling him. He brought news of by beloved wife, Eurydice, had heard the news of our son’s death and in her grief had sliced her throat open with her favorite pair of knitting needles. I dropped to my knees. I had lost my future daughter-in-law, by son, and my mother in one day. I am alone in the world. I haven’t been able to forgive myself for those actions. I still rule with an iron fist but I know my anger will rear its ugly head again. My depression and isolation caused the royal therapist to encourage me to find friends who understood what I was going through. I just want to move on and come to term with what has happened.
I was worried though. Thebes had had so many rulers in such a short span of time I fretted that I wouldn’t be taken seriously. I also worried that the rabble in the street would learn from Polyneices and think it was okay to storm the castle anytime they saw fit. I wanted to put an end to that way of thinking so that I could enjoy my newfound power in peace. I had a beautiful funeral service for Eteocles and then publicly decreed that Polyneices would not be buried, refusing him passage to the afterlife. The decree also stated that if anyone was caught trying to bury Polyneices they would be put to death. It was my first law. I was incredibly proud of myself. In my eyes, this law set an example for any rebels squashing any idea of revolution or uprising. I was in total control, or so I thought.
You see I had forgotten one crucial person in my carefully laid out plan. Besides Polyneices and Eteocles, my brother-in-law had two daughters. One of the girls, Ismene, didn’t cause any trouble for me. She accepted her brother’s fate without a word, her sister, Antigone, on the other hand was headstrong and stubborn in insisting that Polyneices be buried. I liked Antigone. I liked her spirit and character, I had agreed for my son, Haemon to marry her. I actually had no idea that Antigone felt as strongly as she did on the subject of her brother’s burial, until my guards caught her sprinkling dirt on him performing a burial ritual. Imagine my surprise when they dragged her in front of me exposing her crime. I was distraught. I dismissed the guards and confronted Antigone. I expected her to be scared or at the very least ashamed, but she fiercely took credit for this heinous crime.
I tried to imply that she should denounce her part in this horrible crime and pretend that she was in her room all day. I told her I would back her up. She took offense to this rather than see it as a generous gesture on my part. I grew impatient with her fury and called the guards to take her away. I was consumed by rage. How dare she, a woman, openly defy me like that? The law was in place for the citizens of Thebes not my own family! The more I thought about it the more my anger flared. My son came to me asking me to refuse punishment on Antigone. I tried to reason with him and set a good example for when he would become king, but he refused to be silenced. I told him that the mob that had gathered outside knew of Antigone’s guilt and if I pardoned her they would know I was making an exception for my son. My son then burst into tears and ran from the room. He was still so much a boy then.
I refused to be swayed by my son’s emotions. I ordered Antigone to be buried alive with just enough rations to keep her alive for a while, that I relieved myself of the guilt. She did not physically die by my hand. I should have been fine. I was following my own rules, my country wouldn’t see me as weak - everything was fine. My mind would not let me rest though. I kept feeling conflicted about it. Finally, I called for my blind prophet, Teiresias. Teiresias advised me to keep Antigone alive. His prophecy changed my heart and mind. A feeling of dread washed over me. I wanted nothing more than to see Antigone alive and well. It wasn’t too late. I rushed out and demanded the guards unbury Antigone. They moved the stones of her burial chamber and I rushed in. What I found still haunts me to this day.
Antigone for all her fiery energy had decided it was better to die by her own hand than die of starvation. She swayed in the breeze as I stared in horror. I was too late. If only I had come to my senses a little faster I could have prevented this. I kept my face somber; it would do no good to show weakness. I turned to see Haemon run at Antigone crying. He let out a horrible wail then turned his eyes on me. I was shocked to see them full of hatred and disgust. He walked up to me and hit me. I staggered backwards in shock. Nothing could prepare me for my son’s next actions. He drew his sword and pierced his own heart. I watched horror-stricken as his body fell to the ground. I got up and stared numbly at the lifeless form of the two lovers.
I turned away and as I was going walking away a guard stopped me. He looked nervous and saddened. I demanded he tell me what was troubling him. He brought news of by beloved wife, Eurydice, had heard the news of our son’s death and in her grief had sliced her throat open with her favorite pair of knitting needles. I dropped to my knees. I had lost my future daughter-in-law, by son, and my mother in one day. I am alone in the world. I haven’t been able to forgive myself for those actions. I still rule with an iron fist but I know my anger will rear its ugly head again. My depression and isolation caused the royal therapist to encourage me to find friends who understood what I was going through. I just want to move on and come to term with what has happened.