DAVID RUSH

​Writer

SCENES FROM  "Antigone" 

Creon confronts Antigone about her disobedience to his edict about burying her brother.


CREON

Child.  Child. What were you thinking?

ANTIGONE

That ought to be clear.

CREON

Didn’t you hear the edict?  Didn’t you know what would happen?

ANTIGONE

Of course I knew.  Didn’t you?

CREON

Then what?  Did you think you were untouchable, that your royal blood would save you?

ANTIGONE

It was not my safety that concerned me.

CREON

And how am I supposed to deal with you now?

ANTIGONE

The proclamation is clear. Haven’t you heard it?

CREON

Am I to have your blood on my hands?

ANTIGONE

Does that frighten you?

CREON

I can’t withdraw the edict, you know.  My hands are tied.

ANTIGONE

I didn’t come here expecting mercy.

CREON

What did you expect?  Praise?

ANTIGONE

Not from you, certainly.

CREON

You think I’m evil then? You don’t understand. The city is restless.  The people are frightened.  They’ve been without leadership since your father’s disaster and they demand peace.  I have to stamp out anything that threatens them.

ANTIGONE

One burial of one poor soldier?  That threatens them?

CREON

My weakness threatens them.  I can’t expect you to understand that.  You have a woman’s softness, you can never think clearly when death is involved.

ANTIGONE

Is that what rankles? That a woman has defied you?

CREON

That anybody defies me when there’s danger.  Child, be reasonable.  Look at my side.

ANTIGONE

You talk reason while buzzards devour my brother. 

CREON

That has nothing to do with it.

ANTIGONE

It has everything to do with it!

CREON

You’re letting your emotions get the better of you.

ANTIGONE

Do you mean love for a brother?  Respect for his death?  These are now sins?