In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon does not actually die within the events of the story. However, his fate is ultimately one of profound loss and turmoil. After enforcing the edict that forbids the burial of Polynices, Creon faces the consequences of his actions. His son Haemon, who is engaged to Antigone, takes his own life after finding her dead, having hanged herself. Witnessing this tragedy drives Creon’s wife, Eurydice, to also take her own life out of grief.
The emotional and psychological toll of these events leads Creon to a state of despair. By the end of the play, he is left alive, but utterly broken and devastated, regretting his rigid adherence to law and authority over family and compassion. The thematic focus shifts from his physical demise to his moral and emotional decline, illustrating the tragic impact of pride and inflexibility.