Final answer:
Creon's argument in 'Antigone' about the effectiveness of punishment to uphold state law is undermined by his lack of empathy and the tragedy that ensues in his family.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effectiveness of the character's argument in Sophocles' Antigone is best analyzed through the perspective of Creon, the ruler who sentences Antigone for her crime. Creon insists on upholding the law he has set against the burial of traitors, which Polyneices, Antigone's brother, is considered. Despite Antigone's claim that she is obeying divine law, which dictates proper burial rituals, Creon refuses to relent, asserting the importance of state law and order. In the context of the play, his argument demonstrates an adherence to the belief that civil law must be paramount. However, this stance proves ineffective as it ultimately leads to the tragedy of his own family, drawing attention to the rigidity and potential tyranny of his unpitying rule.
The evaluation of Creon's argument's effectiveness is complex. While from a legal standpoint, his insistence upholds the societal order, it also showcases a lack of empathy and flexibility, which is crucial in governance. The severe punishment Antigone receives—immurement until death—evokes sympathy from the audience and other characters within the play, suggesting a failure of Creon's argument in the moral sphere. It alienates his subjects and his family, notably his son Haemon, leading to a series of tragic events, including death attempts and the ultimate eroding of Creon's authority and happiness.