In the play, Antigone, King Creon and Antigone vie for power. They have many conflicts. Creon is a stubborn king, and he has vowed to kill anyone who attempts to bury Polyneices, Antigone's brother. Laurence Kohlberg's moral stages of development are dependent on the maturity of the character. The levels are from a one to a six. Antigone starts out at a two and Creon at a four. When they are both at a 3, they cross paths and assume the others position. Creon then becomes a two and Antigone becomes a four. This happens when Antigone buries the body.

Pride is a trait despised by the gods. Both Antigone and Creon are prideful, stubborn individuals. Creon starts at a four. He lets pride blind him. They bring suffering to the proud although pride is part of greatness to the Greeks. "...but is worst to risk everything for stubborn...