This quote is definitely my favorite quote, since it is the darkest one I can find in the entire play. But beside its darkness, I think this quote does mean something about life. When Creon says it after he has fallen into complete hopelessness, he understands that all happiness are gone, and only death can give him comfort. The last hour of his life would be his happiest hour. I think what Creon says is true to everyone.
Life is just about suffering. We can never have real happiness on this planet. We may not fall because of hubris, but we all just fall immediately after we were borne. We must leave someone we love in our life, we cannot get rid of hatred, we cannot achieve everything we want, and we cannot forgo things that we once had casually without pain. Everything causes bitterness and we just cannot get rid of it. Only death can end all pain. This is the truth about life.
My question is, do you agree with what I said, do you agree that only death can bring real and ultimate happiness to humans?
I agree, and I disagree. I agree because "in the world you will have tribulation," but I disagree because "be of good cheer--I have overcome the world," says Jesus. In other words, we will never be completely free from pain on this earth, BUT I do believe that we can begin to live now inside the joy that we will experience fully in heaven. If we are in Christ, then eternal life has already begun. What a wonderful question in the context of Creon's despair. Fascinating.
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