Haemon in Antigone

In the city of Thebes, it is expected that everyone respects the King and the decisions he makes. Creon's son, Haemon has never gone against his father, but when Creon justifies his actions by saying he has the power to do so, Haemon goes against everything Creon believes in. The important conversation begins with Creon asking Haemon if he accepts the punishment his wife, Antigone is going to receive. Throughout the entire conversation, Haemon is pretty diplomatic because he tries to make some clear points to his father, but still shows his father that he respects him and worships him when he says, "What medal of honor brighter to his children than a father's growing glory?". Creon lectures Haemon that it is a son's job to defeat his father's enemies and to never let woman influence the decisions he makes. Creon then reveals the role he thinks women play in a man's life. After hearing all these things about what women are and aren't, Haemon tells his father that Thebes is on Antigone's side because she did the right thing by giving her brother a proper burial. At that moment, Haemon tells us what personality traits are important for a person to have and what traits aren't. He actually has the courage to tell his father "now, don't please, be quite so single minded, self-involved, or assume the world is wrong and you're right." Haemon is not trying to insult his father, but in a way is trying to help him become a better king. Creon says "the city is the king's- that's the law!" We learn that Creon is not punishing Antigone for the well being of Thebes, but for himself. He is trying to justify his actions with his personal beliefs. Creon does not see Haemon is telling him all this because he cares for him and he doesn't want his father to continue living his life with his "mindless judgments." Creon can't handle the truth and decides to threaten Haemon by telling him that he will kill Antigone. Haemon challenges his father's word and tells him if Antigone dies, he will too. Haemon does end up dying and Creons ends up wishing he had listened to what others said to him because then he would still have his loved ones with him.