Creon's only surviving son, Haemon (his elder son Megareus was killed in last night's battle) enters. He wants to be a good son, and tries to explain how the people of Thebes are reacting with horror to the news of Antigone's sentence. He believes that a good ruler should be flexible: listen to popular opinion, and if necessary bend with it. But Creon stubbornly insists on his view: it is the ruler's responsiblity to rule. He accuses Haemon of supporting a woman against his own father: Haemon maintains she was right - but that he's only trying to help his father rule justly. Creon loses his temper, and Haemon, equally enraged, rushes out.