Question

read the excerpt from \the royal house of thebes.\ in thebes, creon was in control and he proclaimed that none of those who had fought against the city should be given burial. eteocles should be honored with every rite that the noblest received at death, but polyneices should be left for beasts and birds to tear and devour. this was to carry vengeance beyond the ordinance of the gods, beyond the law of right; it was to punish the dead. the souls of the unburied might not pass the river that encircles the kingdom of death, but must wander in desolation, with no abiding - place, no rest ever for their weariness. to bury the dead was a most sacred duty, not only to bury ones own, but any stranger one might come upon. but this duty, creons proclamation said, was changed in the cause of polyneices to a crime. he who buried him would be put to death. which action most makes creon a villain in this story? remaining the king of thebes placing revenge above sacred duty honoring eteocles for defending thebes making proclamations after the war

Explanation:

In ancient Greek culture, burying the dead was a sacred duty. Creon's act of forbidding Polynices' burial (placing his personal revenge against Polynices above this sacred duty) goes against moral and divine norms, which is villainous behavior. Remaining king isn't villainous in itself. Honoring Eteocles (who defended Thebes) is a normal act. Making proclamations after war is a common royal action. But changing a sacred duty (burial) into a crime (for Polynices) due to revenge is what makes him a villain.

Answer:

placing revenge above sacred duty