Ugwu has assimilated and adapted to the modern and strikingly different culture in the city and in Odenigbo's house. He is almost forgetting or evolving past his roots in the village. Anulika, Ugwu's sister, says to him, "You have forgotten where you come from, and now you have become so foolish you think you are a Big Man." (154) Ugwu's sister believes that he is being foolish to become so comfortable in Odenigbo's house as it is only temporary. In Ugwu's mind, this is his new life forever and he feels an inherent sense of superiority because of it. This is another instance where Ugwu's naivety is demonstrated in his idealistic and childlike perception of his situation.

Antigone is portraying herself as a martyr. She intentionally disobeyed Creon, not only to stay true to her beliefs, but also because she knew she would be put to death. Thus, she would become immortalized as a symbol of rebellion and would expose the corruption and injustice behind Creon and his power. She also seemed to be driven by her own pride and inability to compromise her beliefs and therefore lost her life in return. Antigone then killed herself as another act of pride, so she would be able to be in control of her own demise, rather than be executed by the hands of another. Antigone's actions and motives demonstrate that she too was fighting for power in the situation, whether it be because of her pride or seeing herself as the role of martyr.

The Guard didn't carry out Creon's orders because of loyalty to his ruler, but rather because his life was at stake. Creon is so concerned with stabilizing his power and making sure he is never crossed, demonstrated in how angered he was that Antigone, a woman, had disobeyed his decree. But, his own direct underlings show how they are not in blind loyalty to him but rather feel guilt and remorse for the actions they are forced to do and have motives of their own. Thus, the people of Thebes have shown that Creon's power is nothing more than a facade and that they all act in their own self interest. Ismene, Antigone, the Guard, and Haemon all demonstrated this imbalance in power by directly disobeying or disagreeing with Creon.

The poem is written in first person until this line. Although many interpretations can be drawn from the meaning of this choice by the author, one possible implication might be that a civil war situation personalizes the killing of one of your own. The pronoun “you” could be used because the killer is really the one who dies emotionally, losing morality and empathy.