Creon Is The Tragic Hero In Antigone

529 Words2 Pages

Wilber Villanueva
Ms.Shields
Pre Ap
02 November, 2015
Antigone the tragic hero
The story of Antigone, written by Sophocles, begins with Antigone disobeying King Creon’s order of not burying her brother Polynices. She decides to ignore the law, gets arrested, and placed in a cave where she ultimately hangs herself. Throughout time, many readers have argued who the tragic hero in the play truly is: Creon or Antigone. Both are born in a royal family and possess a tragic flaw that causes their downfall. Antigone is the tragic hero due to her devotion to her family, loyalty to the gods, and her stubbornness.
Antigone’s first mistake that led to her demise was her devotion to her family. She does not care that her brother attacked the city of Thebes because he’s family and must be honored. Antigone shows this devotion when she states, “ If you will not, I will; I shall not prove disloyal.(Sophocles 3) When she said this, she was talking to her sister Ismene who did not want to help her commit the crime. This showed that no matter what Ismene thought she would prove loyal and bury her brother. Antigone is blind of the possible consequences that could occur. She shows this when she exclaimed, “ Loving and loved, I will lie by his side.”(Sophocles 5) She will lie by his side no matter the repercussions. …show more content…

When Antigone is captured after burying her brother, Creon asks her why she disobeyed his law. She responds by stating, “ Because it was not Zeus who ordered it.”(Sophocles 25) Antigone’s response shows that she would not have buried her brother if the gods were the ones that gave to the order to not bury Polynices. She also explains, “Nor did I deem your ordinance of so much binding force.”(Sophocles 25) She contrasts the law of man and religious law by expressing that the law of man is nothing to her and that the law of the gods is more

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