Creon The Tragic Hero In Sophocles Antigone
analytical Essay
755 words
Do they fly around in capes? Are they capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound? Maybe they have super powers obtained after a nuclear accident? Or just maybe they’re normal people who do extraordinary things? There are many types of heros in society, some with happy endings and some have tragic endings. A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. In reading Antigone by Sophocles there is one hero that is truly tragic in nature, Creon. Creon’s flaw was that he had been too prideful. In the book Antigone, on page 1060 it states“I have killed my son and wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that there are many types of heros in society, some with happy endings and some have tragic ends. in antigone by sophocles, there is one tragic character, creon.
- Analyzes how creon's flaw was that he had been too prideful. pride makes people in our society do foolish things and they often end up in dangerous or unwanted situations.
- Narrates how antigone murdered her after she disobeyed him by trying to pay her respects to her brother. people in today's world often let their emotions control their actions.
- Analyzes how creon decides to try and fix his own mistakes because he doesn't want to be punished by the gods.
- Analyzes how creon's actions inadvertently killed his son and wife. every action you choose to do sets off a chain reaction.
- Opines that antigone was the tragic hero, because she got locked in a vault for trying to bury her brother, and later killed herself.
- Opines that hero's are among us, whether they have super powers, capes, or extraordinary mental and physical abilities. sometimes they're just great people who do amazing things and have a happy ending.
If one person decides to drive home drunk from a party then that person has a chance of getting into a head on collision with others. That choice to drive drunk has just endangered countless lives of innocent people on the road. Certainly, some may believe that it is not Creon but Antigone who was the tragic hero, because she was the one who got locked in a vault for trying to bury her brother,and she later killed herself because she thought that she was never going to escape the vault. But the tragic hero is indeed Creon. An example of this is on page 1059 which states:“My own blind heart has brought me from darkness to final darkness. Here you see the father murdering, the murdered son-And all my civic wisdom! Haemon my son, so young, so young to die, I was the fool not you.” Whether they have super powers, capes, or extraordinary mental and physical abilities, heros are among us. Sometimes they’re truly just great people who do amazing things and have a happy ending. But other times they’re just normal people who are flawed and go on to do some heroic deeds. Often times these tragic hero's go unrecognized. Because Sophocles wrote Antigone, we will forever see that Creon is a true tragic hero that we will recognize and read about
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- Creon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles' Antigoneanalytical essayCreon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles' Antigone There has always been a bit of confusion as to the tragic hero of the Greek Drama Antigone. Many assume that simply because the play is named for Antigone, that she is the tragic hero. However, evidence supports that Creon, and not Antigone, is the tragic hero of the play. Examining the factors that create a Greek Tragedy, and a tragic character, it is clear that the tragic hero is in fact Creon.
In this essay, the author
- Explains creon is the tragic hero of sophocles' antigone, and argues that the greek tragedy is a tragic character.
- Analyzes the timeframe in which antigone was written. women were considered second-class citizens during sophocles' time. the tragic hero must be a person of some status, usually king.
- Argues that antigone's tragic flaw was stubbornness, which caused her downfall. creon, on the other hand, possessed hubris, or excessive pride.
- Analyzes how the tragic hero of a greek drama realizes too late his bad decision, called anagnorisus, never occurred for antigone, who died righteously.
- Concludes that creon must be the tragic hero of antigone, since he was the only character who met the criteria. the other minor characters, like the messenger, or teriseus, are clearly not tragic heroes of the play.
600 wordsRead More - Antigone by Sophoclesanalytical essayA tragic hero has many definitions but Creons characteristics fit each single one. He displayed a fatal flaw that drove him mad near the end but also understood that his predicament was caused by him alone. Antigone cannot be the tragic hero because although she possesses several flaws, she experiences no true illumination. She does not met the required the traits for the tragic hero. Creon wanted to protect the state above personal cost, a task that was achieved in a way. Creon is the tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone because he can’t accept a diminished view of himself; he endures great suffering and is enlightened in the end.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how greek dramas fall under the theatrical category of a tragedy due to the tragic events and unhappy ending that cause the downfall of the main character.
- Analyzes how creon presents a strong confident image in the play, but self-doubt is present due to his inability to accept his diminished view of himself.
- Analyzes how creon's inability to accept wrongdoing led him down a path he never wished for.
- Analyzes how death consumes the plot near the end of the play, greatly effecting creon and causing him the horrible suffering all tragic heroes endure.
- Analyzes how creon implies he is overwhelmed with sorrow by saying "has someone a sword? i and grief are blended. i am grief."
- Analyzes how life altering errors are followed by enlightenment in the case of tragic heroes, an illumination that creon experiences.
- Analyzes how creon experienced an enormous enlightenment after enduring pain that is insurmountable.
- Analyzes how a tragic hero has many definitions, but creon's characteristics fit each one. he displayed fatal flaws that drove him mad but also understood that his predicament was caused by him alone.
973 wordsRead More - Tragic Hero In Antigoneanalytical essayIn Sophocles’ classic play Antigone the main character Antigone faces the impactful and controversial choice between god’s laws and man’s laws, fate and free-will, and family versus government. With her heroic and ultimately fatal decisions, Antigone would normally be the character everyone defines as a stereotypical tragic hero, however, not many people take into consideration that her counterpart Creon, is the real tragic hero. Creon is often portrayed as the antagonist within the play, yet he has all the qualities that make an ideal tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles' classic play antigone depicts the real tragic hero, creon, who is often portrayed as the antagonist in the play.
- Explains that creon is of noble birth, the brother of king oedipus, and checks off the "basically good" box of the aristotelian tragic hero requirements.
- Opines that if they saw their country headed for ruin, they should not be afraid to speak out. no one values friendship more highly than they.
- Analyzes how creon's arrogance, egotistical self-centeredness, and lack of humility is a major cause of his eventual suffering.
- Analyzes how creon's hubris causes him to make a major error in his judgement. he chooses to lock up antigone for her crimes against the state.
- Analyzes how the choragos tell creon to free antigone from her vault and build a tomb for the body of polyneices, yet he continues in his errored ways and buries poly
- Analyzes how sophocles sums up creon's story into four lines: there is no happiness without wisdom; big words are punished, and proud men in old age learn to be wise.
766 wordsRead More - The Tragic Hero In Antigone, By Sophoclesanalytical essayAristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is someone who makes an improper judgment where their fate leads them to their own destruction. One of the most important and eye-catching tragic heroes in the play is Antigone, a strong woman who is determined to give her brother Polyneices the burial he needs. In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, the reader learns about how Antigone’s loyalty to the gods, her disloyalty to King Creon, and her stubbornness leads to her ruin through her heroic traits and tragic flaws.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes aristotle's definition of a tragic hero as someone who makes an improper judgment where their fate leads them to their own destruction. antigone is an eye-catching tragic heroine determined to give her brother polyneices the burial he needs
- Analyzes how antigone is determined to bury her brother polyneices as a tribute to the gods.
- Analyzes how antigone's disloyalty to king creon causes her to remain positive that the gods will stay by her side.
- Analyzes how the tragic flaw of stubbornness makes antigone fail to realize the opposing views of the situation.
- Analyzes how aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is clearly seen through the character’s heroic traits, tragic flaws, and the actions and decisions.
1081 wordsRead More - Tragic Heroanalytical essayIn Antigone Creon is the tragic hero. Throughout the story he displays the four tragic hero characteristics. He was a person of high character. Creon was the King of Thebes and he thought he was the most powerful person. Creon didn't think anything could stop him. Pride was Creon's downfall. It lead to the loss of many loved ones that were close to him. At the end Creon realized he was wrong. He tried to fix it but couldn't. What makes Creon a tragic hero in the story Antigone?
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how creon is a tragic hero in the story of antigone. he was the king of thebes and he didn't think anything could stop him.
- Analyzes how creon, the king of thebes, didn't care what others would think or say. he made the decision that polyneices would not be buried even though he was family.
- Analyzes how creon believes he is a rock and nothing can stand in his way. he didn't want to believe in teiresiasis or anything that came out of his mouth.
- Analyzes how the tragic flaw of pride overtakes creon and makes him come to his downfall. he realizes that power isn't worth the death of his entire family
- Analyzes how creon realizes that he is not the power above all, and tries to fix everything. he runs home in despair and finds that eurydice found out about the death of their son.
- Analyzes how creon is the tragic hero in the story because his flaws lead to his own downfall.
693 wordsRead More - Creon Tragic Hero Analysisanalytical essayA tragic hero, in the classic Aristotelian sense, is a virtuous character whose error of judgment leads to their fall from grace. Their demise evokes in the audience a sense of pity for their terrible misfortune, and fear of experiencing the same fate. Both feelings are magnified by the hero’s belated recognition of his mistake. In Sophocles’ Antigone, the audience is immediately drawn to the titular character’s virtue and passion for social justice. It is more difficult to sympathize with Creon, who represents the oppressive factions--the government, the patriarchy, and elder generations--that abuse power. By the end, however, it is evident that Creon is the tragic hero. Creon, whose uncompromising insistence of the law for the preservation of the state leads to the
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how antigone's actions transcend the mere laws of a mortal king to honor the superior gods.
- Analyzes how creon's belated recognition of his mistake and his inability to stop the aftermath evoke greater sympathy from the audience, ultimately marking him as the tragic hero.
- Analyzes how creon, a rational and law-abiding citizen, is more relatable to the audience than the passionate and defiant antigone. the choral ‘ode to man’ juxtaposes the brilliance of man and his potential for awfulness.
- Analyzes how sophocles intended for antigone's dedication toward family and the gods to supersede her legal transgressions, while creon is stained with the sins of his stubbornness.
- Analyzes how a tragic hero, in the classic aristotelian sense, is an virtuous character whose error of judgment leads to their fall from grace.
1296 wordsRead More - Haemon's Creon: A Tragic Heroopinion essayThey said creon was a tragic hero because of an incident that made everybody that don't like him and called him a tragic.”Are you insolent you threaten me” creon he said then “she die and her death kill someone else.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that haemon has been killed. no stanger shed his blood. or did he kill himself.by his own hand angry at his father for the murder.
72 wordsRead More - Throughout literary history, tragic heroes have been defined as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. However, philosophers such as Aristotle tried to find connections between tragic heroes in Greek plays. This in-depth analysis of tragic heroes lead Aristotle to create six criteria for a true tragic hero: He or she has to be a Noble figure of royalty and noble in character, has to be imperfect by design, has a flaw or error that is a choice, is punished excessively for this choice flaw, has to undergo a downfall that leads to a realization, and the story of this tragic hero has to make the audience reach a moment of catharsis or purging of emotions. A prime example of a tragic hero that fits all of these criteria is Creon from the play Antigone, written by Sophocles in 441 BC. The story of Antigone is a tragedy that describes a stubborn and proud king named Creon who refuses to allow a burial for the brother of Antigone. Creon’s excessive pride leads to a series of unfortunate events resulting in the death of Antigone, his son Haemon, and his wife Eurydice. Throughout the course of the play, Creon undergoes each standard that is required by Aristotle’s terms to be a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how aristotle created six criteria for a true tragic hero: he or she has to be an imperfect figure of royalty and noble in character.
- Analyzes how creon's motives are born from his efforts to keep his country safe. the throne of the king of thebes was passed from king laius to oedipus.
- Explains that a tragic hero must possess an imperfect flaw that isn't their choice. creon's imperfections include being born into an unstable and cursed family and having to take on the enormous responsibilities of being king of thebes.
- Analyzes how creon's hubris sets him up for an imminent downfall that will result in horrible repercussions.
- Analyzes how creon's demonstrations of extreme pride do not go unpunished. the fourth requirement of being a tragic hero is being exceedingly punished for this choice flaw or error.
- Analyzes how creon's tragic downfall leads to a moment of anagnorisis. he is stricken with tragedy and loss and accepts responsibility for everything he has done.
- Explains that the chorus delivers their exodos explaining the lesson that is to be learned from this play.
- Analyzes how arthur miller wanted to amend aristotle's six criteria for a tragic hero because the tragic heroes in his plays didn't fit certain characteristics.
1509 wordsRead More - Antigoneanalytical essayIn the play Antigone, the debate over who is the real tragic hero is and the controversy of Greek ideals in the Antigone continues on to this day. Who is the tragic hero in Antigone? Is it Antigone herself or is it Creon the ruler of Thebes? The belief that Antigone is, is a strong one. Still there are people who think Creon is the tragic hero. Antigone is widely thought as the tragic her. The play is named after her. In addition, she is the antagonist in it. Many people usually associate the antagonist, the good guy as a tragic hero. Look at much television shows, especially cartoons, the good person usually wins. Then there are those who might think Creon was the tragic hero because the gods were against him, and that he truly loved his country. There are five criteria or standards you must meet first in order to be a tragic hero. First, you must be a person of high character or status. The character must not be too overwhelmingly evil or good. Then they must be brought from happiness to misery. Then brought from happiness to misery. Second, the hero enacts a harmartia, "wrong act." This either may be a flaw in judgment or an error. Third, the hero experiences a perpateia, reversal of fortune. This is the tragic downfall or plot twist in the story. Fourth, the hero recognizes his or her responsibility. Fifth, the story ends with a catastrophe. The catastrophe either may be an emotional event, this even may be a death.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that antigone is the tragic hero in the play, which is named after her, and creon the ruler of thebes.
- Analyzes how antigone fits the role in light of the fact that she dies doing what is right, but creon doesn't like her doing that one bit.
561 wordsRead More - Antigone Vs Creonanalytical essayDue to his fatal flaw, Creon must suffer the consequences of his actions by losing his son, Haemon and his wife, Eurydice. After Creon sees Haemon dead, he says: “O the curse of my stubborn will! Son, newly cut off in the newness of youth, dead for my fault, not yours.” (Sophocles, 160) Antigone foresees anagnorisis when she realizes that she is going to die because she stood by her beliefs and obeyed the gods. Her moment of truth causes a catharsis in the audience, as a result of Antigone obeying the divine law and doing what she is supposed to do. In her last moments before death, Antigone says: “It was by this service to your dear body, Polynices, I earned the punishment which now I suffer, though all good people know it was for your honour.” (Sophocles, 150) Elements Anouilh used differ from Sophocles elements in terms of the depth that they were used in. Like Antigone in Sophocles’ adaptation, Creon also foresees anagnorisis when he comes to a realization that by trying to prevent problems in Thebes, he is actually the one that is causing them. It is tragic because Creon believes that by going against the gods, and following the law, he will get what he
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles and anouilh use classical tragic figures in their interpretations of antigone, who suffer from misery caused by their own actions.
- Analyzes how sophocles uses elements of tragedy, such as hubris, nemesis, hamartia and deus ex machina, to achieve catharsis.
- Analyzes how anouilh's version of antigone is more of a tragedy than sophocles'.
- Explains that a tragic hero is defined as an individual whose tragic flaw causes his/her downfall.
921 wordsRead More