In the Greek play Antigone by Sophocles is very different from traditional plays or tragedies. Not only does the play have two prominent characters, Antigone and King Creon, the two characters also function as a tragic hero. However, which of the two character is the real tragic hero? Antigone’s tragedy is from conflict and passion. To really understand which of the two character is the ‘real’ tragic hero, one must understand the definition of a tragic hero.
According to Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, a tragic hero must be born from a high social class and his or her downfall must be caused by a fatal flaw of that character. Aristotle also mentioned that a tragic hero is someone that is between two extremes. Neither good nor bad, just their fatal flaws brining misfortune to themselves. The purpose of a tragic hero is to create catharsis for the audience by empathising with the protagonist. Therefore a proper tragedy
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The one fact that distinguishes Creon and Antigone is that Creon has a moment of development, a moment of revelation. While Antigone was stuck in her tomb, she never had a moment where she thought about what she had done was right or wrong. However, Creon undergoes a moment of revelation when Tiresias prophecisezes the doom of Thebes
Creon is a tragic hero, because his downfall is due to his flaw which is his avaricious and hubris character. Even though Creon possess many positive qualities, his pride and arrogance effects his decisions. His fatal flaw was that his arrogance made him reluctant to value other people’s opinion. As he refuses to let Antigone go free, even though his own son and the chorus tried to persuade him. Because of his love for the state, he loses his wife and his
There are certain qualities that a character must posses in order to qualify as a tragic hero. Ideally, the subject is to be a person of high rank, so that they may have much to lose. (Most frequently a monarch is used.) Granted, Antigone is a member of the royal bloodline. But we must not forget that she is the daughter of incest, hardly a glamorous position to start with. In Oedipus Rex, Antigone was indirectly disgraced, while Creon was socially elevated by inheriting kingship from Oedipus. Also, Creon’s being king comparatively trumps Antigone’s lesser status of orphaned princess. While this in itself objectively proves nothing, it does at a minimum make Creon the more likely choice of protagonist.
In the beginning of the play Creon is portrayed as King and a leader unwilling to bend the rules in order to protect the city. The way Creon responds to Antigone, “While I’m alive, no woman is going to lord over me”, shows he is stubborn and also his pride. (593-594) While the play continues Creon’s pride grows, and he thinks he can never be wrong and punishes Antigone by locking her up in a cave. However, things turn a different way when the Prophet tells Creon that he must free Antigone or face the wrath of Gods. After hearing this Creon changes his mind, “I shackled her, I’ll set her free myself. I am afraid it’s best to keep the established laws…” (1236-1238) But, as Creon tries to set Antigone free, he is faced with suicides of Antigone and Haemon, and followed by the suicide of his wife, Eurydice. This moment in the play serves as the downfall of Creon. But unlike Antigone, Creon reaches anagnorisis, which is the moment in the play when the tragic character realizes his hubris has led to his downfall. “And the guilt is all mine- can never be fixed…god help me, I admit all!”(1441-1445) Ultimately, Creon is more of a proper tragic character than Antigone because of he has an epiphany, a moment when he realizes his hubris has caused conflicts and deaths in the
Wiz Khalifa once said, “Never make permanent decisions on temporary feelings.” Some students may believe that Antigone was the tragic hero in the story, but the real tragic hero is actually Creon for many reasons. Some describe a tragic hero by whether they are heroic or born into nobility, but in the story he is portrayed as the antagonist. In the novel, “Antigone” written by Sophocles, Creon becomes the tragic hero by forbidding the burial of Polyneices, imprisoning Antigone for his own good and believing that he is the only one that can control the law.
Creon has attributes such as ignorance, hubris, and self knowledge that distinguish him as being the tragic hero of Antigone. Creon’s presumptuous personality lead to his pitiful downfall. Creon’s qualities such as nobility and self knowledge show the positive aspects of being a tragic hero as well. Using a mix of these characteristics, Creon accurately exhibits the tragic hero of Antigone.
Nevertheless, he still has his fatal flaw. Creon’s arrogance, egotistical self-centeredness, and lack of humility (read: hubris). When Creon argues with his son Haimon “...You consider it right for a man of my years and experience to go to a school boy?” (Antigone, 3. 97-98). His utter disregard for women and their capabilities is also a major cause of his eventual suffering. Sophocles illustrates this with a statement from Creon about Antigone: “And no woman shall seduce us. If we must lose, Let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (Antigone, 3.
A 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.
There were some differences between Antigone and Creon. For instance, Antigone's action was more heroic than her uncle's action because, she defied the power of the state out of love for her brother and faith in her conscience" I was born to join in love, not hate that is my nature" and she spoke out against the king in this manner. She was first a woman and second she knew that her fate could be sealed if she didn't try to
Other critics argue that Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone. They say that his noble quality is his caring for Antigone and Ismene when thier father was persecuted. Those who stand behind Creon also argue that Antigone never had a true epiphany, a key element in being a tragic hero. Creon, on the other hand, realized his mistake when Teiresias made his prophecy. He is forced to live, knowing that three people are dead because of his ignorance, which is a punishment worse than death.
In the book Antigone, Creon and Antigone can be considered as the tragic heroes of the play. Antigone is considered the tragic hero because of the characteristics she shows such as her ambition to defeat Creon, Creon shows more of the characteristics clearly. Creon is the king of Thebes. He is also Antigone's uncle. Creon became king after a fight between Eteocles and Polyneices. One may see Creon as a harsh and controlling ruler, but he is not good nor bad because he shows signs of both like when he wanted to give Eteocles a proper burial . Creon is the tragic hero of the Antigone, because of his dominance in society, high rank, tragic flaw; and self-pride.
Throughout the Greek play, “Antigone”, we see one of the main character’s, Creon, who recently was named King of Thebes due to his Nephews battling to the death for the throne. Creon by the end of the play would eventually develop a theme known as a “Tragic Hero.” His character's emotion and motivations conflict with another main character, his Niece who the play is named after, Antigone. The characteristics of Creon have conflicting motives such as his hierarchy, greed, and vengefulness are highlighted by Antigone’s opposing ethics. Ultimately these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by making him regret his Decree and rash decisions once he has learned of his fate.
"Ah Creon! Is there no man left in the world” Tiresias Greek theatre played a large role in Greece. The citizens were supposed to learn from the mistakes made in tragedies. The citizens should have learned what not to be like as a citizen or a person. Antigone's words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations. These conflicting motivations cause the characteristics of strong, willed, and stubborn to be highlighted within Creon’s character. In the end, these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by being a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy, and the character interactions advance the plot and develops the theme by evaluating the importance of fate.
One of the most well-known ideas in science, and common sense, is that opposites attract. Electrons and protons pull towards each other, and magnets with opposite charges will always stick together. Although Creon and Antigone show quite a bit of hatred for each other throughout Antigone, a drama by Sophocles, they really are not all that different. Which, any scientist knows that it takes the power of the sun to force together particles with the same charge. Creon and Antigone both share a single characteristic: pride. This may seem like a shaky bridge to connect them with, but all of the similarities and differences in their pride are what make them such an interesting and ultimately tragic duo.
The characters in the play Antigone all suffer a downfall of some sort. The major characters suffer the most, though. In this short essay, I will document on how the two main characters, Creon and Antigone, both inevitably become tragic heroes.
Creon was seen in a different context in Oedipus compared to his character in Antigone.
Creon highlighted as the tragic figure, initially created decisions he thought was for the welfare and well-being of Thebes; however, Antigone, who rebelled against Creon’s decisions, caused Creon’s rage to cloud his rational way of thinking. When Creon decided to forbid the burial of Polynices, as he believed Polynices was a traitor to Thebes, Antigone was outraged. This decision, viewed through the eyes of Creon, was just and fair; on the other hand, Antigone viewed his decision as cruel and selfish, which resulted into a major conflict between these two characters. When Antigone disobeyed his proclamation, Creon became infuriated towards this rebellious act. Those small events within the play expressed Creon as a ruler doing what he believes is right; on the other hand, Antigone’s rebellion expressed otherwise. Antigone was soon shown to cause an evil spark within Creon. This “spark” caused Creon to intensify his punishments towards Antigone, which in turn caused a chain reaction of events and eventually led to his tragic decline. Being portrayed as a menacing villain throughout the play, Creon began as an honorable man; however, overwhelming events and confrontations caused Creon to evolve in to this monstrous figure.