Who is the more of a tragic hero, Creon or Antigone? They both experienced much through out play, but Anitgone is clearly the “better” tragic hero. Antigone’s flaw, misfortune, and her fall from grace prove that she is much better than Creon as a tragic hero.
Antigone’s flaw is arrogance, and she shows it through out the story. She also “accepts that it is her flaw and she causes everything unlike Creon who believes it is the Gods that are causing his misfortune not his flaw. Antigone first sign of arrogance is in the beginning of the play where she and her sister, Ismene, are having a conflict about whether or not they should bury the brother. “Ismene: What! Bury him and flout the interdict? Antigone: “He is my brother still and yours […] I shall not abandon him. Ismene: What! Challenge Creon to his face? Antigone: He has no right to keep me from my own.” Ismene pleads Antigone not to bury the brother and face the consequences, but her arrogance stops her. Antigone also accepts her flaw that causes her misfortune. “Creon: Come girl […] Did you, or did you not, do this deed? A...
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.
Antigone is a great Greek tragedy by Sophocles. The story is about a young woman who has buried her brother by breaking king’s decree, and now she is punished for obeying God’s law. There are many arguments about who is the tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone. Some believe that it is Creon because he also has the characteristics of a tragic hero. Others believe that it is Antigone because the play bears her name. Antigone is the perfect hero, to exemplify the meaning of a tragic hero. In order to determine whether Antigone is the tragic hero, one will have to answer the question, what is a tragic hero? According to Aristotle, “The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness, he/she is not perfect, the hero's downfall and it is partially his/her own fault, and the hero's misfortunate is not wholly deserved.” (Aristotle) Antigone is a tragic hero because she has a high social standing in Thebes, she neither good nor bad, and her suffering appears to be unjust and unfair to the audience.
Antigone, which was written by Sophocles, is possibly the first written play that still exists today (www.imagi... 1). There is much controversy between who the 'tragic hero' is in the play. Some people say Antigone, some say Creon, others even say Heamon. I believe Creon displays all of the characteristics of a 'tragic hero'. He receives compassion through the audience, yet recognizes his weaknesses, and his downfalls from his own self-pride, stubbornness, and controlling demands. He is the true protagonist.
The Deaths of Antigone and Creon Antigone and Creon are the main characters of the play Antigone written by Sophocles. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, who was a major figure in ancient Greek myth. Oedipus accidentally killed his father and married his mother. Because of that act, Oedipus ended up cursing his family and died a horrible death. After his death, his sons inherited his kingdom and in a power struggle ended up killing each other.
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.
In Sophocles' Antigone, the question of whom the real tragic hero comes into play. Antigone possesses all the aspects of a tragic hero. Creon possesses many qualities of a tragic hero, but doesn’t totally fit in the role. These traits include: not being overly “wholesome or corrupt”, being persistent in their actions, developing pity in the audience or reader- especially in the beginning of the story, and having a major flaw that is their ultimate downfall. Antigone possesses all of these traits therefore qualifying as the tragic hero.
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.
Creon is an antagonist in Antigone he is the bad guy and he opposes certain things like the right to burial. An example of his actions is can be seen here: “Polynices, who returned from exile with hopes of burning his native land and ancestral gods from top to bottom, wishing to feast on kindred blood and lead the rest into slavery, it has been decreed that in this city he shall be neither buried nor mourned by anyone, but everyone must leave him unburied, a feast for birds and dogs, an outrage to see” (Sophocles 200-209). Even though he is known for doing bad things he is still considered superior to everyone of Thebes. Antigone was known as the niece of Creon but she did not express herself as a famous and important person. Creon is proud of his position as king and he takes pride in his city and his decisions. “Do you realize you speak these lies to your king?” (Sophocles 1065). Creon shows his dominance in this quote. Antigone, however, is only recognized for being the niece of the former king and committing a crime against her own family member.
Aristotle's view on a tragic hero is someone that would have to be held in high standards (royalty) in order to evoke compassion and anxiety in the audience. Creon and Antigone are royalty and share the most important aspect of a tragic hero, each have a tragic flaw. Both of the two characters have an inability to compromise or even reason with. Antigone's tragic flaw was amplified by her loyalty for her brother; she acted irrational, in not taking preparation or thoroughness into consideration when burying her brother. Further more when confronted by Creon, himself she disrespected and basically told him to silence himself because his words were "distasteful" to her. So then sealing her death by becoming an immediate martyr for the wrong cause... anything against Creon's will.
Over time, history has given society many to whom we call true heroes. There are many reasons these heroes have been looked up to such as: bravery, dedication, confidence, and inspiration. However, a tragic hero requires a few different qualities. Aristotle describes a tragic hero as a “member of royalty,” someone who “must fall from tremendous good fortune,” and someone who creates pity for him or herself (“Connections: A Theory” 2000). In Greek drama, Sophocles’ Antigone and Euripides’ Medea both contain several possible tragic heroes including Medea, Jason, and Creon. More specifically, in Antigone Creon exemplifies the qualities of a tragic hero best due to his prominent power as king of Thebes, the way he holds strong to his stubborn pride, and the sympathy felt for him in his tragic downfall.
Power, it can be a great thing, but in media we have seen thousands of examples of how it can turn you into your worst self. For, example, Scar from The Lion King, the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, Governor Ratcliffe from Pocahontas, or really any Disney villain-ever. In the play Antigone, the author Sophocles shows us just how power changed Creon into a power hungry arrogant child, and how his actions and the actions of others made consequences for not just them, but others too. The theme in the play that connects the actions and events of the play Antigone is power. The most distinct traits that Creon has in the play is that he is childish, oblivious to other people’s words, and has qualities of a tyrant.These traits became more
The term “tragic hero” was first used by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle defined this hero as someone neither better or worse than the average person. Tragic heroes are people with bravery and of a noble position, but they also have an imperfect nature. When tragic heroes show a weakness, usually pride, the audience can relate better to them. This relationship causes stronger and more passionate feelings from the people towards the downfall of the tragic hero. The hero’s punishment will be greater than what is deserved, and the hero must make a self-discovery along the way. Creon makes the decision to punish Antigone for burying her brother after he declared, “Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied; and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like.” Creon makes this decision based on his beliefs and thoughts alone, not on the opinions of others under him (too much pride.) This is the error in judgment that Creon made, and the reason for his change in character throughout the story.
When one is approached with the question, who is the most important character in Antigone one can argue that it is Creon, the kind of Thebes. In Antigone by Sophocles, one may question the title of the play, due to the fact that the play perceives Creon to be the main character, yet the title is named Antigone. Creon, although is a very powerful character in the play, he possesses a tragic flaw of overwhelming pride and arrogance, which ultimately leads Creon in the opposite direction of triumph but instead, blindly into his own demise. Antigone is very controversial character, but for many Antigone plays a “hero” role in the play. Thus in the Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone plays a more important character when compared to Creon because she is very admirable;
Antigone’s strength allows her to defend her brother’s honor against Creon, who wants to make a statement about traitors. However, both Antigone and King Creon commit faults while trying to protect the things they love. Antigone should not have died for her beliefs as it puts her loved ones and community in danger, and Creon should not have forbidden the burial of Polyneices as it angers the Gods and causes him great suffering in the end.