...Who’ s the Tragic Hero? A tragic hero is defined by Aristotle as someone with hamartia,which is a flaw or error of judgement, peripeteia, a reversal of fortune due to the error of judgement, anagnorisis, the realization that the peripeteia was caused by their own actions, and hubris, excessive pride. In Antigone by Sophocles there is a debate of who is the tragic hero of the story Antigone or Creon. According to the definition the tragic hero of Antigone has to be Creon. Antigone starts medias res, Creon declares that his nephew Polynieces is not to get the proper burial, “ No burial of any kind. No wailing, no public tears. / Give him to the vultures, unwept, unburied, / To be a sweet treasure for their sharp eyes and beaks” (l.28-30). Creon was feared by all of his subjects so they obeyed his command no matter how immoral. The only person that openly defied him was Antigone, his niece, with burying Polynieces. When the Watchman told Creon what had occurred Creon said that Antigone had to die. Creon said that...
Words: 523 - Pages: 3
...Tragic heroes are often characters whose flaws cause them to have poor judgement and arrogant responses. Therefore, in “Antigone”, Creon is a prominent example of what a tragic is. He is full of pride, has a stubborn sense of character, and a large amount of power. One reason Crean is seen as a tragic hero is because of all his pride. For example. Creon said,” No woman shall be master while I live.”. However, his proud is what caused him to criminalize Polyneices, even though Creon’s lust for power is the same reason that caused Polyneices and Eteocles to fight. Creon is too prideful to allow a woman to persuade him, or even realize the hypocrisy of certain situations he’s involved in. Throughout the entire story, Creon showed an...
Words: 367 - Pages: 2
...proposal I plan to focus on the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. The last of the three Theban plays written in or before 441 BC. I will focus in on tragic hero’s. A tragic flaw is an error or defect in the tragic hero that leads to his downfall, such as greed, pride, or ambition. This flaw may be a result of bad character, bad judgment, an inherited weakness, or any other defect of character. Examples of a tragic hero are Antigone four main characters Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon. Using the text as proof each and everyone one of those four characters are written with a tragic flaw that is their undoing. The major literary elements I will be concentrating on are characterization, tone, and theme. These elements are most important in determining and explaining what makes a character a tragic hero. Without characterization I can’t describe what traits make our hero before a tragic one. Tone will also help with reading in between the lines because as we know sometimes our characters say one thing, but mean something else entirely. The overall theme of Antigone is tragedy so without the characters having the tragic flaws the theme would change. Literally elements are crucial in accurately explaining my topic....
Words: 449 - Pages: 2
...In the novel “Antigone,” the author, Sophocles, gives the reader many different ideas when it comes to the tragic hero. Typically when we hear the word hero our minds think of one who has superpowers and protects their citizens, such a Superman and Spiderman. But when it comes to the Aristotle, a tragic hero in the Greek world often refers to the character that belongs to a higher class, but yet is one who has their very own human flaws. After reading the play, many readers believe that the tragic character is in fact Antigone because she is the main character, but that is not the case. The real tragic hero that is being portrayed throughout the story is Creon. Creon posses all of the qualities that a tragic hero must have, such as his authority, high status, actions and many flaws that later on leads him into a vicious cycle. Since the death of Antigone’s parents, Creon has turned into the powerful, wealthy king. Creon holds such an authoritative role throughout the story that it allowed him to fall into the character of a tragic hero. The people were so loyal to Creon and this showed throughout the burial...
Words: 702 - Pages: 3
...Antigone Tragic Hero Chase Cummins In the plays of Sophocles Creon was a powerful king and Antigone was noble and was firm in her beliefs. Antigone and Creon both played major roles throughout the play of Antigone. The play taught us new concepts, such as the concept of the tragic hero. The tragic hero is someone who has many positive attributes, but also has one grave flaw, which causes their life to end in a sad, yet heroic tragedy. Antigone fits the role of the tragic hero because Creon lacks the qualities of a heroic. Antigone is a tragic hero due to her courageous acts and flaws. In the play of Antigone, Antigone was very courageous. Antigone was the daughter of Oedipus and the fiancé of Haemon, who was the son of Creon. She takes up a noble cause when she goes against Creon’s orders...
Words: 799 - Pages: 4
...In the play, Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is defined as the tragic hero. All of the ups and major downs has caused him to be the one with all the flaws. Throughout the play, Creon did make bad decisions towards others as they were poorly treated. Also, he had some calm moments which may have lead differently. Being the tragic hero does not mean character traits are always good, many suffer throughout the whole play. Although Creon was the King, he played a major role in being high born and known for tragic flaws. In the opening scene it mentioned that he was the King of Thebes. This puts him in power over his throne being royalty. With Creon as King lead others to facing many consequences. Teiresias says, “… The only crime is pride.” (Antigone,...
Words: 517 - Pages: 3
...everyone to swallow. In Antigone, it was hard for Creon to swallow too. Creon, in Antigone, is a tragic hero because of this pride, his character, his actions, and the actions of those around him. A tragic hero will experience a fall in the course of the play. Therefore the tragic hero must start of noble stature, because in order to fall, the hero...
Words: 1152 - Pages: 5
...The term tragic hero is when a literary character makes a judgement error which ultimately results in their downfall. Famous author, Sophocles, wrote a popular play in the genre of drama known as “Antigone”, he explains what the effects of character interaction have on a given person. In this play he describes what happens when the characters Antigone, sister of Ismene, and Creon, ruler of the state clash and contribute to Creon’s development as a tragic hero, and to the plot of the play. In “Antigone”, the two brothers of Ismene and Antigone, Polyneices and Eteocles, end up killing each other due to supporting different sides of the Thebes’ Civil War. Creon, the new ruler decided that Eteocles will have an honorable burial, while the other will be laid unburied for the animals to eat upon....
Words: 687 - Pages: 3
...The True Tragic Hero of Antigone Since early Greek and Roman times, authors havecreated stories following the life of a tragic hero. Tragic heroes, though they are noble, have a hamartia, or a fatal flaw that causes their inevitable downfall. Sophocles utilizes the role of tragic hero to develop the theme of pride in Anitigone. The protagonist of the play is repeatedly misconceived because Sophocles develops the roles of multiple characters into ones that could be interpreted as a tragic hero. Creon is a member of the royal family of Thebes who becomes king. In assuming this role of immense power and responsibility, he faces misfortunes that lead him to tragedy. The often-misunderstood Creon is the true tragic hero in Sophocles’ play...
Words: 829 - Pages: 4
...Antigone is a play written by Sophocles in 441 b.c.In the play antigone, Creon is the king of Thebes. Creon creates laws that fall back on him and he lost his wife and son and neice. Creon is a tragic hero because he was born into noblity and he fell from great heights and met a tragic death.Being born into nobility is the first trait that makes creon a tragic hero. The first time he portrayed as a tragic hero is when he talks to the people, his qoute that shows this is “As next in blood have succeed to the full power of the throne” This is showing that creon is next in blood and will be king and being part of being a tragic hero. Creon was born into nobility is showing he was a tragic hero when the people started figuring out he was king. “But now our new king is coming Creon of thebes, Menokius son,” This is explaining That the new king is gonna be him, They are telling who it is and this is part of being a tragic hero. This is what it takes to be a tragic hero. Creon is a tragic hero because he fell from great hiegh and esteem,This means he fell from his high esteen and he feels guilty for what he did wrong. He relized that he did wrong and needs...
Words: 513 - Pages: 3
...In the play Antigone written by Sophocles, Creon is the tragic hero. Creon was a king. His tragic flaw was that he has too much pride and this causes a downfall for him. Creon will not listen to anyone. He is very stubborn and he doesn’t notice that he might be doing the wrong thing. Creon said, “Let him do, or dream to do, more than a man can. He shall not save these girls from death” (i.628-629). Creon said this because he is making sure no one will help the girls because they did a bad thing in Creon’s eyes. Creon had a free choice. His free choice was to either listen or ignore the Sentry. The Sentry came to Creon to tell him that Polyneices was getting buried by his sister Antigone. Creon didn’t believe it. He said harshly, “You’re figure of speech may entertain you now; but unless you bring me the man, you will get very little profit from them in the end” (i.271-273)....
Words: 405 - Pages: 2
...The Tragic Character of Antigone In any type of literature, there will always be a hero who experiences the stages of a tragic hero and fall into their depths of misery. In the play of “Antigone,” Creon and Antigone or two of the two tragic characters mentioned in the play met similar tragic fates and endings. Both of the characters also similar caused their own downfall and tragic endings by their ignorance (harmania), flaw (hubris), and mistakes earlier in the story. But as any tragic hero, Antigone did meet her tragic fate as any character would, she isn’t the tragic character in “Antigone”. Although she met a similar fate she’s just another main character to help push Creon into becoming a tragic hero. One of Creon’s flaw that led him...
Words: 606 - Pages: 3
...The definition of a tragic hero is, “ A great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.” Though Creon at points can fill the role of a tragic hero in Antigone, Antigone is the only character to truly play the part of one. Sophocles writes tragedies, which are named after the tragic hero in each specific play. As in Oedipus Rex, the piece of theatre is named after the tragic hero, Oedipus. Thus only clarifying why Sophocles named one of his plays Antigone, the title being based off of the main tragic hero role. Antigone is a more appropriate title for the play Antigone because of Antigone’s immense bravery and individuality in behalf of her late brother, creating the plot in the play due...
Words: 951 - Pages: 4
...the play Antigone, Antigone is a woman who did anything to honor her deceased brother. Even though she knew the severe consequence she would face for refusing Creon's proclamation toward the burial of her brother.The theme of this is that both characters have different views with their situation causing controversy between the two.In the play Antigone,Creon is shown to be a tragic hero through his interactions with Antigone. This develops the theme of the play .By these tragic flaws such as Rude ,Serious, and Unfair. One of Creon's trait that develops the theme of the play is that Creon is ignorant. For example in the play Antigone, Creon said to in line (654)”I...
Words: 804 - Pages: 4
...Who is the tragic hero of Antigone? Aristotle defines a tragic hero as one with a fatal flaw that leads to a reversal of fortune, or peripeteia. This fatal flaw is often Hubris, which is excessive pride. Creon fits all these roles, therefore he should be labelled as the tragic hero of Antigone. Creon also faces anagnorisis, in which the tragic hero realizes the situation they're in and is often followed by regret. Not only that, but Creon's fatal flaw, excessive pride, impacts the story more than Antigone did. As previously stated, Creon's flaw is his excessive pride and arrogance. In the story of Antigone, Creon gives Antigone's brother, Eteocles, a proper burial, but refuses to bury Polynices for betraying their city and leaves him out to rot. Antigone was appalled by this and for the sake of family and love went against Creon's wishes and buried Polynices. Antigone is eventually caught doing so and is sent to Creon. Creon, being arrogant as always, insists on Antigone being killed for her actions....
Words: 579 - Pages: 3
