...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....
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...English 132 April 8, 2012 Creon’s Tragic Fall: A Look at Sophocles’ Antigone A tragic hero is defined by Aristotle’s Poetics as the protagonist in the story to whom something happens that elicits pity from the audience. For the most part, a tragic hero is a “virtuous” person whose life changes from being prosperous to being a life full of misfortune (Aristotle, Poetics). In other words, the tragic hero is someone of great social standing who begins the story at a very high point, but suffers their downfall because of a tragic flaw. In Sophocles’ Antigone the central theme of this play is the struggle between Antigone and her uncle Creon. The issue of burying Antigone’s brother Polynices is based on the ancient Greek philosophy of death, where any unburied body condemns its soul to torment. Basically, it was the duty of the family to bury their dead. Yet, this issue extended beyond family loyalty to a decree of piety by the gods. However, in the play, Creon goes against this celestial decree because he sees Polynices as a traitor for warring against him as a member of another army. As a means to set an example about the repercussions of disloyalty, Creon issues an edict to leave him unburied. As a man who starts the drama in as the respected king of Thebes, he gradually loses his family, his objectivity, and his power to his stubbornness and hubris that ultimately results in his downfall. Hence, Creon is a tragic hero in the Sophocles’ Antigone because his unbending pride...
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...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...
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...Who ever thought that Creon, a fearsome king and leader, would yearn to see death come quickly to his side. Antigone, by Sophocles, takes place in the City of Thebes, ruled by King Creon after he came to the throne. After King Creon declared a decree stating that Eteocles would have burial rights while Polyneices would rot, unburied. Antigone was angered and buried her brother, Polyneices. Creon punished her by sending her locked away to a vault. That causes a series of events to unfold. Following the suicide of Haimon, Creon’s son, Queen Eurydice and Antigone, Creon’s niece, both fall victims of death. King Creon is considered a tragic hero, the main character in a tragedy who suffers a downfall caused by his/her tragic flaws, because he made...
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...An Unorthodox Protagonist In Antigone, a drama written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, the question of who the protagonist of the play is may be easily confused. It is a highly disputed topic concerning exactly which character plays the role of the protagonist, Antigone or Creon. In order to decide which character possesses the merits to be considered the true protagonist, one has to consider: what is the definition of protagonist? Is it simply the title character, or the most relatable or sympathetic character, or are there other qualifications? Greek tradition holds a variation of the definition that has stumped critics and has divided them over which character is best suited for the leading role. The self-realization and recognition of one’s mistakes is also one of the credentials, and with further examination, Creon emerges as being best suited for the role of the protagonist. We derive our definition of a Greek tragedy from Aristotle, who originated that definition on the basis of plays from his time, such as Antigone. Greek tradition defines the dramatic protagonist as one who is regarded as extraordinary, and is brought from happiness to agony. “The character’s stature is important because it makes his or her fall all the more terrifying” (Meyer 1423). From this basic definition, Aristotle went on to include that the protagonist is the main character that possesses a tragic flaw, and later realizes his or her own faults and mistakes. Aristotle used “hamartia”...
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...hero or heroine who has a tragic or fatal flaw. This is meant to create compassion for the character from the audience, but also make the audience fear the character and their decisions. For example, in Sophocles’ Antigone there are two characters who might be considered a tragic hero. Creon is the tragic hero in Antigone because of his arrogance, his willingness to accept his faults, and what his faults teach the audience. Creon’s hubris is what makes him the perfect tragic hero of Antigone....
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...Sophocles’ play ‘’ Antigone’’ centers around the royal family of the Greek city-state Thebes. The play begins with Antigone and her sister Ismene discussing Creon’s edict that prohibited the burial of their brother Polynices. Antigone pays no heed to the law set by Creon and spreads dirt on Polynices’ body so his soul can move on to the afterlife, this results in Antigone being sentenced to death. Creon is the tragic hero as opposed to Antigone being the heroin; this is because the play portrays him as having all the six characteristics of a tragic hero as defined by Aristotle, a Hamartia, Hubris, Peripetia, Anagorisis, Nemesis and Catharsis. In accordance with Aristotle’s Art of Poetry the first characteristic of a tragic hero is ‘’Hamartia’’...
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...Intelligence” (Clouse 1, line 54-55). We usually reach this stage between the ages of 12-18. The play “Antigone” by Sophocles focuses on a girl named Antigone, who is currently going through this stage and the ordeal she goes through accomplish what she believes is the honorable act to uphold. By the end of the play, you start picturing Antigone as this naïve girl that just wanted to do the right thing but none one supported her. The reality is, Antigone was a person’s whose personality was similar to the system of a ticking time bomb waiting...
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...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....
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...well established theme in Antigone is the right of the individual to reject society's infringement on her freedom to perform a personal obligation,[14] obvious in Antigone's refusal to let Creon dictate what she is allowed to do with her family members. She says to Ismene about Creon's edict, "He has no right to keep me from my own."[15] Related to this theme is the question whether Antigone's will to bury her brother is based on rational thought or instinct, a debate whose contributors include greats like Goethe.[14] [edit] Natural law and contemporary legal institutions In Antigone, Sophocles asks the question, which law is greater: the gods' or man's. Sophocles votes for the law of the gods. He does this in order to save Athens from the moral destruction which seems imminent. Sophocles wants to warn his countrymen about hubris, or arrogance, because he knows this will be their downfall. In Antigone, the hubris of Creon is revealed. [edit] Civil disobedience The contrasting views of Creon and Antigone with regard to laws higher than those of state inform their different conclusions about civil disobedience. Creon demands obedience to the law above all else, right or wrong. He says that "there is nothing worse than disobedience to authority" (An. 671). Antigone responds with the idea that state law is not absolute, and that it can be broken in civil disobedience in extreme cases, such as honoring the gods, whose rule and authority outweigh Creon's. [edit] Citizenship The...
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...A true ruler is a partner and an ally of the people. The title of an effective leader is only rewarded when there is an obvious effort shown to understand and communicate with the people. A leader must take in regards the outward suggestions of his rule to govern a place in a way that is beneficial to its’ residents. In Sophocles’ play Antigone, which is a continuation of Oedipus Rex and the last play in the Oedipus Cycle, this standard is ignored. In the play, the current king of Thebes, by default is Creon. This supposed righteous king is the source of the problems that arise in his country, mainly because he displays ignorance to the Thebans. His shortly fused temper and defensive nature proves to get the best of him. Additionally, he is...
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...Throughout Sophocles’ Antigone, a distinction is made between Creon and Antigone that defines an understanding of who the tragic hero is. While it is seemingly established that Antigone is, for her suffering fate and her will to do what is right in the face of grave consequences. However, upon considering the details of the story, and the definition of a “tragic hero” as defined by Aristotle, it seems that, while Antigone may be considered the hero or martyr of the story, Creon is the true Tragic Hero. Creon represents the characteristics of a morally sound man who is nonetheless subject to error. His fate is evidently greater than the error committed, and in spite of his pride, he comes to the realization that the curse of his fate was brought by his actions. These defining traits establish Creon’s significance as the tragic hero of “Antigone”. One of the most compelling factors to prove that Creon is a tragic hero as opposed to Antigone is his depiction as a noble, or “good” person, in the context of his fate. As described in Poetics, “Concerning "character" there are four points to aim at. The first and most important is that the character should be good. The play will show character if… the...
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...rules don’t apply to them. A great example of determining right vs. wrong would be in the play, “Antigone,”...
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...In Antigone, the tragic hero, Creon, suffers as a result of his family’s suicides and becomes cognizant of the fact that he has committed moral wrongdoing by executing the title character. The prophet Tiresias foreshadowed this reversal of fortune and had previously criticized Creon for violating divine laws. In Sophocles’ Antigone, Tiresias reveals that the will of the deities is more important than the will of the characters and enables divine intervention through prophecy. First, by predicting Creon’s peripetia at the hands of the gods, Tiresias emphasizes the importance of the role of the pantheon in the play. In lines 1198 and 1199, Tiresias warns Creon that he will suffer divine retribution as a result of his actions, “..the Furies sent by the gods and the god...
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...Sophocles’ tragic play Antigone tells of the conflict between Antigone and King Creon. The conflict among Creon and Antigone leads to fall of the house of Creon. Creon is the major cause of this destruction which he brought upon himself. King Creon has been corrupted and fallen to the idea of power. A review of his actions proves that his ruling is based largely on family turmoil which is how the basis of this ruling and his subsequent actions in the play. Creon is the proclaimed king in the beginning of the play. The first order as King is by prohibiting the burial of Polynices, based on the Polynices being seen as a traitor for fighting against his country and not for his country. The target of Creon's law not to bury the dead are Antigone and Ismene because they are the living realtives of the deceased King Oedipus . King Creon states he is not worthy of a burial based on Polynices actions. Creon says “whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing.” Creon considers the duty to the state a priority than to another man. This is reinterated when he states “our country is our safety.” His order of not to bury Polynices could possibly be based on Polynices humiliating him by ousting him when he took the position of King as soon as Oedipus is laid to rest. Creon logically convinces his people that his order not to bury Polynices is justified. This justification has his people accepting the no bury order. A sentry discovers the grave of...
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