Creon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Essay - 593 Words

There are certain qualities that a character must posses in order to qualify as a tragic hero. Ideally, the tragic hero is a person of some status, usually king. Although the fact that Antigone was part of the royal lineage, being a descendent of Oedipus, Creons position of King of Thebes suits a tragic character much more effectively. Also, at the end of the play it is customary for the tragic hero to have lost everything, to be reduced to nothing. At the end of Antigone, Creon had lost his kingdom, his son, his wife, and his will to live, but is doomed to live on in his pain. Antigone loses her life, but it was not a loss in vain, for she did accomplish what she set out to do. It is questionable as to whether Antigone was seeking martyrdom, but she certainly did become one, dying for her beliefs. The most important characteristic of the tragic hero is the tragic flaw, the one attribute that causes the inevitable downfall of the character. It is argued that Antigones tragic flaw was stubbornness. She is called stubborn in the play by Creon and also by the chorus. Yet, some would call her steadfast, rather than stubborn. A stubborn person would continue to argue even after he or she realized they were wrong. For Antigone, no such realization was made. In her own eyes, the eyes of the people, and even the eyes of the gods, Antigone was certainly in the right. Creon, on the other hand, possessed a classic flaw, hubris, or excessive pride. Because of his pride,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Creon as the Tragic Hero in Sophocles Antigone1326 Words   |  6 PagesCreon as the Tragic Hero in Antigone     Ã‚   This essay will compare two of the characters in â€Å"Antigone†, Antigone and Creon, in an effort to determine the identity of the tragic hero in this tale.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To identify the tragic hero in Sophocles’ renowned play â€Å"Antigone†, we should first consider both the elements present in Greek tragedies and what characteristics define a tragic hero. 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Creon’s power and pride as well as going against the gods all leadRead More Creon as the Ideal Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Essay1908 Words   |  8 PagesCreon as the Ideal Tragic Hero of Antigone Tragedy always involves human suffering, but not everyone who suffers is a Tragic Hero. According to Aristotle, there are five basic criteria that must be met for a character to be considered a Tragic Hero. Aristotle’s ideas about tragedy were recorded in his book of literacy theory titled Poetics. In it he has a great deal to say about the structure, purpose and intended effect of tragedy. His ideas have been adopted, disputed, expanded, and discussedRead MoreEssay about Creon Defines the Tragic Hero in Sophocles Antigone762 Words   |  4 PagesAntigone - Creon Defines the Tragic Hero   Ã‚   Antigone, written by Sophocles is a tale of a tragic hero who suffers with the recognition and realization of his tragic flaw. Although this short story is titled after Antigone, Creon is the main character and he provides the moral significance in the play. First, Creon withholds the respect of his citizens but it is clear to them he is not perfect through his pride (tragic flaw). Secondly, his radical reversal of fortune is made clear afterRead MoreEssay about The True Tragic Hero of Creon in Sophocles Antigone1621 Words   |  7 PagesThe True Tragic Hero of Creon in Sophocles Antigone There has always been a great debate over who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone. Many scholars would stake claim to Antigone possessing all the necessary characteristics of a true tragic hero, but many others would argue that Creon holds many qualities as well. It is hard to discount Antigone as a tragic hero, because in fact, the play bears her name, but from careful reading, Creon meets Aristotles criteria exactly and fits