Essay on Creon as the Tragic Hero in Sophocles' Antigone

A tragic hero is a character in a play that is known for being dignified but has a flaw that assists in his or her downfall. Antigone is a Greek tragic piece written by Sophocles. In the theatrical production the use of power and morality versus law is evident. The promotion to the conflict was that Creon created a law in which enabled Polynieces, Antigone’s brother, to be buried in the proper way. As it is the way of the gods Antigone found it fit to bury her brother causing her to disobey the law of Thebes. Both Antigone and Creon, the main characters, could represent a tragic hero. However Creon is more eligible for being the tragic hero because he fits the definition. Aristotle’s idea of a tragic hero was that the character was of

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 discussed for several centuries. In this essay, I will examine these criteria in regards to Antigone’s Creon, King of Thebes.

Sophocles’ Antigone is a Greek tragedy that transcends 5th century BC Greece due to its complex analysis of justice and integrity. In the case of Antigone and Creon, it is not clear who in the end is suffering from injustice. In Creon’s defense, Antigone is the one committing unjust acts according to Theban law. As the king of Thebes, it

Second, based on Aristotle's definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because he realizes the error of his ways, but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe. Creon says “Your people are beginning to question your judgment and are beginning to side with Antigone”(Sophocles 56). Creon’s people began to question him for all of the deaths that occurred. Everyone Creon cares about is passing away. “Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust”(Sophocles). Creon recognizes his flaw and its consequences; however, it’s too late because fate has already occurred, for leading to the deaths of almost everyone.

The play, Antigone, written by Sophocles shows the different downfalls of characters. One of these characters is Creon. Creon does not realize that his pride and stubbornness has interfered his ability to deal with problems and rule of Thebes properly. By analyzing Creon, one could see that he is considered a tragic hero in this play. The characteristics a person must have to be a tragic hero is he has “a hamartia, or tragic flaw. More often than not that tragic flaw is excessive pride, or a hubris. The character then goes through a peripeteia, which is a twist where the character realizes that things will not turn out the way he expected. Finally, the character has an anagnorisis, which is their epiphany that makes them realize their hamartia” (Cap, Creon as a Tragic Character in “Antigone”). The tragic hero characteristics in Creon are clearly shown when he speaks with blind prophet, Teiresias. The character interaction between Creon and Teiresias helps develop Creon as a tragic hero in Antigone.

This play features two characters with the human trait of pride. Pride can bring about great bravery in the case of Antigone and too much of it may lead to ruin as depicted in what happened to Creon. In the play Antigone is a martyr because she

Creon’s character is developed as a tragic hero when Antigone goes and buries her brother, Polyneices, even though she was told not to. This situation brought out many characteristics of

The play introduces Creon as a character whose power enables him to do as he pleases. After becoming the king of Thebes, he immediately recognizes his power. Shortly after being introduced into the play, Creon passes a proclamation stating, “ Never at my hand will the traitor be honored above the patriot.” (Lines 232-233). Due to his personal beliefs towards the sons of Oedipus, Creon passes a law forbidding the burial of Polynices, the brother who fought against Thebes during war. In no attempt to object, the Leader responds saying, “ The power is yours, I suppose, to enforce it with the laws, both for the dead and all of us, the living.” (Lines 238-240).

​The legitimacy of a state or political leader has often been questioned in many different countries throughout the years. In Antigone one can question the legitimacy to rule of Creon. In different instances throughout Antigone, it is evident that many of Creon’s subjects obey his laws and demands because of fear, not because they believe his orders and laws are justified. For example, Antigone’s sister Isemene refused to help Antigone with the burial in fear of being captured and killed by Creon (Sophocles, p. 3). In another instance, the Sentry obeys Creon’s order to find and capture the one who disobeyed him, Antigone, in order to save himself from the wrath of Creon (Sophocles, p. 13). Creon instills fear in his subjects in order to obtain

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 Aristotle's criteria exactly and fits perfectly into the role. In order to determine whether or not Creon is the true tragic hero, one must answer the question: 'What is a Tragic Hero?' In Aristotle's Poetics, he discusses the basic criteria regarding a tragic hero. Aristotle

“Antigone – Tragic Hero Essay Summative Writing Assessment” “Disaster is linked with disaster./ Woe again must each generation inherit.” (lines 595-596) In the play Antigone by Sophocles’, Creon pridefully rules the town of Thebes, only considering his own thoughts and feelings of being the talk of the town. Doomed to make an error in judgement, Responsible for his fate and fall from great heights and high self-esteem most strongly identifies Creon as the tragic hero in the Sophocles’ Antigone.

In this paper I am going to write about Creon versus Antigone. They both have strong character as Gender, Agency and State, laws. . Antigone is a woman who has a strong character that challenges the king Creon law in order to obey her beliefs. On other hand, Creon is effectively manufactured, however a fatigued and wrinkled man enduring the weights of running the show. A viable man, he immovably separates himself from the awful yearnings of Oedipus and his line. As he tells Antigone, his lone intrigue is in political and social request.

A tragedy, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is “the story of a falling from a high place to a lower place by a character.” In other words, a tragedy is a story of an individual who starts in a high position and descends throughout the story to end in a position that is lower than original position. The individual who makes the descent is known as the tragic hero. The tragic hero, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is “the character who falls from grace as a result of fate and/or a weakness. In the drama, Antigone by Sophocles, one could argue that there are many tragic heroes. However, the one who stands above them all is that of the character of Creon. Creon is understood by most as the tragic hero in Antigone as evident in his

Antigone is a Greek tragedy written by the dramatist Sophocles in the early 400s BC, which takes place in the city of Thebes. The play follows the story of a girl named Antigone and her disobedience to the laws of Thebes ruler, Creon. Several centuries following the work of Sophocles, Aristotle published a product of dramatic theory, known as Poetics. In this work, Aristotle discusses the different aspects that make up a true tragedy. According to Poetics, Creon is the character whose attributes fit him perfectly into the mold of a tragic figure. Creon believes he is doing good, but his fatal flaw leads him to his demise. In addition, the character of Creon exhibits more pathos, or pity than the character of Antigone. Because Antigone doesn’t experience all of Aristotle’s three vital pieces of tragedy, while Creon does, this just proves that she cannot be the tragic figure of this story.

Creon’s noble blood allows for the the appointment of kingship. Sharing ties with Jocasta, the late Queen of Thebes, Creon rises to power once the two sons’ of Oedipus, an exiled king of Thebes, die. The two sons’ of Oedipus and Jocasta take turns ruling Thebes, yet Etocles, the younger brother, exiles his brother, Polynices. This unruly act brought upon war and both brother died killing one another. As there is no king to rule Thebes the next male with royal blood must take the position of ruler. With no one left to rule, Creon is deemed new king of Thebes.