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The Tragic Hero Of Creon As A Tragic Hero

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Every Greek tragedy must have a tragic hero. In The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles’ Antigone translated by Seamus Heaney, the most tragic hero is Creon. He is an essentially good man of high position who takes pride in his role as king. Antigone receives a punishment for disobeying Creon’s orders by burying her brother’s body. Antigone went against Creon’s law and listened to god’s law while burying Polyneices. Based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to a catastrophe; he realizes the error of his ways, but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe; and his downfall and suffering leaves him humbled and enlightened. First, based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to a catastrophe. For instance, Creon says, “The throne has come to me” (Sophocles 15). He becomes powerful but in the wrong ways. The crown got handed down to Creon while being the next person in line to be considered king. Creon thought he had a while before he became king because there was already a king in place. There was supposed to be two more generations before Creon was supposed to have all the power. Polyneices and Eteocles have to switch the royalty every once in awhile for them to share the king’s name. They both got into a evil war, and were killed fighting each other. Creon says “Ismene is involved in this thing too… but neither seed nor breed will save them now” (Sophocles 31). Creon thinks the power of being king allows him to act this way towards his people, even if they are his nieces. Ismene did not want to be a part of this situation. She didn’t even help bury her own brother’s body. She was against helping her sister bury their brother’s body because of Creon’s law. She did not want to disobey Creon’s law while he is King of Thebes. The punishment for disobeying the edict is death by public stoning. He blames both of his nieces for the action Antigone did for her brother. Creon did not honor his nephew by giving him the right funeral. Second, based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of

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