Essay on Creon as the Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone

Creon as the Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone? This question has been the subject of a great debate for numerous years. Equal arguments exist that portray Antigone as the tragic heroine in the play and Creon as the tragic hero. Aristotle, in his study of Greek drama entitled Poetics, provided the framework that determines the tragic hero of a work. Though Antigone definitely possesses the characteristics and qualities that are mentioned, Creon comes across as the true tragic hero of Antigone. The tragic hero must be a person occupying a high position whose character embodies nobility and virtue. Creon, King of Thebes, definitely occupies a position of†¦show more content†¦He lost all that was dear to him. By the end of the play, Creon was doomed to live with his own pain and guilt, realizing that he had ultimately caused the death of his niece, his son, and his wife. He lost his will to live when his downfall was accentuated by the destruction of his family. Creon possessed a tragic flaw that kept him from being perfect. His harmartia was his pride and stubbornness. Because of his pride, he was inflexible in his beliefs. He didnt want to listen to his son or the blind prophet Teiresias when they were advising him to change his mind. When Haemon tries to convince him not to kill Antigone, Creon replies Should we that are my age learn wisdom from such as he is? (784-785) Creon was a victim not of others, but of his own pride. Creon is sincere in his belief that he is doing what is best for his country. He feels that Polyneices was a traitor and enemy of the state because he came upon the city to fight his brother for rule. The peripetia, or moment of reversal of the play, was when Creon finally realized that he was in the wrong. He hurried to make amends by burying Polyneices and then rushing to release Antigone from her tomb. Because he is too late and Antigone has already taken her own life, a domino effect of death takes place with Haemon, his son, and then his wife Eurydice taking their own lives. Creon advances from ignorance toShow 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. Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is: â€Å"Tragedy is a story taking the hero from happiness to miseryRead More Creon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Essay593 Words   |  3 PagesCreon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone There has always been a bit of confusion as to the tragic hero of the Greek Drama Antigone. Many assume that simply because the play is named for Antigone, that she is the tragic hero. However, evidence supports that Creon, and not Antigone, is the tragic hero of the play. Examining the factors that create a Greek Tragedy, and a tragic character, it is clear that the tragic hero is in fact Creon. First, take into account the timeframe in whichRead More Creon is the Tragic Hero in Sophocles Antigone Essay627 Words   |  3 Pages Creon is the Tragic Hero of Antigone nbsp; When the title of a play is a characters name, it is normally assumed that the character is the protagonist of the play. In Sophocles Antigone, most people probably believe Antigone to be the tragic heroine, even after they have finished watching the play. It may be argued, however, that Creon, not Antigone, is the tragic character. When we examine the nature and concept of the Greek Tragedy and what it means to be a tragic character, it becomesRead More Creon As Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone Essay836 Words   |  4 PagesCreon As Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone Since the play’s inception, there has always existed a contention concerning the true hero of Sophocles’ Antigone. It is a widely held belief that Antigone must be the main character simply because she and the drama share name. This is, of course, a very logical assumption. Certainly Sophocles must have at least meant her to be viewed as the protagonist, else he would not have given her the play’s title. Analytically speaking, however, Creon doesRead MoreEssay on Creon As The Tragic Hero Of Antigone by Sophocles781 Words   |  4 PagesCreon As The Tragic Hero Of Antigone by Sophocles Greek tragedy would not be complete with out a tragic hero. Sophocles wrote Antigone with a specific character in mind for this part. Based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone. Creon fits Aristotle’s tragic hero traits as a significant person who is faced with difficult decisions. Creon is significant because he is king. This makes him both renowned and prosperous. Creon is not completely good nor completely bad;Read MoreEssay on Creon The Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone723 Words   |  3 PagesCreon The Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Every Greek tragedy must have a tragic hero. In Sophocle’s play, Antigone, the most tragic hero is Creon. He is an essentially good man of high position who takes pride in his role as king. He possesses the tragic flaws of excessive pride and an oversized ego. This causes the tragic reversal that leads to his emotional ruin and eventual remorse and repentance. As King of Thebes, Creon is forced to make difficult decisions. As a new ruler, he feelsRead MoreEssay about The Tragic Hero Creon in Antigone by Sophocles818 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play, Antigone by Sophocles, at first glance readers assume that Antigone is the tragic hero. However, this is not the case. Although Antigone does display some characteristics of a tragic hero, I believe that Creon is the true tragic hero. For many readers, it may be a challenge to see Creon as the tragic hero; however, when you take a second look at the play, you can see that Creon displays every quality of a tragic hero. 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