The Tragic Hero of “Antigone”

Lindsey Folcik Mrs. Monzel Period 1 8 April 2010 The Tragic Hero of Antigone In Sophocles play Antigone, both Creon and Antigone display some characteristics of a sadal gunslinger. Creon is the queer of Thebes following the late Oedipus and his sons. He decrees that no one should ever eat Polyneices because he was a traitor to his city, time Eteocles would be buried with proficient military honors. Antigone hears this proclamation and decides to bury her brother, Polyneices, in order to follow the laws of the gods. They could both arguably be the tragic hero of the bill.A tragic hero is usually of broad(prenominal) birth that has a tragic dishonor that causes them to decay from a prominent height later on having a here and now of actualisation all too late. This comparison between Creon and Antigone will show that Creon outperform fits the characteristics of a tragic hero. The definition of a tragic hero includes having an anagnorsis, or moment of cite when they real ize their tragic flaw, and this is one way in which Antigone does non qualify as a tragic hero while Creon does. In the beginning, Creon is very stubborn in his decision to crop up Antigone for burial her brother.Even after he hears Teiresias prophecy, de does not change his mind. It is not until after he realizes that it is worse to risk everything for stubborn hook though it is sedate more than too late for him (235). He sees that the laws of the gods atomic number 18 mighty, and a humanness must serve them to the last day of his smell (236). He has not served the gods by denying Polyneices a proper burial. By foolishly rejecting the laws of the gods, his own trick heart has brought him from darkness to final darkness (242).Now he has recognized the wrongs he has committed against Oedipus children, which ultimately causes his downfall. Antigone, on the other hand, is aware of the consequences of her actions from the very beginning. She says to her sister I will bury h im and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy, showing that she has very consciously do this decision. She is withal aware of the inevitable outcome of her decision, but it does not stanch her as she says to Creon, I knew I must die, nonetheless without your decree (208).She ends up accepting her punishment, and still stands by her decision. Even as Creon is about to stake her to her decease, she says sternly, I withstand not sinned before God (227). In personal line of credit to Creons blind decision making, Antigone made her rash, yet conscious, decision full aware of the bleak ending, so she never has a moment when she realizes her flaw. In Antigone, Creon is an excellent example of a tragic hero. He has a major tragic flaw and falls from a big height. It could be turn overd that his tragic flaw is excessive pride.He tries to reason his decision to kill Antigone by asking the Choragos, Who is the man here, /She or I, if the crime goes unpunished? (209). The power of world king seems to have gone to his head. He believes that his join is the one voice giving orders in this city , which is veritable, but his edict is still not popular with many of the citizens (220). He is so prideful, he will withal hurt his son, Haimon, to prove his point. He plans to Let Antigone die before his look (222).In the end, Creon locks Antigone up in a stone vault to kill her, but he was so full of pride and did not lack to be proven wrong that he was willing to hurt his son. other way that Creon is a very good tragic hero is that he falls from a great height. This great height is the throne of Thebes. Since the destruction of Oedipus and his sons, he has succeeded to the full power of the throne (196). He is now the approximately powerful man in the land. Creon states that whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed, and he insists on showing just how much power he holds.However, after he has his moment of recognition and his fortunes are reversed, he has fallen rase that anyone else. He says that now he has neither life nor substance (244). He has killed Antigone unjustly and indirectly murdered his son and wife. There is not much more miserable than that, in great contrast to his once high and honorable position as king. Through an examination of his tragic flaw and fall from grace, it is easy to see why he is a great example of a tragic hero. One of Oedipus daughters, Antigone, could also arguably be the tragic hero of Sophocles play.She has some of the main characteristics of a tragic hero, comparable having a tragic flaw, although she does not have a moment of recognition or fall from a great height. It seems that her tragic flaw is also excessive pride in addition to making impulsive decisions. aft(prenominal) Creons decree, she refuses to give up, claiming Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way (191). Then, when her sister, Ismene, tries to caution her against such a rash and dangerous decision, Antigone rejects her, as she says, I should not want you, even if you asked to come (192).Sometimes, her great numerate of pride comes off as insolence. While she is speaking to Creon prior to her death she says rudely, Ah the good fortune of kings, / Licensed to say whatever they please (210). Ultimately, her pride and lack of thoughtful decision making cause her demise. But even though she has this tragic flaw, she does not fall from a great height. Her berth in society is relatively low, especially compared to that of Creon. As her sister puts it, We are only women (191). In ancient Thebes, women are very low on the social ladder.Also, her familys curse does not help her status as a woman. The Chorus says that they have seen this gathering sorrow . . . / Loom upon Oedipus children (215). The story of her father and family has brought her no honor because The blasphemy of her birth has plagued her her entire life (226). So, when she has been found burying Polyneices and is condemned, she does not fall from honor, as a true tragic hero would. Even though Antigone does posses some characteristics of a tragic hero, she does not match the definition as closely as Creon does. on the whole in all, Creon is the true tragic hero of Antigone. He is a improve example of one, because he has a significant tragic flaw, a moment of recognition, and falls from a very high place. Some may argue that the tragic hero is Antigone, because she has a tragic flaw. But she does not have a moment of recognition or fall from a great height. Clearly, through these examples, Creon is the tragic hero of the play. Works Cited Sophocles. Antigone. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. The Oedipus Cycle. USA Harcourt, 1977. 186-245.