The Roles of Protagonist and Antagonist in Antigone
Sophocles wrote the tragic drama Antigone in 442 B.C. and to this day there are still arguments concerning the proper labels of protagonist and antagonist. Some believe the protagonist is Antigone herself, after all the play is named after her and she is the only citizen in Thebes to stand up for what she believed was right. Those who believe this also believe Creon is the antagonist, because he ignores the wishes of his people and lets a wounded ego run his actions toward doom. On the other hand, some believe Creon is the protagonist because the play is also focused on his actions and his decisions concerning the welfare of the state. Since the laws are made for the good of all, and since Antigone breaks the law, she is the antagonist. Antigone is not this simple. The argument is still unsettled because the characters and the plot are complex and cannot be analyzed by traditional methods. Antigone and Creon enter into both roles in different periods of the play, they are both protagonist and antagonist; their role is defined by the quality of judgment they possess at the time. A protagonist can be defined as “the main character in drama or fiction, sometimes called the hero or heroine” (McMahan, 1143). Both Antigone
will the traitor be honored above the patriot. Creon acts in his city’s best interest here, and his actions resemble those of a protagonist. But whoever proves his loyalty to the state: and Creon fit this description. Antigone has sacrificed her own well-being and safety to give her brother a proper burial, which she believes is right according to the gods’ rule. The town of Thebes agrees with her, and sees her as a heroine: “‘No woman,’ they say, ‘ever deserved death less, / and such a brutal death for such a glorious action…. Death? She deserves a glowing crown of gold!’” (777-78, 782). Creon has successfully defended his city from destruction, from a civil war instigated by Antigone’s brother Polynices. Outraged by the treason, Creon proclaims a law that Polynices must not be buried; he must be left to rot outside of the city walls. He says: An antagonist can be defined as “the character (or a force such as war or poverty) in a drama, poem, or work of fiction whose actions oppose those of the protagonist (hero or heroine)” (McMahan, 1136). When Antigone goes against the decree passed by Creon, she believes she is following a higher law: “Nor did I think your edict had such force / that you, a mere mortal, could ov
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Approximate Word count = 857
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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