Oedipus fits Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero in three ways. One way that he fits the definition is the fact that misfortune was not caused by a character flaw but by a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding that ... ignored it and stayed ruler of Thebes. It took a lot of strength for Oedipus to own up to everything that happened. Another relatively small reason that Oedipus lines up with Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is that he had to answer the riddle to free Thebes and to even be able to enter. The completion of this task is what made ... him king, what made him admirable....

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... him to see that he was losing his family. In Antigone, the king, Creon can be considered a tragic hero because he meets all the characteristics of a tragic hero that Aristotle defined. In Aristotle's book, "The Poetics," a tragic figure possess five characteristics. The first of the five is the tragic flaw. The hero's tragic flaw is "a moral weakness in character" eventually ... leading to the "disaster" (Brown). The tragic flaw leads the character towards the wrong decisions. Aristotle's definition says that the character is "always larger than life" and that it is their decisions that...

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... flaw that eventually leads to the characters demise, and inspires pity amongst the audience. In Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus fits into all of Aristotle's criteria for being a hero. He has compassion and he wants to save the people of Thebes. However, contrary to the side of him that shows ... kindness of him he also has a very stubborn side to him which eventually causes his decline. Aristotle's tragic hero must exhibit a compassionate side and Oedipus definitely does. Oedipus reveals this characteristic when he promises to the people to again save them from ... his pa...

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... an example of the perfect tragedy in his writing Poetics. It has been questioned whether or not Aristotle manipulated Oedipus to fit his mold, or does Oedipus truly meet every demand made for a good tragedy. Aristotle outlines the requirements of a good tragedy in Poetics. First, the tragedy must be an imitation of ... viewer with a feeling of catharsis. Archer 2 The word catharsis is Greek for "purging" or "purification". The effect is similar to that of a "good cry". Aristotle also outlined the requirements for a good tragic hero. He must, first of all, be a great man. He must be supe...

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... , Creon is the main protagonist in the play. Some people would argue that Antigone is the key character of the story, but she doesn't have a hamartia. Aristotle professes this to be the beginning element of a tragedy. Creon's mistake is overstepping the boundaries of a mortal. He deems himself to be above the gods. He decides when someone's life ... things right. He is too late. He says that, "I was the fool, not you; and you died for me." His recognition of his errors comes at a great cost to him. Aristotle's fifth criterion for a protagonist consists of some type of catharsis. Antigon...

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... the viewer. Sophocles' Antigone and Arthur Miller's All My Sons both fit into this category. Both stories consist of a tragic hero, Creon and Joe Keller in this instance. According to Aristotle's Poetics, a tragic hero is someone not all good or all bad, and whose downfall is caused by a tragic flaw or "hamartia". Later the hero comes to a realization of their flaw ... , which usually comes too late for them to redeem themselves. Creon and Keller are both tragic heroes that fit into Aristotle's model, whose downfall is caused by greed, excessive pride and a belated recognition of their f...

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It is known that Aristotle once believed that all tragedies discussed universal truth. The story, "Once upon a Greek Stage", has proven this known fact. This was shown because there was no good or evil, just a ... because of his wrongful doings. Also, since Antigone disobeyed the law as well, because of Creon's weak character, he sends Antigone to her death also. If we compare this to Aristotle, Creon was not good or bad, he just showed some weakness in his character and because he was weak, it forced him to make wrong decisions and harm others around ... story shows the reader that we have...

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... of people that ultimately lead to an awful tragic ending that applies to their lives. While telling these tragedies, the reader or viewer goes through several different intense emotions, which Aristotle refers to as, catharsis. The protagonist of a tragedy is referred to as a tragic hero; they must be high ranking, a noble character and of a dignified stature before the tragic events occur ... . In the plays, Oedipus and Antigone, by Sophocles, the character Creon best portrays a tragic hero as defined by Aristotle. One of the most important attributes of a tragic hero is courageousness ...

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... his loved ones as the play concludes. Throughout my attempt to research the famous playwright Euripides I have found that many of his fellow playwrights had mixed feelings about his stories. Aristotle himself both praised Euripides calling him "the most tragic poet" and also criticized him for his confusing plotlines and his backward portrayal of what a hero is expected to be. Although ... within a person's being. It is also discussed in Palmer's article how some analysis of Euripides plays; Medea in particular may not even fit the criteria for a "Greek tragedy" according to Aristotle. ...

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... ; it is presented in dramatic, not narrative form, and achieves, through the representation of pitiable and fearful incidents, the catharsis of such incidents" (Golden 11). Using the criteria established by Aristotle in Poetics, "Antigone" by Sophocles displays the qualities of a tragedy. The principle character engages in an immense moral struggle (ending in death). Catharsis is accomplished through the catastrophic consequences of ... ...

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... principles higher than human law. Antigone's rebellion is especially threatening because it upsets gender roles and hierarchy. She walks into her fate with her eyes open all along the way. Aristotle's poetics applied to "Antigone" through moving the audience's emotions by having painful circumstances strike those that are either friends or related to each other, blood relations. This is between Antigone ... rule is relative to each class. Even a woman may be good, and also a slave, though the woman may be said to be an inferior being, and the slave quite worthless (Aristotle.Poetics 15)...

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... . Antigone, a daughter of Oedipus, cannot live to see her brother die without a proper burial. She goes against the laws of man to follow the God's laws, and buries him herself. Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is someone who is highly renowned and prosperous with a tragic flaw that is responsible for his or her downfall. Creon's potential for greatness as a ruler, destructive ... pride, recognition of error, and tragic downfall accurately apply to Aristotle's definition; thus proving he is the tragic hero. Creon has potential for greatness as a ruler. He sounds excited and ready ...

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... , "Oedipus the King," by Sophocles is a tragic fall. Aristotle gives us seven different criteria to prove Oedipus is a tragic hero. The first criteria is a fatal flaw. A fatal flaw must be a character trait that causes them to fall. The second ... ...

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... is worst form of sin. The problem with Creon's argument is he approaches He approaches every dilemma that requires judgement through descriptive generalizations. In contrast to the morality defined by Aristotle in his Nicomachaean Ethics, Creon shows that he is deaf to the knowledge of particulars--of place, time, manner, and persons, which is essential for moral reasoning. In short, he ... ...

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... it or not. At the beginning he was King and glorified and now he is the incestuous son who killed his own father. The transition from high to low, what Aristotle callsPeripetia?, the reversal of situation, is now Oedipus? reality. Oedipus is taken from king to beggar and from light to dark. His character is no more the great king of ... ...

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... I am king, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man" (Antigone, Scene 1 lines 42-48). Who gave him the right to contradict with God's laws? Even though "Aristotle's View of Tragedy and the Tragic Hero" explains that the hero is "not a mere plaything of the gods" (paragraph 6), in some ways or another Creon angered the gods. Creon's downfall ... ...

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... , the tragic hero, is shown and falls. In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is the true tragic hero. It may not be completely clear, but when looked at closely Antigone fits Aristotle's mold of the tragic hero easily. She fits into the aspects of having a high position, being too good nor too bad, and having a single flaw that brings out her demise ... ...

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... life and certain circumstances. Greece and especially Athens had reached a very high intellectual and artistic learning in this "golden age", which spawned many great philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle who are still looked to today. Socrates was probably one of the most influential philosophers in the category of wisdom. He states in his defense to the Athenian government against ... ...

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... . But in actuality, Creon is the true tragic hero. In order to determine who the real tragic hero is, one will have to answer the question, "What is a tragic hero?" Aristotle studied the works of Sophocles and he stated in The Poetics that a hero is neither innocent nor evil. This person also must possess a tragic flaw. The tragic flaw dooms the ... ...

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