... up failing. The play Antigone by Sophocles makes it hard for the readers to decide who is the tragic hero. Creon best fits in with the definition of a tragic hero. The things he say's does and the comments made by those around him show he is the tragic hero. Creon's main tragic flaw was his pride and his big ego. His biggest mistake was denying a proper burial for Antigone ... 's brother Polynices. Antigone wanted to burying her brother because she was loyal to her family. Creon is mad because she is a women who disobeyed him in public. To make ... below and love, if love you must - lov...

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• Grade Level: High School

... her pride when she does not let Ismene claim any responsibility of the burial and when she tells Ismene that she does not want her help. "I would not want you as a partner even if you asked" (Antigone 194). Antigone also has problems thinking straight because she reacts based solely on what her emotions tell her to do, instead of taking a well ... law of man. Antigone belongs in her high and royal position as the princess of Thebes. She is Oedipus" daughter, which makes her next in line to the throne if anything should happen to her brothers. After the feud and the death of both brother...

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... 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. Antigone gains respect throughout the ... and charged just to take a stand against Creon's ungodly laws. It is even more ironic that Antigone's strengths also lead to her flaws. Antigone's death was by her own hand; she hanged herself in the cave. Antigone is truly the Tragic Hero of this story. She had completely fulfilled all aspects of the...

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• Grade Level: High School

... But whoever proves his loyalty to the state: I"ll prize that man in death as well as life" (l 232-235). Creon puts country above all else, and for this, he personifies the tragic hero's characteristic of nobility. He is, moreover, a man of strength and formidability. As a man who values his country, he punishes all those who threaten his country, ... stubborn Oh I've learned through blood and tears!" (l 1393-1404). Creon reaches a point of enlightenment, from which the audience also learns. By embodying nobility, fallibility, downfall through flaw, and catharsis, Creon undoubtedly serve...

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... judgment on Antigone that she had to die greatly angered the gods. Then when Teiresias comes and tells Creon the error in his ways, he holds to his arrogant pride and dismisses Teiresias as a prophet who was bribed to deliver false predictions. Creon is also the tragic hero of this drama. He failed at being a good ruler. Because of his decree about Polyneices and his ... took her own life with a knife. All of this punishment was brought on Creon because he went against the gods. Even though he himself was not killed, Creon had to live with the death of his loved ones around him making h...

• Word Count: 466
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• Grade Level: High School

... judgment on Antigone that she had to die greatly angered the gods. Then when Teiresias comes and tells Creon the error in his ways, he holds to his arrogant pride and dismisses Teiresias as a prophet who was bribed to deliver false predictions. Creon is also the tragic hero of this drama. He failed at being a good ruler. Because of his decree about Polyneices and his ... took her own life with a knife. All of this punishment was brought on Creon because he went against the gods. Even though he himself was not killed, Creon had to live with the death of his loved ones around him making h...

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• Grade Level: High School

... seven of them have been reminded until now. Among those plays, Antigone is a play about the struggle between state and family. It is Creon's nobility, tragic flaw, his downfall, and his great loss that bring him to be a true tragic hero of Antigone. His noble quality is his caring for Antigone and Ismene when their father was persecuted. He also realized his mistake when ... . Finally he is forced to live, knowing that three people are dead because of his ignorance, which is a punishment worse than death. All are the key elements that make Creon for being a true tragic hero. Creon is a m...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Antigone Vs. Creon A Battle of Pride A tragic hero is described in literature as a highly renowned person who is neither virtuous or villainous, makes choices for which there is no escape, makes an error in judgement, and evokes pity and suspense from the audience by their actions. In the classic Greek drama, Antigone by Sophocles, Creon meets all the characteristics of the tragic hero. The play begins with Antigone ... . The fate of Antigone is predicted in the first scene and does not change throughout the play. Thus Antigone does not totally fulfill the definition of a tragic hero. Creon on...

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... or flaw and accepts the overwhelming retribution. Through this experience, he or she finally gains wisdom. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon fits the term tragic hero more adequately than Antigone. The two have some character flaws, and both are responsible for their own tragic consequences. They are proud, stubborn people, and their unwillingness to recognize their folly sparks the bitter conflict between them. Yet ... Antigone does not experience any significant downfall nor is she enlightened in any way at the end. Creon, on the other hand, is a great man reduced to a pitiable conditio...

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• Grade Level: High School

Greek tragedy, as defined by Aristotle, is "The representation of serious and important actions that lead to a disastrous end for the protagonist" (1493). The protagonist in this case is considered to be a tragic character. A tragic character is "A morally good but not perfect tragic hero who is brought from happiness to unhappiness because of a mistaken act, to which he or she is led by a hamartia, an error ... saying "You dare say that!" (923; 136). Instead, he concludes that Teiresias is lying by saying "Say what you will. Whatever you say is worthless." (923; 147) and taking that as evide...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... of Thebes. Seeing Oedipus suffer should make Creon think twice before he makes decisions, but does it really help? In Antigone, Creon has many character traits that are unlikable by the people of Thebes. Ignorance, rudeness, selfishness, and cold-heartedness are just a few of them. Creon is a tragic hero because of the actions that he has ... He accuses the Elders of foolishness because they believe the Gods had something to do with Polynices's burial (Sophocles lines 317-327). Creon takes his power to another level as he goes on a tirade against the men that were not happy with his lea...

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... father was persecuted. Proponents of this view also point out that Creon had an epiphany while realizing that he made a mistake when Teiresias made his prophecy. Creon was not the tragic hero in this play. Creon's interpretation of his struggle with Antigone is personalized. Throughout the play, Creon refers to himself and the state as being one entity. Antigone's defiance against the state is defiance ... against Creon. Anitogone is concerned for the fate of her brother and the law of ... the God's. Creon is concerned for himself. He refers to his manhood when ... ...

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• Grade Level: High School

The classic Greek play Antigone, written by Sophocles illustrates the traits that the quintessential tragic hero displays. Antigone stands poised at the river separating herself from civil disobedience. She puts aside the grave fear of consequence to traverse the bridge between. Enraptured in her "duty" to ... becomes preoccupied with the thought of her brother's burial. Antigone's failure to reason with herself, Ismene, or Creon illustrates her tragic flaw, the same flaw that leads her to an abrupt end. By Sophoclean definition, Antigone is deemed a tragic hero because she is unable to disc...

• Word Count: 357
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... '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 to take on ... . He dies next to his Antigone. The queen, after learning the death of her sons, kills herself too and blames Creon. In conclusion, Kin...

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... hurt and torn between government of family, and in the end, chooses family over government. Aside from Creon's judgment with extreme danger to herself, Antigone puts herself in great danger to bury the body of Polyneices. Antigone is in fact, a tragic hero, characterized by her position as son of Oedipus, and her arrogant and perhaps conceited characteristics which will lead to her ultimate, unexpected ... , for him, it is too late. When he goes to free Antigone, she has by that time killed herself, and as a true result, Haemon, Creon's own son, kills himself over Antigone's wrongful dea...

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... it is the character of Creon who provides the reader with a cathartic release through the development of his humanity throughout the course of the play. He is the figure most akin to the classical Aristotelian definition of the traditional tragic hero. In Aristotle's book, Poetics, the philosopher defines a tragic hero as someone of high status, flawed, afflicted with hamartia (tragic flaw) and hubris (arrogance), ... is punished severely, and in the end gains wisdom. The character of Creon is more emotionally developed, and the breadth of his humanity is greatly accessible ... but giv...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... in his life which humbled his character. When the kingdom was troubled by a plague, a priest came to Oedipus requesting his help. The priest referred to Oedipus as a hero when he said, "You cannot equal the gods, your children know that, bending at your altar. But we do rate you first of men, both in ... he was the killer. Oedipus was in denial and let his pride get in the way of the truth. Oedipus accused Creon and Tiresias of a conspiracy to over throw the throne. "Creon the soul of trust, my loyal friend from the start steals against me so hungry to overthrow me he sets this ... Oedi...

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... of youths who celebrated the naval victory at Salamis in 480 BC. In 468 BC, at the age of 28, he defeated Aeschylus, whose preeminence as a tragic poet had long been undisputed, in a dramatic competition. The date of the first contest with Euripides is uncertain in 441 Euripides defeated Sophocles in one ... was the ruler of Thebes. In so doing she thereby brings about her own death, the death of her lover Haemon, who is Creon's son, and that of Eurydice, Creon's wife. Ajax, Electra, Philoctetes, and Trachiniae in varying forms repeat the themes of Antigone. Oedipus Tyrannus, which is ...

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David Schnabel 9/5/01 AP English / 4th Oedipus Characterization Essay A tragic hero would not be as tragic were they not to realize the truth or become enlightened in the end. At the end of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus comes to terms with himself ... by himself, he seems to not be relying whatsoever on the gods and their wisdom. Instead he is taking his own measures to solve the problem and when Creon returns he finds that things aren't exactly going his way. When Tiresias comes on the scene he knows exactly what will happen saying, "what will come will ... angers Oedipus and he rants and raves on...

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... the end, Antigone is without a doubt against the written law and therefore would respond negatively to the statement. Sophocles would have a similar response to the statement as Antigone. Sophocles response may not be as radical as Antigone, but I believe that he makes it clear in certain moments throughout the play that he places more on morals over state laws. Sophocles creates the situation ... you may not agree with them. For example, Sophocles understands that the divine laws often clash with human law, but are always triumphant. Sophocles uses his belief on divine ordinances as th...

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• Has Bibliography
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... expanding field of science. Man was focused on more than the Gods or heavenly concerns. A government that was ruled by the people was suggested as opposed to a monarchy that had existed for many years. Freedom of religion was encouraged in city-states. These new ideals, though good in intentions ... death peacefully. Yet, she is digging her grave with her own hands. By burying Polynices, Antigone practically hands her life over to Creon, to use as he wishes, because the punishment for defying his orders is death. However, Antigone does not complain. She is proud to die for something ......

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... that has lived up to the heroic code standards. She had a difficult childhood; both her father and mother were not in her life because of the tragic events that occurred when she was a child. When her two brothers faced off in a civil war, her family was torn apart even more than it ... already was. Her brother Polyneices was killed by her other brother, Eteokles. Creon, the king, gave Eteokles a proper burial, but refused to bury Polyneices. Antigone felt that her brother, Polyneices, deserved a proper burial, no matter what the ... cost. She proceeded to bury her brother, and when Cre...

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... Thebes, is stubborn and arrogant just like his brother in law Oedipus. Like very tragic hero, Creon eventually deteriorates. Creon's hubris eventually causes his downfall. At the beginning of the play Creon is very direct to the towns people and senators. Creon states that anyone who buries Polynices will die. "...came back form exile intending to ... it still, that a king whose lips are sealed by fear, unwilling to seek advice is damned." (pg. 387/lines.140-165). As the play carries on, the Sentry brings news to Creon of a person that has buried Polynices. "...It's this sir. The corpse...

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... often become jaded as to which character, Creon or Antigone, Sophocles intended to portray this tragic play through. As the play begins, Antigone is alone in her beliefs. The chorus sides with Creon and most likely the audience as well. However, as the play develops ... repeating the burial rights of Polynices, Antigone is arrested and led to a courtyard where she meets face to face with Creon. In the courtyard she is openly defiant and brutally outspoken. She exclaims, "Of course I did it. It wasn't ... She is willing to give up her own life rather than witness Polynices" death withou...

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... Sophocles, human responsibility plays an important role to the significance of the characters. Oedipus accepts responsibility as a tragic hero, as does Antigone. It seems however, that Antigone shows a greater willingness to accept her responsibility. Oedipus" basic flaw is his lack of knowledge of his own identity. He starts out as a good king, and finds out laios is killed, threatening the killer to a severe punishment. He ... out of his control. This makes him seem less willing to accept his past sins. Antigone, Oedipus" daughter, has much of the same decisiveness as her father did. ...

• Word Count: 588
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• Grade Level: High School