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Who is the Tragic Hero: Creon or Antigone?
In Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, the characters Creon and Antigone both fit into a few of AristotleЎ存 criteria. They are both choices of tragic heroes. They both are Ў吵either good nor evil in the extreme but just a man like any of usЎЁ; they are both born of a better social status than most of us, and both have a tragic flaw in their characters. Although the story is titled Antigone, it is not necessary that Antigone be the tragic hero. Other criteria that only Creon fits in are that the tragic hero should be responsible for his downfall, the Ў吮isfortune they get should be greater than [he] deservesЎЁ, and should also have recognition of a truth about himself. By many of CreonЎ存 actions, he shows all of the characteristics of a tragic hero and fits in these descriptions perfectly.
Creon fits in all of the characteristics of AristotleЎ存 criteria and is the tragic hero. Creon is neither good nor bad. He is not completely bad because he didnЎ宇 really want to kill Antigone. Instead, he just wanted to keep his laws straight in order to make his men follow his orders. He was just a stubborn man who wanted to show the Thebans that he was a man of his word. Creon is the king in the play and he is definitely in a higher status than all of us. CreonЎ存 judgment on Antigone at first revealed Ў含ragic error in judgmentЎЁ from AristotleЎ存 criteria. Creon showed himself most arrogant and pride. Self-pride is the tragic flaw Creon faces in this play. He showed so much arrogance in every decision he made. In scene 3, line 105 Creon shows his self-pride by saying, "My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city." This is a weakness in his character in which this brought the whole tragic to come about. Creon insisted on punishing Antigone and would not change his mind. He is responsible for his own downfall. Even though Creon sentenced Antigone, the misfortune he receives is certainly greater than what he deserves. All he wanted is to keep his country at peace, and did not want to tolerate rebellion. In scene 3, line 118, Creon says Ў囤ou will never marry her while she livesЎЁ. King Creon finally notices that he had too much self-pride and was stubborn, he tried to change what he done wrong. In scene 5, lines 105-108 Creon tries to correct his wrong by saying, "Come with me to the tomb. I buried her, I will set her free, Oh quickly, my mind misgives."
Unfortunately, it was already too late to reverse his actions, because Antigone has already hanged herself. Unlike Creon, Antigone doesnЎ宇 fit most of AristotleЎ存 criteria.
Although Antigone is the title of this play, it is not necessary that Antigone be the tragic hero. She only fits into a few of AristotleЎ存 criteria. Antigone is neither good nor bad in the extreme. She [next page]