James Monahan
Mrs. McNicholas
English 4 AP
11 December 2000
Creon as Tragic Hero
Since the play?s inception, there has always existed a contention concerning the true hero of Sophocles? Antigone. It is a widely held belief that Antigone must be the main character simply because she and the drama share name. This is, of course, a very logical assumption. Certainly Sophocles must have at least meant her to be viewed as the protagonist, else he would not have given her the play?s title. Analytically speaking, however, Creon does seem to more categorically fit the appellation of ?Tragic Hero.? There is no doubt as to the nature of the work, that being tragedy. Along with this genre comes certain established prerequisites, and Creon is the only character that satisfactorily fits them all.
There are certain qualities that a character must posses in order to qualify as a tragic hero. Ideally, the subject is to be a person of high rank, so that they may have much to lose. (Most frequently a monarch is used.) Granted, Antigone is a member of the royal bloodline. But we must not forget that she is the daughter of incest, hardly a glamorous position to start with. In Oedipus Rex, Antigone was indirectly disgraced, while Creon was socially elevated by inheriting kingship from Oedipus. Also, Creon?s being king comparatively trumps Antigone?s lesser status of orphaned princess. While this in itself objectively proves nothing, it does at a minimum make Creon the more likely choice of protagonist.
Another essential component of a tragic hero is that of the tragic flaw, the one attribute that causes the inevitable downfall of the character. A case could be made for Antigone?s hamartia being obduracy. She is called stubbornly wild in the play by both Creon? ?This girl was an old hand at insolence?? (1280)? and by the chorus leader: ?She hasn?t learned to bend before adversity.? (1279). Yet the judgment of detractors shouldn?t be taken for absolute truth. Looking at her actions and personality impartially tells a bit of a different story. A trademark of the stubborn personality type is not merely to argue in the face of antagonism, but to maintain legitimacy even after being proven incorrect. There is no evidence to support that Antigone would act in such a manner, were she proven wrong. In fact, everyone except the king reinforces her righteousness. Haemon, the chorus, Ismene, the gods, and Tiresias all agree that Antigone has justice on her side, and deserves no punishment. Thus, she is cleared of having any real character deficiency. She does the right thing, and for the right reasons. Creon, on the other hand, possesses that much-loved classic flaw: hubris. Creon?s pride clouds his judgment and blocks out the good sense of Haemon and Tiresias, two sources that even the king should know have no ulterior angles. Conceit is often an offshoot of personal insecurity. Being a new king, Creon felt he had to prove himself as an authoritarian, and decided to make an example out of Antigone?s insurrection. This poor judgment, dictated by ego, was destined to ruin Creon from the outset.
Tragedies always end with an ironic reversal of fortunes, leaving the unfortunate exalted and the respected belittled. Since the tragic hero starts out with everything, he or she must end up with nothing. By the end of Antigone, Creon has lost his family, his kingdom, and his will to live, but is doomed to live on with the knowledge that he is the sole cause of all his pain. Antigone does in fact lose her life, but she does so with honor. From the beginning, Antigone was clearly seeking martyrdom: ?Even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory? (1269). Antigone has gained the good graces of the people and the gods. The audience does not pity her because she has accomplished the burial of her brother, and she can now rest beside him.
The final element of the tragic hero of a greek drama is the realization of faults and bad choices. Antigone had no such epiphany, simply because she did no wrong. Antigone needs no redemption because she has committed no great misdeed. Creon, however, comes to see his grave mistakes after he has fallen from grace. Creon repents, and is even brought to the verge of suicide. Like all tragic heroes, he can only realize his vice once everything has been taken away from him.
So who was meant to be the lead character of Antigone? Antigone. So who is the lead character of Antigone? Creon. Somewhere along the line, Sophocles found a more complex story in the insecure king than in the defiant noblewoman. Using Aristotle?s outline of Greek tragedy (which ironically was primarily based on Sophocles), Creon is the only character who meets the criteria. Creon started from the highest postion, suffered the greatest net losses, and possessed the only inarguable flaw. Titles aside, the literary content speaks for itself.
Другие работы по теме:
Pride That Leads To Tragedy Essay Research
Paper Pride that Leads to Tragedy Pride can be a very pernicious quality in a person. This theme is displayed very well by Creon, a character in the book Antigone and also the tragic hero, whose pride led him to a tragic downfall. Sophocles, the author of this Greek drama, encompasses tragedy in most of his plays.
Oedipus Rex 4 Essay Research Paper Essay
Oedipus Rex 4 Essay, Research Paper Essay- Oedipus the King by Sophocles According to Aristotle, the protagonist in a tragedy must have a tragic flaw that ultimately becomes the cause of his ruin. Oedipus in Oedipus the King by Sophocles tragic flaw that caused his downfall was his pride. Three examples of when Oedipus pride got the better of him were: when he left his adopted parents in Cornith, the second is when he goes against Creon, and the third is when Oedipus is demanding that the messenger tell him all he knows about who his real parents are.
Sophocles Vs Euripides Essay Research Paper While
Sophocles Vs. Euripides Essay, Research Paper While both Sophocles and Euripides are considered writers of Greek tragedy, their plays (Antigone, Oedipus Rex, Medea) have some subtle and some profound differences. In both Antigone and Oedipus Rex, the ?tragic heroes? suffer from a major character flaw- hubris.
Antigone The Hero Essay Research Paper Antigone
Antigone The Hero Essay, Research Paper Antigone the Hero Antingone is the heroine of western drama, and the play bears her name rather than Creon?s. I believe this statement to be true. Not only because Antigone is the Heroine, but because the story also revolves around her. If not for the conflict of disobeying her uncle, the story wouldn’t have a pourpose.
Antigone As A Tragic Hero Essay Research
Paper In Sophocle’s Antigone, the characters show a variety of traits. However, Antigone’s life of ambition, family of noble rank, and display of good mentality portray her as the tragic hero of the story. A tragic hero must include three main traits. The hero must have a tragic flaw, a family of high class or rank, and must be a basically good person.
Antigone Essay Research Paper AntigoneThere is still
Antigone Essay, Research Paper Antigone There is still a great debate on who is, in fact, the true hero in Sophocles Antigone. Many hold that it must be Antigone, herself; after all, the play does bear her name. But in actuality, Creon, not Antigone, is the true tragic hero. In order to determine whether of not Creon is the true tragic hero, one will first have to answer the question, What is a tragic hero? Aristotle, when discussing the nature of such a hero in his theory of drama, states that such a hero is neither purely innocent nor purely evil.
Antigone Creon A True Tragic Hero Essay
, Research Paper A tragedy, as defined by Ms. Tozar, is “the story of a falling from a high place to a lower place by a character.” In other words, a tragedy is a story of an individual who starts in a high position and descends throughout the story to end in a position that is lower than original position. The individual who makes the descent is known as the tragic hero.
The Theban Plays Essay Research Paper Throughout
The Theban Plays Essay, Research Paper Throughout, The Theban Plays Creon remained an important character. From the first play King Oedipus through the second play Oedipus at Colonus Creon displayed a dramatic change in his character. A change in Creon?s personality was noticeable when the truth about Oedipus was revealed.
Tragic Hero Scarlet Letter Essay Research Paper
A Tragic Hero A tragic hero displays many specific characteristics. Many of them are displayed by Arthur Dimmesdale in novel The Scarlet Letter. Arthur Dimmesdale is a tragic hero because he suffers beyond the depths of despair, and then comes to a moral resolution.
MacbethTragic Hero Essay Research Paper MacbethTragic HeroAs
Macbeth-Tragic Hero Essay, Research Paper Macbeth-Tragic Hero As I finished reading Macbeth by William Shakespeare I realized the true reason that Macbeth is considered a tragic hero. Like all other tragic hero?s he had many good things going for him in his life before he messes with self- destructing things and threw it all away.
Creon The Tragic Hero Essay Research Paper
Antigone tells the story of Creon, King of Thebes. The situation arises when our tragic hero, Creon, makes a declaration regarding the death of a traitor. Polyneices was killed in battle and was to remain unburied to demonstrate the punishment for treason. Antigone, Polyneices’ sister, rebels against Creon and buries her brother, denouncing the decree as an offense against the “law of God.” Polynese, Creon’s son, pleads with his father to listen to his citizens and empathize with Antigone’s action.
Tragic Hero 2 Essay Research Paper In
Tragic Hero 2 Essay, Research Paper In Antigone Creon is the tragic hero. Throughout the story he displays the four tragic hero characteristics. He was a person of high character. Creon was the King of Thebes and he thought he was the most powerful person. Creon didn’t think anything could stop him. Pride was Creon’s downfall.
Antigone Overview Essay Research Paper Antigone by
Antigone: Overview Essay, Research Paper Antigone, by the great tragic poet Sophocles, is about conflicting duties. The heroine Antigone has defied her uncle Creon’s edict and buried her rebellious brother. Here, Creon, concerned with the safety of the state, learns of the crime and confronts Antigone, who places family duty above everything.
Tragic Hero Media Essay Research Paper A
Tragic Hero (Media) Essay, Research Paper A Hero of Another Kind The tragic hero is usually not like an everyday person that is seen on the street. According to Aristotle’s book, Poetics, four characteristics establish the essence of a tragic hero. This is very helpful in understanding why the tragic hero is a mediocre type of person.
Oedipus Rex As A Tragic Hero Essay
, Research Paper Oedipus Rex as a Tragic Hero Before the twentieth century plays were mainly written as either a tragedy or comedy. In a tragic play the tragic hero will often do something that will eventually destroy him. In the book Oedipus the King, Oedipus Rex is the tragic hero. In a tragic play the main character, which is portrayed as Oedipus, will do a good deed that will in turn make him a hero.
Oedipus Essay Research Paper Just as it
Oedipus Essay, Research Paper Just as it was with Oedipus, Creon is also a victim of his own arrogance. To say he is a victim is somewhat gracious, but he is after all, human. Arrogance being a chief
Tragic Hero In Antigone Essay Research Paper
Tragic Hero By reading Sophocles , Antigone, one may think that the name of the play should be Creon instead; this is because his tragedy is the axis of the work. It is also clear that he is a tragic character, but not the only tragic character in the play. Antigone is battling against Creon, but she is also clashing against patriarchy, the power of the state, and the rules of the society, all in good virtue.
The True Tragic Hero In Sophocles
’ Antigone Essay, Research Paper Antigone, is the drama written by Sohpocles. There is still a great debate on who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon or Antigone.
Antigone And Creon Essay Research Paper The
Antigone And Creon Essay, Research Paper The play Antigone, written by sophocles in 441 B.C.E., presents a tragedy of characters whom suffer greatly, caused by series of tragic flaws. Antigone, the title character of the play, seems to be the perfect character in the role of a tragic hero, in the light of the fact that she dies in doing what is right.
Creon As The Tragic Hero In Antigone
Essay, Research Paper Sophocles Antigone is, without a doubt, one of the greatest tragedies ever written. There are many questions that somebody could ask about this work, but this one intrigues me the most: Who is the tragic hero? Could it be Antigone? Or could it be Creon? Antigone might be the name of the tragedy, but I believe that Creon is the winning candidate.
Antigone Creon As The Tragic Hero Essay
, Research Paper Creon as the Tragic Hero In Antigone written by Sophocles, Creon is the tragic hero. Creon is the tragic hero because of his error in judgement, stubborn way of ruling Thebes, his change, and all the tragedy brought on by his actions. Although Creon changed only when a
Antigone Paper Essay Research Paper The Hubris
Antigone Paper Essay, Research Paper The Hubris of a Hero The play Antigone by Sophocles is a play like no other. Its central theme is a practical problem of conduct involving the laws of the gods and those of the humans. Antigone represents the laws of the gods while Creon represents those of the humans. Both characters are very stubborn, neither of them willing to back down or compromise.
Antigone Essay Research Paper The characters in
Antigone Essay, Research Paper The characters in the play Antigone all suffer a downfall of some sort. The major characters suffer the most, though. In this short essay, I will document on how the two main characters, Creon and Antigone,
Antigone Essay Research Paper Antigone Character Analysis
Antigone Essay, Research Paper Antigone Character Analysis Essay Dealing with enemies has been a problem ever since the beginning of time.In Antigone, by Sophocles, the value of dealing with your family and dealing with your Enemies become a huge problem for a King such as Creon. All throughout this play, Creon holds a title of authority that he must observe.
Antigone The Tragic Hero Essay Research Paper
There has always been a bit of confusion as to the tragic hero of the Greek Drama Antigone. Many assume that simply because the play is named for Antigone, that she is the tragic hero. However, evidence supports that Creon, and not
The Tragedy Of Creon In Antigone Essay
, Research Paper Sophocles’ Antigone presents a constant struggle between the laws of men versus the laws of the gods. Creon is so swallowed by his own pride that his viewpoint cannot be trusted. The Chorus, whose bias changes with the story, elucidates a more accurate perception of the play. Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone as a result of his irreverence towards the gods, leading to the death of his family.
AntigoneA Essay Research Paper AntigoneThe debate over
Antigone(A) Essay, Research Paper AntigoneThe debate over who is the tragic hero in Antigone continue on to this day. The belief that Antigone is the hero is a strong one. There are many critics who believe, however, that Creon, the Ruler of Thebes, is the true protagonist. I have made my own judgments also, based on what I have researched of this work by Sophocles.
Hero Antigone Or Creon Essay Research Paper
Hero: Antigone or Creon? In the play of Antigone there are two choices of tragic heroes or figures. By many of Antigone?s actions I feel that she is the one who fits this description perfectly.
PARADISE LOST Essay Research Paper THE PURPOSE
PARADISE LOST Essay, Research Paper THE PURPOSE OF CLASSICAL TRAGEDY IS TO AROUSE PITY AND FEAR AND THUS TO PRODUSE IN THE AUDIENCE A CATHARSIS {PROPER PURGATION} OF THESE EMOTIONS THAT HE AS A SPECTATOR OWNS. THE AUDIENCE SENSE OF PITY TOWARDS THE HERO OCCURS BECAUSE THE HERO THROUGH HIS TRAGIC FLAW {HAMARTIA} BECOMES A TRAGIC BUT REMAINS A NOBLE FIGURE.
Antigone Essay Essay Research Paper In Antigone
Antigone Essay Essay, Research Paper In Antigone, Sophocles creates Antigone, the tragic hero of the play. Antigone, the main character of the story cannot accept her dead brother Polyneic s not being buried. Going against the orders of Creon, her uncle and the King of Thebes, Antigone buries her brother.
Antigone Is Tragic Hero Essay Research Paper
Antigone is the tragic hero in Sophocles Antigone. A tragic hero is defined as a character in a tragedy that has the following qualities: superiority, downfall, tragic flaw, twist of fate, in conflict, and a self-realization of their flaw. First, in the quote, Then I beg you: kill me. (II, 954) Clearly shows Antigone s superior character; she is brave and strongly believes in what she is doing.
Antigone Vs Creon Essay Research Paper Antigone
Antigone Vs. Creon Essay, Research Paper Antigone vs. Creon When you are about to examine the likes and differences between Antigone and Creon you wonder what the really do have in common, but in all actuality they are more alike then different.
Antigone Essay Research Paper Creon is the
Antigone Essay, Research Paper Creon is the tragic hero in the play Antigone by Sophocles. A tragic hero must a major character that shows high rank and is generally respected as courageous. The character shows nobility but has a fatal flaw or fatal flaw in judgment. The tragic hero will have an unhappy ending.