On Hubris and Tragic Heroes

685 Words2 Pages

The identity of the tragic hero in the play Antigone by Sophocles, one of the most influential works in Western history, is debatable. Both main characters, Kreon and Antigone, fall within the definition of the concept of a tragic hero. Both are neither inherently good or evil, nor do they represent absolutes. Kreon, however, is the true tragic hero of the play, because he has more of the characteristics of a tragic hero.

Death is one of the things most feared by mortal men due to the uncertainty involved. When we die, do we go to Paradise, or do we merely drift in a dreamless sleep? Men still suffer from fear of death, tied into their fear of the unknown. Nevertheless, however terrible the fate of death that Antigone suffers, Kreon's fate is far worse. Not only does he have to endure the deaths of his wife and son (Sophocles 1400-1477), but he must live through his agony, pain, and loss. This is reflected in Koryphaios's remark to Kreon that “Your fate is in the care of those who care for you.” (Sophocles 1521), implying that Kreon no longer possessed control over the choi...

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