Antigone And Creons Transformation

In the beginning of the story, Creon was seen as a harsh, unfair, and unfit ruler. As the play moves forth the readers and audience understand Creon’s transformation into a tragic hero. This helped develop the plot of the story along with the theme and tone to intrigue the audience and or reader. One of the first things to begin with in Creons change into the tragic hero was his attitude and ego which was a big part in his downfall.

When Creon was arguing with Teiresias about Antigone, his ego was slowly incorporated into the play when in (Sophocles,370) “you can be sure you won't change my mind to make yourself more rich.” which meant that he was saying that he has no belief in the oracles as if it is lying. What he did not realize at that moment is that he had locked his fate in place. When Antigone and Creon got into the argument Antigone stated that Creon was cruel. And Creon replied “i have no desire my son should have a cruel wife” (Sophocles,341). This introduced Creon as a tragic hero because it made him feel that he is doing what is best for his son by not allowing the marriage of him and Antigone.

Next in line of the plot is Creon argued with his son, Haemon.

While they argued their views on what is for the best of the kingdom, Antigone sat to await her death. Haemon tried to convince Creon, his father that no one agrees with his view of punishment towards Antigone. And Creon shot back saying “you womans slave-don't try to win me over.”. At the time Creon had strong beliefs he was doing right by killing Antigone for her actions that she had displayed. Soon into the dispute between father and son Haemon becomes fed up and tired of arguing and says “then she'll die-and in her death kill someone else .” Creon shoots back by saying he does not care about what Haemon had just said creating a greater, larger conflict between the both of

them.
It was only after the wedge between them was placed that Creon realizes his mistakes. After talking to the oracle he fears that what was said will become reality. So Creon made the decision to bury Polyneices in hopes to be rid the prophet. But by that time it was far to late as Antigone took her own life to show that she was indefinitely in control of her fate. After Haemon gained knowledge of her death he to takes his own life. Creon learned his wrongs but also became a tragic hero because his actions led to the self killing of his son when all along Creon thought it was all for the best. As Haemon took his life to have Creon suffer as he himself did from the results of Antigone taking her life away. Shortly Creon returned to the kingdom only to find that his wife had also took her life away. All of this suffering and death could have been avoided if Creon would have let Polyneices have a proper burial. In the end Creon realized his wrong doing but only at the cost of his sons and wife's death.
At the end of the play Creon fully transformed into a tragic hero by trying to do what he presumed was best for his kingdom but was hit with a harsh way of being shown it was all along the wrong actions.