Creon Is The Tragic Hero In Antigone

Wilber Villanueva

Ms.Shields

Pre Ap

02 November, 2015

Antigone the tragic hero

The story of Antigone, written by Sophocles, begins with Antigone disobeying King Creon’s order of not burying her brother Polynices. She decides to ignore the law, gets arrested, and placed in a cave where she ultimately hangs herself. Throughout time, many readers have argued who the tragic hero in the play truly is: Creon or Antigone. Both are born in a royal family and possess a tragic flaw that causes their downfall. Antigone is the tragic hero due to her devotion to her family, loyalty to the gods, and her stubbornness.

Antigone’s first mistake that led to her demise was her devotion to her family. She does not care that her brother attacked the city of Thebes because he’s family and must be honored. Antigone shows this devotion when she states, “ If you will not, I will; I shall not prove disloyal.(Sophocles 3) When she said this, she was talking to her sister Ismene who did not want to help her commit the crime. This showed that no matter what Ismene thought she would prove loyal and bury her brother. Antigone is blind of the possible consequences that could occur. She shows this when she exclaimed, “ Loving and loved, I will lie by his side.”(Sophocles 5) She will lie by his side no matter the repercussions.

Being loyal to the gods was Antigone’s second mistake that led to her ultimate fate.

When Antigone is captured after burying her brother, Creon asks her why she disobeyed his law. She responds by stating, “ Because it was not Zeus who ordered it.”(Sophocles 25) Antigone’s response shows that she would not have buried her brother if the gods were the ones that gave to the order to not bury Polynices. She also explains, “Nor did I deem your ordinance of so much binding force.”(Sophocles 25) She contrasts the law of man and religious law by expressing that the law of man is nothing to her and that the law of the gods is more

superior.(“Schmoop”)
Antigone’s final mistake is her stubbornness. This is her tragic flaw because this is what ultimately leads to her downfall and later death. She too stubborn to see where her actions are leading her. Also, her stubbornness does not allow her to see what her actions are doing to the people around her. Ismene cries, “And what care I for life, if I lost you.” O me unhappy! And must I miss to share your fate?” (Sophocles 31) Ismene is being greatly affected by her sister’s actions that she is willing to also take blame in the crime. Antigone is blind to her sister’s cries and how she will not be able to cope if Antigone dies.
At the end of the play Antigone commits suicide and hangs herself. It’s ironic because she states that she does not care what Creon does to her but ultimately takes her own life. Her devotion to her family, loyalty to the gods, and stubbornness all led to her death. Even if Antigone would have been less prideful, fate was the one that controlled her ultimate fate