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Tragic hero definition shakespeare romeo and juliet
Aristotle reviews Sophocles Antigone
Aristotle reviews Sophocles Antigone
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In Greek Tragedies the definition of a Tragic Hero is a character who is a dignified superior character who meets a tragic end, possesses a tragic flaw and recognizes this flaw and the consequences that occur before the character’s demise/tragic end. In the Greek play Antigone by Sophocles I believe the tragic hero is Creon. Creon possesses all of the traits I mentioned before, his Pride (tragic flaw), his family dying (tragic end), his realization of his flaw, and him being King of Thebes (superior character).
Creon is a superior character because he is the King of Thebes, where the play takes place. Creon makes all of the laws in Thebes and he enforces them however he pleases. This is proven by his decree of the law he made for
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Polynieces corpse. “Polynieces, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him..”. Creon also goes as far to say “My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city” In saying this Creon is proving that he is the one who can control the city, its army, and its laws just by saying he wants something to be done. Later Creon has to defend his position of power to his son whenever Haemon says “It is no city if it takes orders from one voice” Creon replied with “…the State is the King!”. Saying that no matter what he was the one in power therefore proving his superiority of the rest of the characters in the story. Creon meets a tragic end during the end of the play whenever each member of his remaining family/loved ones (save Ismene) kills themselves.
The first of Creons family to commit suicide is Antigone, even though Creon sentenced her to death she hung herself. “We saw her lying…she had made a noose of her fine linen veil.” Now even though Creon didn’t care much for Antigone, she was to be Haemon’s bride “…and bitterness at being robbed of his bride?”. Haemon loving Antigone, was already in a spite with his father, but because of Creon’s sentence to Antigone. Haemon was crying over the body of Antigone, and having seen his father went into a fit of crying rage and tried to attack his father but missed, then Haemon turned his sword on himself, either in an attempt to avoid punishment, or to be reunited with Antigone. When Creon’s wife Eurydice learns that Haemon had killed himself she then leaves to do the same. Creon at this point is completely destroyed mentally and spiritually therefore meeting a tragic end.
Creon meets this tragic end because of his tragic flaw his pride. Creon lets his pride of himself and his city to get in the way of right judgment (Polynieces law/Antigones sentence). When Creon gets in an argument with Haemon he says “You consider it right for a man of my years and experience to go to school to a boy?” Creon says this to defend his Pride or his
“Ego” Creon’s Pride clouded his judgment not only in his decision making skill but even in his ability to head warnings, not only from the Choragus, but from the wisest prophet Teiresias. Teiresias goes to Creon to warn him and Creon accuses Teiresias of accepting a bribe. “…it is a sorry thing when a wise man sells his wisdom, lets out his words for sale!” Creon let his pride in his previous decisions cloud his judgment in listening to Teiresias. After talking to Teiresias, Creon begins to realize his mistakes after Choragus says that Teiresias was never wrong. Creon recongnizes his flaw when he says “Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride.” He listens to Choragus’ advice and attempts to right his wrongs but is too late. Creon watches the consequences of his actions when he leaves to right his wrongs, the deaths of Haemon, Antigone, and Eurydice.
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.
Antigone is a great Greek tragedy by Sophocles. The story is about a young woman who has buried her brother by breaking king’s decree, and now she is punished for obeying God’s law. There are many arguments about who is the tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone. Some believe that it is Creon because he also has the characteristics of a tragic hero. Others believe that it is Antigone because the play bears her name. Antigone is the perfect hero, to exemplify the meaning of a tragic hero. In order to determine whether Antigone is the tragic hero, one will have to answer the question, what is a tragic hero? According to Aristotle, “The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness, he/she is not perfect, the hero's downfall and it is partially his/her own fault, and the hero's misfortunate is not wholly deserved.” (Aristotle) Antigone is a tragic hero because she has a high social standing in Thebes, she neither good nor bad, and her suffering appears to be unjust and unfair to the audience.
Antigone, which was written by Sophocles, is possibly the first written play that still exists today (www.imagi... 1). There is much controversy between who the 'tragic hero' is in the play. Some people say Antigone, some say Creon, others even say Heamon. I believe Creon displays all of the characteristics of a 'tragic hero'. He receives compassion through the audience, yet recognizes his weaknesses, and his downfalls from his own self-pride, stubbornness, and controlling demands. He is the true protagonist.
Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character of differing greatly and leading him to the death of his son at fault. “They say all women here, she least deserves the worst deaths for her most glorious act. When in the slaughter her own brother died, she did not just leave him there unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds.”(Lines 788-791) Haemon starts to reveal that he believes that Antigone, his fiance, deserves to not be killed over an act that she has not committed whether or not Creon think is was right. However, Antigone was following the law of the Gods, while Creon was abiding by the law of man. “A man who thinks that only he is wise, that he can speak and think like no one else, when such men are exposed, then we can all see their emptiness inside.”(Lines 803-806) However, when Haemon started to attempt to inform his father, Creon, whose refusal was so high to even consider not killing Antigone that he was only thinking of himself and that one death would lead to another. “Then she’ll die and in her death kill someone else.”(Lines 859) Creon then, only thought of his son as a woman slave. “You woman’s slave, don’t try and win over me.”(Lines 845-855) At first, Haemon looked up to his father, but now after his unsuitable behavior he has chosen not to follow his stubborn
In the beginning of the play Creon is portrayed as King and a leader unwilling to bend the rules in order to protect the city. The way Creon responds to Antigone, “While I’m alive, no woman is going to lord over me”, shows he is stubborn and also his pride. (593-594) While the play continues Creon’s pride grows, and he thinks he can never be wrong and punishes Antigone by locking her up in a cave. However, things turn a different way when the Prophet tells Creon that he must free Antigone or face the wrath of Gods. After hearing this Creon changes his mind, “I shackled her, I’ll set her free myself. I am afraid it’s best to keep the established laws…” (1236-1238) But, as Creon tries to set Antigone free, he is faced with suicides of Antigone and Haemon, and followed by the suicide of his wife, Eurydice. This moment in the play serves as the downfall of Creon. But unlike Antigone, Creon reaches anagnorisis, which is the moment in the play when the tragic character realizes his hubris has led to his downfall. “And the guilt is all mine- can never be fixed…god help me, I admit all!”(1441-1445) Ultimately, Creon is more of a proper tragic character than Antigone because of he has an epiphany, a moment when he realizes his hubris has caused conflicts and deaths in the
Creon's insecurity blinds his ability to direct order in his country properly. After Antigone buried Polyneices Creon felt he needed to take a strong stand or people would think he would always be lenient toward criminals. However, to achieve this Creon felt he needed to take drastic action against Antigone. He once even said to his son, Haimon, who was about to marry Antigone, "The woman dies. I suppose she'll plead family ties. Well, let her. If I permit my own family to rebel, how shall I earn the world's obedience?" (19) This quote shows that Creon feels that to prove himself to the country he needs to earn the "world's obedience".
It is clear that Creon's tragic flaw was his pride, arrogance and beliefs of a leader that cause his downfall. His downfall began when he denied the burial of Polyneices and was firm when he condemned Antigone for her objection to his law. Creon represents the laws of the land and the divine ruler of society. He remains loyal in upholding his laws and trying to overpower the laws of the gods, until the end when he realizes that the divine laws are stronger than his own. His regards for the laws of the city cause him to abandon all other beliefs. He feels that all should obey the rules set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral or religious, state otherwise. This is proven when he says, "As long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man. But whoever shows by word and deed that he is on the side of the State-he shall have my respect while he is living and my reverence when he is dead" (40).
In the book Antigone, Creon and Antigone can be considered as the tragic heroes of the play. Antigone is considered the tragic hero because of the characteristics she shows such as her ambition to defeat Creon, Creon shows more of the characteristics clearly. Creon is the king of Thebes. He is also Antigone's uncle. Creon became king after a fight between Eteocles and Polyneices. One may see Creon as a harsh and controlling ruler, but he is not good nor bad because he shows signs of both like when he wanted to give Eteocles a proper burial . Creon is the tragic hero of the Antigone, because of his dominance in society, high rank, tragic flaw; and self-pride.
This argument unintentionally influences Haemon to take his own life; he says, “Then she’ll die—and in her death kill someone else” (line 859). The reader can see the foreshadowing of his suicide in this line. During the argument, the reader also sees additional sexism from Creon in lines 852-853 where he exclaims, “You [Haemon] foul creature—you’re worse than any woman.” This is another example of the arrogant views Creon holds. In lines 879-880, the audience sees that Creon does not reverse his decision when he states, “Let him dream up or carry out great deeds beyond the power of man, he’ll not save these girls-their fate is sealed.” Creon ruthlessly acts against the pleas of his son at the end of the argument continuing his overbearing orders. Only after Teiresias informs Creon of his fate, which includes him inquiring that Creon will “lose a child of your [his] own lions, a corpse in payment for these corpses,” does he back down with his headstrong choice (lines 1194-1195). Although at this point it is too late in the play, the events of his destruction are already ensuing. Before he can release Antigone, he finds out that his son and his wife have been killed by their own hands due to his commands regarding Antigone.
He anxiously awaits the day when he can call Antigone his wife, but because she defies King Creon, she deprives him of that opportunity. At first, Haemon tries to be loyal to his father. He tells Creon that he supports his decision to execute Antigone. However, as the conversation continues, he reveals that the community members are starting to renounce Creon’s decision. As the pain of potentially losing his fiancé becomes too much, he also renounces his father’s decision, arguing that the Gods would not condone it. In an act against his father, Haemon hurries to the cave Antigone was exiled to, in hopes to save her, but instead finds her hanging from the veil she was supposed to wear on her wedding day. Instantly overwhelmed with grief, Haemon, “[bewails] the loss of his bride” (Sophocles 152). Similarly, to Ismene’s case, Haemon cannot picture himself living on Earth without Antigone by his side, and commits suicide. In Antigone’s desire to appease the Gods, she abandons her loved ones, and causes them great suffering. This could have been avoided has she not pursued her desire to bury
... for his mistakes in the denouement. Devastated by Antigone’s death, Haimon ends up committing suicide. Creon then realizes how wrong he was, however it is too late. This is not the only karma that Creon receives though. Creon’s beloved wife, Eurydice, also met her death when she was told the fate of her son. Creon finally realizes how blinded he was, and how he was continuously making foolish decisions. Two losses in one day- Creon is filled with great remorse and regret. Like the ‘Sun King’, all the sunlight in Creon’s life has faded. The world no longer revolves around Creon, as all his valued things in life have vanished. If you attain power, use it wisely. Otherwise you will end up heartbroken and repentant, just like Creon.
Over time, history has given society many to whom we call true heroes. There are many reasons these heroes have been looked up to such as: bravery, dedication, confidence, and inspiration. However, a tragic hero requires a few different qualities. Aristotle describes a tragic hero as a “member of royalty,” someone who “must fall from tremendous good fortune,” and someone who creates pity for him or herself (“Connections: A Theory” 2000). In Greek drama, Sophocles’ Antigone and Euripides’ Medea both contain several possible tragic heroes including Medea, Jason, and Creon. More specifically, in Antigone Creon exemplifies the qualities of a tragic hero best due to his prominent power as king of Thebes, the way he holds strong to his stubborn pride, and the sympathy felt for him in his tragic downfall.
Antigone causes the death of three people, whether directly or indirectly. First of all, she directly causes her own death because she hangs herself, rather than starving to death inside the sealed up tomb the Creon had her put into. Second, she directly causes the death of Haemon because he loved her and truly cared for her and her did not want to live without her. Lastly, Antigone indirectly causes Eurydice, Haemon’s mother and Creon’s wife, to kill herself when Eurydice learns that Haemon killed himself. “Thy wife, [Creon,] the mother—mother of the dead—is, by a blow just fallen, haplessly slain.” This shows that Eurydice was mad enough to kill her, because many thing have happened to her, the death of her son, her husband’s excessive pride, etc. She also knew he and his pride was the cause of this mess.
The throne of the king of Thebes was passed from King Laius to Oedipus to Creon, making Creon a noble and royal figure. Being a part of the nobility is the first part of the requirement of being a tragic hero involving being a noble and having noble character. Along with having a noble title, Creon possesses the attribute of being noble and honorable. Putting aside Creon’s pride and selfishness for now, he still has the wellbeing and safety of his country, Thebes, at heart. Creon explain...
The tragic hero is an element of Greek Theater that can found in almost every single ancient Greek play. Tragic heros can be characterized by having a tragic flaw, suffering a loss, discovery of the flaw, and acceptance of fate. In Sophocles’ Antigone, King Creon exhibits all these qualities, making him the tragic hero of the play.