Creon Thesis

INS: ATTENTION GRABBER “He had turned the sword on himself and buried the blade half-way in his own side. As he was collapsing his arms still clung to the girl and blood came spurting…” Antigone, a story of bothe heroism and death, a play kept alive over millennia due to the strong lessons it teaches readers. The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles’ Antigone, translated by Seamus Heaney

INS: 1-2 SENTENCE SUMMARY OF THE PLAY ANTIGONE

(Thesis Statement/Claim) Based on Aristotle’s definition. Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because he starts at a position of greatness and his tragic flaw leads to a catastrophe, he realizes his hubris but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe, and his downfall has left him suffering.

From attempted

peace within the royal throne, to the downfall of noble, tragic heroes within the Oedipus family tree, The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles’ Antigone, translated by Seamus Heaney, revealed hidden turmoil lying in the fate of characters whom refused to heed warnings and faced the ugly truth. Antigone told the story of a king named Creon who promised to cast death upon anyone who attempted to mourn or bury Oedipus’ son, Polyneices, whom he claimed to be a traitor to Thebes; however, his hubris caused Creon to seek out the punishment of Antigone, Polyneices sister, who single handedly buried him for the sake of remaining loyal to her family. Creon refused to listen to the wise, and in turn, paid the consequences by leading most of his family to their demise. Based on Aristotle's definition, Creon is a tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to a catastrophe; he realizes the error of his ways, but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe; and his downfall and suffering leave him both humbled and enlightened.

First, based on Aristotle's definition, Creon is a tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to a catastrophe.

“In the land of good King Creon” (Sophocles 7).

Antigone is explaining to Ismene that the land is Creon's. He is king so he rules over all.

“My recklessness and pride I paid for in the end” (Sophocles 74).

This is a key indicator of Creon's downfall. He says this because he was the king who had everything, most importantly his family. After ignoring his hubris and the warnings of others, he ends up killing off his family in the process of being an powerful ruler.

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Second, based on Aristotle's definition, Creon is a tragic hero of Antigone because he realizes the error in his ways but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe.

“All hands get a move on. Here and now the judgement is reversed...I walked her in and therefore I’ll be there to bring her out” (Sophocles 63).

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Finally, based on Aristotle’s definition Creon is a tragic hero of Antigone because his downfall and suffering leave him both humbled and enlightened.

“I am nothing now. Forget me. Treat me as nothing” (Sophocles

73).
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“Everything I’ve touched I have destroyed. I’ve nobody to turn to, Nowhere I can go” (Sophocles 74).
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In conclusion, based on Aristotle's definition, Creon is a tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to a catastrophe; he realizes the error if his ways but it is too late to prevent the catastrophe; and his downfall and suffering leave him both humbled and enlightened.
INS. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ANALYSIS FOR THE READER
[CATHARSIS, THEME: HUBRIS, LOYALTY, LAWS]