Tragic Heroes: A Comparative Analysis Across Literature

Macbeth, Brutus from Julius Ceasar, John Proctor from The Crucible, Hercules, Sirius Black from Harry Potter, and Spiderman all have a common fate, they are all tragic heroes. A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. Every hero has a downfall and a purpose; typically it is for the greater good for everyone else. In The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles, there are two characters that could be defined as tragic heroes, they are Antigone and Creon. Bounteous people do not envisage Antigone as a tragic hero, these people believe she was crazy, had no purpose, and did not help the kingdom. Although, countless people do not comprehend that she actually did save the citizens of Thebas, and tried to help Creon.

To begin with, Creon and Antigone both had phenomenal lives in the beginning; they were treated fair and were as jubilant as could be.

Creon was, to some extent, a king without having to directly solve entire problems while Oedipus ruled. However, before long, Oedipus was dethroned and blinded which allowed Creon to become ruler. On the other hand, Antigone lost her father and mother simultaneously, and was lead to believe her family was cursed. Furthermore, Antigone’s brothers killed one another in battle, which is tragic within it self. Nonetheless, Creon did lose his wife and only son, but Antigone had lost more. A tragic hero’s fortune should be from good to bad, and Antigone’s life qualifies for that description more then

Creon’s.
There are innumerous types of heroes, who come from distinctive backgrounds, for instance, some are wealthy, a different race, a diverse religion, and some, but not most are a ruler. In modern time, when the mind imagines a hero, they think of a superhero, such as batman or superman. Though, in the past, people looked up to their king as the hero, however leaders and rulers are not the only people who could be one. Sometimes they are the worse choice for a hero, because they become corrupt. Creon is an example on how a once good man was deceived by power.
When Creon was not king, he always saw what was the best for everyone. He followed the god’s design. For example, When Oedipus asked Creon to punish him; Creon wanted the god’s opinion, because it is an atrocious idea to exasperate the gods. Once Creon was crowned he became disastrous, although he does have some good traits of a leader. He is initiative and becomes open to change; however he lacks other traits, he is not open-minded, flexible, empathetic, and he is unsympathetic for others. Haemon, Creon’s son, accuses his father of the inadequate leadership traits Creon has, he says, “ don’t entrench yourself in your opinion as if everyone else was wrong . . . a wise man is flexible, has much to learn without a loss of dignity” (Roche 222). For his own son to say this, when no one else will, shows how terrible a leader Creon has become. Creon’s corrupt mind to power and the reality was his downfall. When a leader faces a problem, they try to work it out in a civilized way, but when Creon faces the defiance of Antigone, he shows no empathy, and locks her up to die.
While it may be true that rulers are not the best of heroes, some can be heroes if they fit the definition. A hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds, and noble qualities. Antigone qualifies as more of a hero then Creon, but even so he does have some heroic idiosyncrasy. Creon declared, “I find intolerable the man who puts his country second to his friends” (199), he loves his country and protects his people which is heroic of him, yet he would kill an innocent man for bringing bad news, that was important for all to hear. Antigone was brave and went against the law that Creon announced, because she believed it was wrong. When Antigone was caught for her actions she did not let anyone take the blame or die for her, especially her sister who wanted to die too, this be said, Antigone is a hero. In Antigone’s acts of what some may say, ignorance, craziness, or just defending her family’s honor, she actually did save the people of Thebas.
On the whole, Antigone and Creon may possess heroic features, however, what is their purpose? All tragic heroes have a purpose; Creon always tried to help his people, but he started to stray away from the idea. Moreover, people say Antigone had no purpose at all but to contradict Creon. Once Creon discover he enraged the god’s and he caused sickness in the city, then he tried to repair the mistake, however he was not convinced until the leader explained, “There’s fire and slaughter for you, King” (240). Once Creon’s life was on the line, he finally decided what to do, which is not heroic, it is selfish. On the other point, Antigone claimed she was burying Polyneices for the family, but in truth, she was also doing so for the gods. She states, “He is my brother still, and yours . . . I shall not abandon him” (193), Antigone cares for her family but shortly after she tells her sister, “And please your fantasy and call it wicked what the gods call good” (194), so Antigone purpose is for the gods too. However her persistence of following the gods design, stubbornness towards Creon, and ignorance were her tragic flaw.
As was previously stated, Antigone’s Purpose was for the gods, and she talks about the gods multiple times. She informed to Creon, “ Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgated such a law, Nor will you find that Justice” (210), and when Creon claimed Polyneices came ravaging their land, Antigone answered, “ Hades makes no distinction in its rites and honors” (213). Some may ask, how is pleasing the gods a purpose they are never victims? Everyone knows though, if someone angers the gods, they rain down fire on everyone. The leader of the people in Thebas acknowledges it and warns Creon, “The gods, provoked, never wait to mow men down” (241). So even if Antigone goes not directly say she is helping the people she actually is. She knows if the gods are defied then they will punish the people. She does want to contradict Creon, but she is also saving Thebas from the gods, and she even is saving Creon.
As it has been mentioned, Creon does have some heroic traits, he tried to restore the mistake he had made, but it was a selfish reason, which was to save him self. The actions Creon committed, had caused Creon’s whole family to die, and he has to live with the mistake, however knowing all characters in Greek stories, they all kill themselves, which predicting so, Creon most likely will do. Antigone lost her family too, she was humiliated in front of everyone doing what she thought was equitable; she stood up for herself no matter what.
In conclusion, Antigone is a tragic hero, more then Creon could be. She almost helped saved him, but she saved the people of Thebas from slaughter of the gods. Although Antigone killed her self, it still was tragic, even if some same it was not. Creon gave her the choice to die now or to die later, so she chose the quickest option, to be with her family and gods. Antigone did all she could to show Creon he was wrong, so what was her purpose to live anymore, Antigone was going to die no matter what, or so she believed. One may ask how is Antigone’s death tragic? Antigone’s actions and death opened the eyes of the citizens, and revealed to them how horrible a king Creon was. More importantly, once the people of Thebas discovered Antigone was right it made her death more tragic. Andrew Bernstein once quoted, “The hero is the man [or women in this case] who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.” Antigone’s values were her family and the gods and she did defend them with all she had. She may have been crazy but she was doing the right thing for everyone.