Similarities Between Creon And Antigone

In order to be a tragic hero in a story, a character must have the specific traits and/or play the specific roles. Most importantly, as the name implies, there must be tragedy. Tragedy is an event or events that cause great suffering, destruction, or distress. Tragedy can root from a serious accident, a heinous crime, a fateful calamity, or a natural disaster. Tragedy can even occur with multiple characters.

King Creon was both respected and feared by most. He believed that every action that he has done is better than any other man. He then describes his own philosophy on how some men are inferior to him. Even other characters, like The Guard, holds him in an especially high in esteem. Although this is a selfish statement, he was very noble and ruled as a great king. Having a noble stature is especially one trait of a tragic hero.

The climax and main plot of the entire play is the predicament Creon and Antigone.

In short, they had very conflicting views, about law, order, justice, and even the Greek gods’ power. Antigone knew that she would not win against king Creon and accepts her death punishment. As Creon sends Antigone to be punished, Harmon arrives. He asks king Creon, “Why are sentencing my bride to their death?” Creon arrogantly responds and selfishly tells him to simply find another woman to marry. Creon’s arrogance is what creates his downfall, a trait befitting that of a tragic hero.

Although he had tipped the dominoes that would fall on himself, the consequences that soon followed were devastating and, quite frankly, he did not exactly deserve them. Firstly, the story introduces information about Eteocles and Polyneices’ deaths.

Antigone goes against Creon’s decree that Polyneices should not be given a proper burial; she is sentenced to death as a result. Haemon and Eurydice commit suicide due to grief. All because of one decision, Creon had lost five relative in such a short amount of

time.

In order to be a tragic hero in a story, a character must have the specific traits and/or play the specific roles. Creon serves as a good example of what a tragic hero. He was of a noble stature, he brought down an act of injustice, his arrogance becomes his tragic weakness, he creates his own downfall by his own choice, and experiences misfortune that was not entirely deserved. However, an additional trait is that he experiences redemption by the end of the story. As he held Haemon’s corpse in his arms, he states that he had made cruel mistakes that brought death to others and that it was solely his fault.