Similarities Between Macbeth And Creon

Although, Macbeth by Shakespeare and Antigone by Sophocles were both written in different eras, Macbeth and Creon both share the same traits of being a tragic hero. Both Creon and Macbeth are lifelike when Creon has too much pride and Macbeth is feeling guilty. Creon and Macbeth are both good men; Macbeth is at the beginning and Creon has good intentions. They are also both consistent in their actions throughout the play and in some aspects remain the same. Macbeth and Creon are both lifelike and have human qualities in them that make them more relatable.

Creon and Macbeth each have lifelike qualities while being tragic heros. Creon has too much pride. He has too much pride in himself that no matter what, he won’t ever listen to anyone. When

Polyneices and Etoloces kill each other in battle, Creon makes the bold decision as to “have no burial: no man is to touch [Polynices] or say the least prayer to [Polynices]” (Sophocles 53). Once Creon makes this statement, he has too much pride in himself and his decisions to change his mind. Even when he gets warned the first time, Creon doesn’t listen until it is too late. It take Tiresias, the prophet, for Creon to realize what he has done and that’s when Antigone has already killed herself. Creon’s excessive sense of pride in himself is what causes him to realize his actions and their causes too late. Macbeth shows how he is lifelike through guilt. Macbeth couldn’t say Amen, proving that he feels bad for killing Duncan and is carrying a lot of guilt. Macbeth couldn’t even finish a prayer, a connection to god, because of the murder he has committed. He states how he “could not pronounce “Amen”? [And how he] had most need of blessing and “Amen” stuck in [his] throat” (II.ii.42-44). The term Amen is meant to finish off a prayer or a blessing and Macbeth now feels as if he is disconnected from god. Macbeth feels as if now he can longer pray because of the terrible crime he has committed. Macbeth and Creon show lifelike qualities in being a tragic hero.
In order to be a tragic hero, both Macbeth and Creon have to be consistent to become a tragic hero.

Macbeth kills anyone who is in the way of his throne. He uses freewill and murders Duncan because he is the king and that’s the position of power that Macbeth wants because of the prophecies. It takes some convincing from Lady Macbeth, but in the end Macbeth claims that “[he] is settled and bend up/ Each corporal agent to the terrible feat” (Shakespeare I.Vii.92-93). He is now on board with committing the crime and will exert every muscle into doing so. Because Duncan is in the way of Macbeth ruling, Macbeth feel as if it is necessary to kill him. Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat so he convinces two murders to kill Banquo and forces them to believe that Banquo is their enemy. Macbeth also tries to kill Fleance, Banquo’s son, because he is Banquo’s heir, but he escapes. When Macbeth hears how Macduff has fled to England to Malcolm and failed to come to his inauguration, he will “give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword/ [Macduff’s] wife, [Macduff’s] babies, and all unfortunate souls that trace in his line” (Shakespeare IIII.i.172-174). Macbeth now wants to kill Macduff’s family because he wants to make a statement to everyone that he is tough and strong and not to mess with him. No matter where in the play, Macbeth is killing someone that is in the way of his ruling or potentially threatening his power. Macbeth kills anyone who has ever shown a threat to getting or keeping his power.

Creon’s stays stubborn throughout the whole play which makes him consistent. When Creon’s son, Haimon, tries to talk to Creon, he still won’t listen. Creon’s will not listen to his own son and insults him by saying “This boy, it seems, has sold out to a woman” (Sophocles 67). No matter what Haimon tries to say to his father about what he is doing to Antigone and how it is wrong, Creon will not listen. His reasoning throughout the play of how Antigone disobeyed him is also proving how Creon stays consistent. Because Antigone has disobeyed him, Creon puts Antigone “far away out there in the wilderness, and lock[s] her Living in a vault of stone” with very little food so that she eventually dies. (Sophocles 68). Creon’s explanation of why he did this stays the same throughout the whole play. He truly believes that Antigone dishonored him and the country by burying someone, who he felt did the country wrong. Creon and Macbeth both show how being consistent can also lead to their own downfall.
At some point in both, Creon’s and Macbeth’s lives, they show how they are good men.

Macbeth, at the beginning of the play knows that he shouldn’t kill Duncan. He expresses how Duncan does so much for him, like appointing Macbeth to be Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth also says how he is Duncan’s host, so he should try to protect him at all costs. Macbeth states how as “his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself” (I.Vii.14-16). Macbeth feels as Duncan’s host, it is his responsibility to keep him safe and no harm should come to him. As a host, Macbeth feels bad about dishonoring his duties of keeping Duncan safe while in his home. Creon shows how is he good at the beginning of Antigone through his words and actions. Creon’s thinks and acts the ways he does because he truly just wants to do what, he believes, is best for his people. He wants to punish who he feels has done unjust actions. Creon wants to have good intention for his city and states how “no one values friendship more highly than I” (Sophocles 53). Creon doesn’t want to put anyone in danger in his city and is trying to protect the people from anyone who he thinks can do harm. He punishes Antigone because he feels as if she not only disrespected his edict, but also the people by burying someone, who he felt did the city wrong. Creon and Macbeth both are good humans, but in the end corruption is what leads to their

downfall.
Macbeth and Creon are both tragic heroes in their respective plays. Consistent, lifelike and good are three traits that make Creon and Macbeth the tragic heros. Both characters remain consistent in at least one aspect throughout the play. Creon and Macbeth have lifelike qualities making them seem more realistic. Both men are good at some point in the play and show their good intentions. Creon and Macbeth both show how they are tragic heros by using these three traits, consistent, lifelike and good throughout the plays.