Preview

Creon Tragic Hero Analysis

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1800 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Creon Tragic Hero Analysis
The True Tragic Hero of Antigone

This analysis is to determine the character that fits the tragic hero profile; it was completely based according to the Aristotelian idea of tragic hero and it is understood that hero is: "…neither purely evil or purely wicked; the hero must born in the high social status, and he/she must possess a tragic flaw which is proper from the inner side of the character; it usually manifests in the form of poor judgment and or arrogance, condemning him/herself into a catastrophic finality and in the meanwhile, establishes other character's destiny". Either Antigone or Creon is situated in the highest level of the social hierarchy. Creon became the king of Thebes, after his two nephews killed each other over the throne; Antigone was an orphan who happened to be Creon's future daughter in law. Both presented moral values, differing exclusively on the situation they were applied. Creon's actions towards the people reflected honesty and equal treatment upon the laws he made. Antigone's actions towards the burial of her brother (although he fought …show more content…
Antigone's reasons for burying her brother were strictly to demonstrate love, loyalty, honor, and respect for her family and for her brother to be accepted in the gods' land. However, the main reason that Creon is angered is not the fact that Polynieces fought against his city, and yet the insult and betrayal of his own niece, especially by being a female figure who disobeyed him in public; it is even worse because she is his son's (Haemon) fiancé, and, therefore, his ego is quite damaged. "Go down below and love, if love you must – love the dead! While I'm alive, / no woman is going to lord it over me". The type of punishment given to Antigone was very severe and cowardly, in contrast to the main reason that caused
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tragic Hero Creon Research Paper
    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Tragic Hero Creon Research Paper

    Creon, a character from the Greek tragedy Antigone, is described as the tragic hero of the story due to the character's flaws and the consequences that followed. Creon's intentions are purely of nationalism for the land he rules, Thebbes. He forbids anyone to show respect to a violent betrayer, but in the process makes tragic flaws. Creon's tragic mistakes can all be embodied by the one question he had asked his son Haemon, “And the city proposes to teach me how to rule?” ( 3.103). Creon is insistent on ruling one his own. Even When the prophet, Teiresias, tried to help the king, Creon was also deaf to his suggestions, even though they were for his well being. When Creon…

    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Creon Tragic Hero Research Paper
    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Creon Tragic Hero Research Paper

    Throughout history there have been many people known as heroes. Most of these people have done wonderful things to help society. However, in literature there is another type of hero, the tragic hero. While tragic heroes do wonderful things too, they also have a character flaw that causes their downfall along with others. This essay is to prove that in the play "Antigone", written by Sophocles, Creon is a tragic hero.…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Creon In Antigone
    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Creon In Antigone

    Due to Creon' s strict punishment for burial rites, Antigone was suppose be killed for burring her brother, Polyneices. Creon's son was determined to try to change Creon' s mind about Antigone. In hopes that Creon would have mercy on the soon to be daughter-in-law, Haemon confronts Creon by telling him he "makes remarks and never listen to an answer." Creon is set out to execute Antigone not only for breaking the law but also for disrespecting him publicly. He was so focused on her dying he missed the more important part, which was listening to his son's wishes. As a result of Creon not listening to Haemon it only makes the situation worst and their relationship more…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Creon Tragic Hero Research Paper
    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Creon Tragic Hero Research Paper

    A tragic hero is a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities. Because the tragic hero simply cannot accept a diminished view of the self and because of some personality flaw, the hero fails in this epic struggle against fate (csus.edu). In "Antigone" written by the infamous Sophocles, the characters, Antigone and King Creon, can both be deemed as tragic heroes despite of their beliefs differing immensely. Antigone, who is engaged to Creon's son, is a strong-willed woman who wants to bury her deceased brother, Polyneices, with honor despite the fact that he killed their other brother in war. On the other hand, Creon…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Who Is Responsible In Antigone
    • 70 Words
    • 1 Page

    Who Is Responsible In Antigone

    Antigone believed that not burying her brother Polyneices and burying her other brother Eteocles due to the command of her uncle Creon was a very wrong thing to do and being the loyal person she was she did not accept this law carried by her Uncle and disobeyed him with the mindset knowing burying her brother Polyneices was the right thing to do know the consequences that came with it.…

    • 70 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Creon's Tragic Hero In Sophocles Antigone
    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Creon's Tragic Hero In Sophocles Antigone

    Creon, in this play, is displayed as a classic tragic hero. Through different actions of his, Creon shows us his arête, hubris, ate, and nemesis. Creon's arête is demonstrated in the way the chorus portrays him as "the king of the realm…the man for the new day" (Antigone 173-174). Creon tragic flaw of hubris is shown by his lack of flexibility when Antigone disobeys his law. Ate is shown in the manner in which Creon quickly decides the deathly fate of Antigone for her crime. All of Creon's actions lead the final characteristic of a tragic hero nemesis. Creon's nemesis comes in the firm of Antigone, his son, and wife dieing because of his actions. "Through blood and tears"(1403) Creon learns the affects of his tragic hero…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Power In 'Avengers By Sophocles' Antigone
    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Power In 'Avengers By Sophocles' Antigone

    First of all, Antigone says to Creon “But if I’d allowed my own mother’s dead son to just lie there, an unburied corpse,then I’d feel distress.” (227-229). This quote shows how Antigone is doing the right thing by burying her brother and what Creon is doing to her brother Polyneices an act of injustice. This also shows how Antigone and Creon are different because she is being driven by the love she has towards Polyneices and Creon is being driven by the hate he has towards him. Second, Antigone says to Creon “But where could I gain greater glory than setting my own brother in his grave?” (570-571). This quote shows how Antigone is willing to disobey the law to give her brother a proper burial because of how much she loves him. This quote also shows how Antigone is determine to do what she thinks is right which is bury her brother Polyneices even though she would be disobeying orders. He doesn’t think women are the same as men because they disobey men’s…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Contrast Between Antigone And Creon
    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Contrast Between Antigone And Creon

    Antigone says the gods want her to bury Polynices, which she does. While burying her beloved brother, she is caught by the guard, taken to the palace where she awaits her fate. When she's is being questioned by Creon for her crime she announces to Creon “take me and kill me-what more do you want?” (Line 266). She accomplished what she needed and buried her brother. She does this bringing out Creon’s determination to kill anyone who buries Polynices, Even if it’s his son's fiancee. So determined to stick to his morals he responded “Me? Nothing. With that I have everything.” (Line 267). When she announced what she did to Creon it brought out his determination to kill anyone who buries Polynices, and nothing would stand in the way of his punishment, even if it meant deeply saddening his son with his Fiance’s…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Examples Of Heroism In Antigone
    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Heroism In Antigone

    She knew that Creon is the only man that believes a proper burial for Polynices is a crime. Antigone stands up to the most powerful man in Thebes while knowing the consequences, which is truly heroic because she chooses her own destiny. Although Antigone comes out as exceedingly ruthless by accepting her death, it is because of her heartfelt determination to honor her brother's death. Antigone cares for the dead more than the living.…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Antigone Creon A Tragic Hero
    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page

    Antigone Creon A Tragic Hero

    In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, There a few characters that can be described as tragic heroes. The character that best represents a tragic hero is Creon. Creon is the uncle of Antigone, the main character of the story. Creon is very powerful and many people of the town answer to him. Many times in the play he refers to the Gods for counsel and guidance. His main purpose in life is to answer to them. All of this power leads to his downfall as a tragic hero. He sentences Antigone and her sister, Ismene, to death. Some would say this is misuse of his power. He realizes this, but it is too late. Antigone has already passed.…

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Vs Creon Analysis
    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Antigone Vs Creon Analysis

    In Antigone, Antigone buried her brother, Polyneices, against Creon’s law. Creon warned the city of Thebes that if anyone were to bury Polyneices, a stoning would take place as a punishment in front of the public. Antigone, Polyneices’ sister, went to her sister asking for her help in burying her brother and when she refused to help, Antigone went ahead and buried Polyneices herself. Once Creon found out what Antigone had done, he sent her away to the middle of the woods in a closed tomb where she then hung herself. The burying of Polyneices ultimately caused Antigone’s death. While Ismene and Antigone may have differed in their opinions on burying their brother, they both had good intentions.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Burial In Antigone
    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Burial In Antigone

    Continuing on, knowing the consequences of her act, she will bury her brother because it is the will of the gods that a family gives its members a proper burial. And because of this, she will face the punishment of death for disobeying Creon’s order. For fighting against Thebes, but Antigone being an honor sister will give him a proper burial knowing what he did. Creon by doing this will let the city know that by unburied Polynices action will show others to think before thinking in betraying their city if anyone had the intention to do it. Also since he's the king, he needs to gain the respect of the people. When at the same time it was…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Creon A Tragic Hero
    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Who Is Creon A Tragic Hero

    Though both traditional and Sophoclean tragic heroes are similar, the Sophoclean heroes are distinguished by their rigid loyalty, which leads to a disastrous fate. Creon shows his rigidity in his ways when he refuses downright to back away from what he set as the law of his kingdom. In fact, he is so set in his ways that Creon refuses to even think of the repercussions of his decisions. His rigidity eventually results in both his wife Eurydice, and his son Haemon’s suicide, with his wife cursing him for having caused such tragedies to be brought upon his people. Though both the tragic and Sophoclean heroic personalities are similar, they also have their differences. For example, in the play of Antigone, it is simple to see how both the characters Antigone and Creon’s traits result in a direct conflict, often driving the plot. Creon’s hubris goes in direct conflict with Antigone’s courage, eventually leading both characters to a disastrous ending, but the play gives the reader the ability to distinguish between Antigone, a character who simply met a tragic end, and Creon, a man who was the truly tragic hero of…

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Antigone: A True Tragic Hero
    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Antigone: A True Tragic Hero

    This character must have noble or high standings socially and politically, have heroic qualities and characteristics that set him or her apart from any other character; and have a tragic flaw, which leads to his or her demise, as well as to his or her people losing their respect for said character. In Antigone, it is very easy to assume that Antigone is the play’s tragic hero, she fits the criteria almost perfectly, the play is even named after her. However, Creon, the Theban king in the play and Antigone’s uncle, is the tragic hero in this case. Both Antigone and Creon are of high estate in Thebes and are very heroic and honorable. Despite this, Antigone lacks the true tragic flaw that Creon possesses, which means she cannot be the play’s tragic…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Creon the Tragic Hero
    • 1252 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Creon the Tragic Hero

    The play Antigone written by Sophocles (496 B.C -406 B.C.) was first performed around 441 B.C. Sophocles though it was important for this play to be performed during the time as he was witnessing society move away from the gods and toward a anthropocentric view, thinking that man and his abilities were more important. This all took place during what was called the Golden Age (480-430B.C.) in Greece during which Pericles ruled (461-439B.C.). The Olympics first took place in the Golden Age and was a contest to show man’s strength and abilities. Also, the New Science was being to take shape. Protagoras was a part of the New Science and stated that “Man is the measure of all things.” The Atomic Theorists also stated that “The physical universe is made up of small particles called atoms that have come together in random order to form the world.” Hippocrates also began using the method of diagnosing, one man looking and judging another man’s health to see was ails him. Herodotus was also a part of the New Science and defined history as the actions of great men. These all are examples of denial of the gods during the Golden Age. Sophocles observed this happening and wrote the Theban plays in response. He presents Creon, in the play Antigone, as a representation of the man centered world. Sophocles, by presenting Creon as a tragic hero, describing hubris, hamartia, arête, ate, and nemesis, shows he audience that gods are greater than man.…

    • 1252 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics