...tragedies, a tragic hero embodies someone of an important social position that achieves a recognition of fate, destiny, or will of the gods. The tragic hero also has a desire to do good deeds, exhibits virtues, and displays character traits or morals “better” than the other characters. In the play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, Antigone embodies the tragic hero because she achieves recognition of the will of the gods, she displays better character traits and morals than the other characters, and she has a desire to do good for her family. Throughout the play, Antigone achieves recognition of the will of the gods regarding the death and burial of her brother, Polyneices. Antigone strongly believes that the fulfillment of the will of the gods is much more important than obeying an order from Creon, a mortal king. For example, Antigone retorts to Creon, “Nor did I think your orders were so strong that you, a mortal man, could over-run the gods’ unwritten and unfailing laws” (Sophocles 14). Antigone explicitly states that she will not obey Creon’s orders since they infringe on her duty to the gods. This statement reveals Antigone’s tenacity and passion for fulfilling this duty. When Antigone states “unwritten and unfailing laws” it shows how she believes...
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...The Tragic Character of Antigone In any type of literature, there will always be a hero who experiences the stages of a tragic hero and fall into their depths of misery. In the play of “Antigone,” Creon and Antigone or two of the two tragic characters mentioned in the play met similar tragic fates and endings. Both of the characters also similar caused their own downfall and tragic endings by their ignorance (harmania), flaw (hubris), and mistakes earlier in the story. But as any tragic hero, Antigone did meet her tragic fate as any character would, she isn’t the tragic character in “Antigone”. Although she met a similar fate she’s just another main character to help push Creon into becoming a tragic hero. One of Creon’s flaw that led him...
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...Who’ s the Tragic Hero? A tragic hero is defined by Aristotle as someone with hamartia,which is a flaw or error of judgement, peripeteia, a reversal of fortune due to the error of judgement, anagnorisis, the realization that the peripeteia was caused by their own actions, and hubris, excessive pride. In Antigone by Sophocles there is a debate of who is the tragic hero of the story Antigone or Creon. According to the definition the tragic hero of Antigone has to be Creon. Antigone starts medias res, Creon declares that his nephew Polynieces is not to get the proper burial, “ No burial of any kind. No wailing, no public tears. / Give him to the vultures, unwept, unburied, / To be a sweet treasure for their sharp eyes and beaks” (l.28-30). Creon was feared by all of his subjects so they obeyed his command no matter how immoral. The only person that openly defied him was Antigone, his niece, with burying Polynieces. When the Watchman told Creon what had occurred Creon said that Antigone had to die. Creon said that...
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...The definition of a tragic hero is, “ A great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.” Though Creon at points can fill the role of a tragic hero in Antigone, Antigone is the only character to truly play the part of one. Sophocles writes tragedies, which are named after the tragic hero in each specific play. As in Oedipus Rex, the piece of theatre is named after the tragic hero, Oedipus. Thus only clarifying why Sophocles named one of his plays Antigone, the title being based off of the main tragic hero role. Antigone is a more appropriate title for the play Antigone because of Antigone’s immense bravery and individuality in behalf of her late brother, creating the plot in the play due...
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...proposal I plan to focus on the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. The last of the three Theban plays written in or before 441 BC. I will focus in on tragic hero’s. A tragic flaw is an error or defect in the tragic hero that leads to his downfall, such as greed, pride, or ambition. This flaw may be a result of bad character, bad judgment, an inherited weakness, or any other defect of character. Examples of a tragic hero are Antigone four main characters Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon. Using the text as proof each and everyone one of those four characters are written with a tragic flaw that is their undoing. The major literary elements I will be concentrating on are characterization, tone, and theme. These elements are most important in determining and explaining what makes a character a tragic hero. Without characterization I can’t describe what traits make our hero before a tragic one. Tone will also help with reading in between the lines because as we know sometimes our characters say one thing, but mean something else entirely. The overall theme of Antigone is tragedy so without the characters having the tragic flaws the theme would change. Literally elements are crucial in accurately explaining my topic....
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...the play Antigone, Antigone is a woman who did anything to honor her deceased brother. Even though she knew the severe consequence she would face for refusing Creon's proclamation toward the burial of her brother.The theme of this is that both characters have different views with their situation causing controversy between the two.In the play Antigone,Creon is shown to be a tragic hero through his interactions with Antigone. This develops the theme of the play .By these tragic flaws such as Rude ,Serious, and Unfair. One of Creon's trait that develops the theme of the play is that Creon is ignorant. For example in the play Antigone, Creon said to in line (654)”I...
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...The term tragic hero is when a literary character makes a judgement error which ultimately results in their downfall. Famous author, Sophocles, wrote a popular play in the genre of drama known as “Antigone”, he explains what the effects of character interaction have on a given person. In this play he describes what happens when the characters Antigone, sister of Ismene, and Creon, ruler of the state clash and contribute to Creon’s development as a tragic hero, and to the plot of the play. In “Antigone”, the two brothers of Ismene and Antigone, Polyneices and Eteocles, end up killing each other due to supporting different sides of the Thebes’ Civil War. Creon, the new ruler decided that Eteocles will have an honorable burial, while the other will be laid unburied for the animals to eat upon....
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...The Tragic Hero in Antigone According to the dictionary, a tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy. In the story "Antigone," by Sophocles, Antigone has all the necessary traits to be qualified as the tragic character of the story. She is an honorable and important person, she has a fearless attitude, and she ends up facing a downfall because of her deeds. Antigone is an honorable and important person in Thebes. She obviously has a very good heart because she has decided to give her brother Polynieces a proper burial even though her uncle, Creon, has forbidden anyone to and has states that if someone does then they will be put to death. Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, "Ismene, I am going to bury him" (Antigone Prologue. 31) Even though she has Creon's threat in her mind, she takes the responsibility of bringing "honor to her family" by burying Polynieces. This shows good character as she is showing love for her family. Also, she does not let Ismene take part in her "crime". This shows how considerate she is of her sister's well being. Another important trait which Antigone has is her fearless attitude and her consistency. Throughout the play, Antigone sticks to her believes. Once she has made the decision to bury Polynieces, she does it without any fear. "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (Antigone Prologue...
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...Creon’s Tragic Fall: A Look at Sophocles’ Antigone A tragic hero is defined by Aristotle’s Poetics as the protagonist in the story to whom something happens that elicits pity from the audience. For the most part, a tragic hero is a “virtuous” person whose life changes from being prosperous to being a life full of misfortune (Aristotle, Poetics). In other words, the tragic hero is someone of great social standing who begins the story at a very high point, but suffers their downfall because of a tragic flaw. In Sophocles’ Antigone the central theme of this play is the struggle between Antigone and her uncle Creon. The issue of burying Antigone’s brother Polynices is based on the ancient Greek philosophy of death, where any unburied body condemns its soul to torment. Basically, it was the duty of the family to bury their dead. Yet, this issue extended beyond family loyalty to a decree of piety by the gods. However, in the play, Creon goes against this celestial decree because he sees Polynices as a traitor for warring against him as a member of another army. As a means to set an example about the repercussions of disloyalty, Creon issues an edict to leave him unburied. As a man who starts the drama in as the respected king of Thebes, he gradually loses his family, his objectivity, and his power to his stubbornness and hubris that ultimately results in his downfall. Hence, Creon is a tragic hero in the Sophocles’ Antigone because his unbending pride results in tragic downfall...
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...The Tragic Hero Creon A tragedy is an imitation of a serious action which will arouse pity and fear in the viewer and a tragic hero is a character that meets their downfall because of a weakness or error in judgment. Greek drama always includes a tragic hero or heroine who has a tragic or fatal flaw. This is meant to create compassion for the character from the audience, but also make the audience fear the character and their decisions. For example, in Sophocles’ Antigone there are two characters who might be considered a tragic hero. Creon is the tragic hero in Antigone because of his arrogance, his willingness to accept his faults, and what his faults teach the audience. Creon’s hubris is what makes him the perfect tragic hero of Antigone....
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...Antigone is a Greek tragic piece that stresses the use of power and morality versus the law written by Sophocles. Both Antigone and Creon, the main characters in the play, could represent the tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who is known for being dignified and has a flaw that assists to his or her downfall. In my opinion, Creon best qualifies for being the tragic hero and fitting the definition read in the previous sentence. The things he said, did, and the comments that were made by those around him show how a man with everything could lose it all due to his own behavior. To open, the things he said showed how he changed and became the tragic hero of the play. Many of his statements reveal his personality including his admirable parts and his flaws. When Creon says: "I call to God to witness that if I saw my country headed for ruin, I should not be afraid to speak out plainly," (Sophocles, scene 1,24-26), it shows his strong sense of nationalism and leadership which catches up with him in the end. "The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron cracks first, and the wildest horses bend their necks at the pull of the smallest curb" (scene 2,76-79) is what Creon says to Antigone after finding out she is the one who buried Polynieces. He thinks that if Antigone wasn't so headstrong and arrogant then she could have avoided the consequence he was about to give her. I think Creon was being a hypocrite because he is just as stubborn as she is. The reason why Creon...
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...Antigone Essay The Tragic Hero in Antigone According to the dictionary, a tragic hero is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy. In the story "Antigone," by Sophocles, Antigone has all the necessary traits to be qualified as the tragic character of the story. She is an honorable and important person, she has a fearless attitude, and she ends up facing a downfall because of her deeds. Antigone is an honorable and important person in Thebes. She obviously has a very good heart because she has decided to give her brother Polynieces a proper burial even though her uncle, Creon, has forbidden anyone to and has states that if someone does then they will be put to death. Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, "Ismene, I am going to bury him" (Antigone Prologue. 31) Even though she has Creon's threat in her mind, she takes the responsibility of bringing "honor to her family" by burying Polynieces. This shows good character as she is showing love for her family. Also, she does not let Ismene take part in her "crime". This shows how considerate she is of her sister's well being. Another important trait which Antigone has is her fearless attitude and her consistency. Throughout the play, Antigone sticks to her believes. Once she has made the decision to bury Polynieces, she does it without any fear. "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" ...
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...Intelligence” (Clouse 1, line 54-55). We usually reach this stage between the ages of 12-18. The play “Antigone” by Sophocles focuses on a girl named Antigone, who is currently going through this stage and the ordeal she goes through accomplish what she believes is the honorable act to uphold. By the end of the play, you start picturing Antigone as this naïve girl that just wanted to do the right thing but none one supported her. The reality is, Antigone was a person’s whose personality was similar to the system of a ticking time bomb waiting...
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...“A hero’s tragedy lies not in the suffering they endure, but in the choices they make,” said George R.R. Martin. Being a tragic hero doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice yourself for your entire town, or die for the greater good. Just like George R.R said, being a tragic hero comes down to the choices you make, why you make them, and how they pan out. In the play Antigone there is a woman named Antigone who breaks the law to bury her brother, and a king named Creon who punishes her. When reading this play, Antigone stands out to most people as a tragic hero because she is burying her brother and the known consequence of that action is death, but she does it anyway. Creon is the king that makes the law and punishes her because he believes that...
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...As the two stubborn protagonists, Antigone and Creon, demonstrate qualities of tragic heroes, the play is correctly named Antigone due to her heroin characteristics to overcome the law in order to obey the gods. Antigone buries her brother regardless of the consequences. She does this action alone and will not let anyone in her way. Creon is the tragic hero, but due to his rottenness, Antigone is seen more likable for putting her family before law. In this story, Creon is the tragic hero. The whole play revolves around him and his doings. Many events happened because of his hunger for domination. He has gotten brothers, Polynieces and Eteocles, to go against each other and start a war in which they both killed each other. When Creon became king, he set a law against burying Polynieces’s body since he viewed him as a traitor. Out of love, Antigone buried her beloved brother and was caught in the act defending herself saying, “I do. I deny nothing” (Sophocles 698). When she was presented to Creon for her wrongdoing, she did not deny her actions nor showed any regret. Creon could not believe his own blood relative would disobey him. Due to disbelief, he punishes Antigone by immediately imprisoning her in the cave. Antigone’s character is more controversial and admirable than Creon’s. Both of their actions were out of emotion. However, Antigone acts based upon love and tradition that every person has the right to be buried correctly and respectfully. Regardless of this tradition...
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