Topic > Creon – The Tragic Hero in Sophocles' Antigone

Sophocles' play, Antigone, expresses a journey of tragedy, nobility and virtue through the actions of the tragic hero. A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, depicts a character of high nobility, who experiences a tragic fall due to his ignorance and the blindness of his pride. However, the tragic hero also gains self-knowledge from his own unacceptable actions. Creon's tragic flaws of being stubborn and showing arrogance make him suitable for the role of a tragic hero, especially since he eventually realizes his wrongdoings. Although many tragic heroes suffer death, Creon's downfall includes the deaths of his wife and son, leaving him with guilt and remorse. The tragic hero of Antigone is one of the most important characters, Creon, the selfish ruler of the city of Thebes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay With Creon's stubbornness and arrogance as major factors in the fomented conflict in Antigone, he was unknowingly leading himself to his downfall along with others. Creon expresses his stubbornness in his reply to Haemon, who questions his father's judgment, stating: "Shall I govern this land according to a will other than my own?". Creon uses rhetorical questions to emphasize his point about how foolish and idiotic it is to doubt or disagree with his judgment, therefore highlighting his arrogance. He labels himself the sole ruler of Thebes, furthering his desire to have power over others. His stubborn character is revealed through his one-sided and defensive response, which indicates his inability to consider the opinions of others. As a result, these personality traits lead to his deterioration and even the collapse of others. Along with his stubbornness, Creon expresses his pride in his noble stature throughout the play and as he speaks to Tiresias, “Do you know who you speak of? I am your lord." Creon uses this direct and blunt statement to illuminate the strong value of his nobility and how it cannot be tarnished. He uses diction like "sir", expressing his arrogance and how difficult it will be for someone to belittle and defame his peerage. By referring to his kingly rule in this way, Creon accentuates his superiority over others. He becomes overly proud of his title and actions, making him selfish and concerned more with the well-being of his reputation rather than the commemoration of a deceased person. Receiving Tiresias' prophetic counsel, "The Furies, from Death and Heaven, lay waiting, to take you in the evil of your own hands... For to this, without great wear of time, the groans of men and women will answer the your own home.” After becoming fully aware of his actions, everything around him begins to decline, another factor that makes him a tragic hero As Creon rushed to the tomb to free Antigone from her decree, he had come to see his cold, dead body hanging on the fabric due to his actions. Haemon is there crying over the death of his wife and, after trying to stab Creon in revenge and failing, he stabs himself, taking his own life to end his own. misery. Creon realizes that almost all hope is lost and confirms it by saying: "Ah, ah, you are dead, you have been shot, for a fault that was mine, not yours!" face, a messenger delivers the news that his wife, Eurydice, has summoned evil to befall Creon because he was a child-killer while she took a knife and stabbed it in her heart, taking her own life. WELL. Creon is,.