Tragedy in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Antigone The Greeks considered tragedy to be the greatest form of literature. However, the characters' tragic end was not ordered or fixed by fate, but rather caused by some characteristics belonging to that person. This is the case of the characters in Sophocles' comedies Oedipus the King and Antigone. King Oedipus Oedipus, Antigone, and Antigone's Creon possess characteristics, especially pride, that caused their tragic ends. As the show progresses, other characteristics appear that further add to the problem to such an extent that it is inevitable that it will end in tragedy. Therefore the tragedies were not the result of a plot of fate, but rather the result of the characteristics that the characters possessed. The characters possess a multitude of traits, some of which are common to all. Pride is particularly widespread. This characteristic appears to be the major tragic flaw or hamartia that ultimately causes the fall. Oedipus displays a great deal of pride, which seems to border on pure arrogance. This is demonstrated at the beginning of the play where he states, “I, Oedipus, whose name is known from afar” (p. 25). This is reinforced by the priest's responses: "Oedipus great and glorious" (p.26) and "O greatest of men" (p.26). We can therefore conclude that Oedipus evidently possesses a great deal of pride. Antigone, daughter and sister of Oedipus, also has the same characteristic. Creon acknowledges this when he says, “The proud spirit of this girl” (p.139) and Antigone confirms this with her great speech to Creon, where she states, “I knew I should die…living in daily torment as I do , who wouldn't be happy to die?" (page 138). So at the center of the card in both King Oedipus and Antigone were characters whose lives ended in tragedy. However, these falls from grace were not actions of fate, but rather those of the characters themselves. Characteristics, especially pride, of people set them on their way. Therefore the characters' flaws were the cause of their unfortunate end. Works Cited Dodds, E. R. "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex." Twentieth-century interpretations of Oedipus Rex: a collection of critical essays. Ed. Michael J. O'Brien. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1968. 17-29.Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnett, et al. New York: Longman, 1997. Sophocles. Antigone. Exploring literature: writing and thinking about fiction, poetry, drama and the essay. Ed. Giuseppe Terry. New York: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc, 2001.