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Sophocles Antigone: A Greek Tragedy

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Greek tragedy, according to M.H. Abrams, is a representation of serious action which results to a disastrous conclusion for the protagonist. Aristotle, on the other hand, also argues that tragedy involves a hero, a man or a woman, who is more moral than we are. He or she goes through reversals of fortune from joy to suffering because of his own tragic flaw called hamartia which is the error of judgment or his own hubris which is pride. Tragedy fills the reader's emotions with pity and fear as the tragic hero is judged unequally and is stricken by misfortune which he does not truly deserve. Sophocles' Antigone is considered a fine tragedy as Antigone suffers from her own tragic flaws called hamartia, fights for what is right without terror, and dies undeservingly towards the end which enables her to shed light towards the tragic Greek social reality of men being superior to women. In Sophocles' Antigone, Antigone makes a trap of her own downfall by committing flaws or hamartia and hubris. One of Antigone's tragic flaws is her extreme loyalty and devotion to her family. Creon, at the beginning of the play, announces to the public that Polyneices, Antogone's brother, should not be buried by anyone because he is considered a traitor to …show more content…

Even though Antigone committed suicide, she is still able to bring with her hubris and honor. She is able to prove to the community that even up to now she deserves an applause and respect because of her conviction and determination to do what is right even though men in their times ridicule women for such strength. She will always be remembered as a woman of courage and a woman of her word. The tragedy will never exist if it was not for Antigone’s love for her family and rebellion against King Creon. In other words, tragedy exist in the play because Antigone too

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