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Antigone Creon Tragic Hero Quotes

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Throughout Antigone, there are two characters that could be described as a tragic hero. Aristotle first defined the definition of a tragic hero. According to him a tragic hero is, “ the protagonist of a Greek Drama, who because of an error of judgment or tragic flaw, suffers a reversal of fortune.” Along with being a tragic hero, one has to contain certain qualities to qualify as a tragic hero. A tragic hero must be neither good nor bad, contain a tragic flaw, and also realize the fall in their life.
Creon is defiantly a tragic hero who is seen good by some people and then also bad. The large fall that Creon takes is when he looses his respect from the town’s people. It is stated, “Your people are beginning to question your judgment and …show more content…

Creon realizes that his hubris, or pride, has not let him adequately compromise with his conflicts. Creon hits realization and says, “ I have been rash and foolish.” (Scene 4, Line 1034). Along with him realizing his pride, he also admits that the death of Haimon was his fault. Creon also says, “My own blind heart has brought me from darkness to final darkness.” (Scene 4, Lines 988-999) This quote expresses that Creon did not think his decision through thoroughly and only though of himself. He disregarded the fact that his son was madly in love with Antigone. His over-confidence made his relationship with his son hit rock bottom. Creon’s pride did not let him deal with his conflicts in the right way. Creon eventually wakes up to the realties of what he caused his family to go through. He began to change his ways and take his steps towards contrition when he personally sees that Polynices needs to receive a proper burial. He has been loyal to do this, but it was too late to save the lives of: Haimon, Antigone, and his wife. This is stated by Teiresias when he proclaims, “ They are dead, and they that live are guilty of the death.” (Scene 4, Line 917) Creon has to pay the price now for not listening to his son’s demands. Creon realizes his consequences of being unreasonable and

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916 Words | 4 Pages

Unfortunately he realized his mistake too late to rescue them. He realized that Antigone was right about burying Polyneices her brother. When Creon went to let Antigone free she was already dead as well as his son and wife. Creon states, “…by my stubbornness, oh my son, so young, to die so young, and all because of me”. (Scene 3, Lines 105-107).

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671 Words | 3 Pages

The tragic tone of Creon’s exclamation shows the regret that he feels for his destructive actions, and the use of the phrase ‘thoughtless thoughts’ indicates that he has realized that he has been exhibiting extreme foolishness. The fact that Creon’s stupidity led to the ‘slaying and dying’ of his loved ones, this is positive in that it ensures that the change will be lasting, and his mistakes will not be repeated. Consequences and losses help ensure that people will remedy their flawed qualities, and that the sacrifices of the people involved in rebellion are not in

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195 Words | 1 Pages

In the short story titled “Antigone,” the author portrays Creon as a tragic hero by displaying flaws in Creon's character shown throughout the story. Creon’s character contains many flaws which lead to many problems. His decisions end up deciding the fates of his son, his wife, and Antigone. Creon finally realizes that what he has done is sinful to the gods. He has put his own pride over the appreciation of the gods.

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540 Words | 3 Pages

(Line #507) Because of Creon being King, the power went to his head, because of that he thinks that everything, even the gods are below him. ”Antigone: Take me and kill me—what more do you want? Creon: Me? Nothing. With that I have everything,” (Line 565-566) That type of thoughts that Creon shows that his own pride is blocking his sight, because of that it's one of his biggest reasons of his downfall as a tragic hero.

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1391 Words | 6 Pages

This contributed to the fact that he was mentally lost. He had clouded judgment because of his idea of what is right for the city is the only way he would rule. As Burt describes “Creon remains adamant, and his judgment on Antigone and Ismene, along with his subsequent argument with his son, Haemon, reveals that Creon's principles are self-centered, contradictory, and compromised by his own pride, fears, and anxieties. ”(Burt). Creon can only think in his mindset and any other view to him is impossible to understand.

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703 Words | 3 Pages

Hence, you die because of your own selfish will” (p. 287). Creon refers himself to be a powerful man which makes him think great about himself which causes him not to think twice about what he’s doing. Creon will have problems because he can not have anyone to break his rules thinking that he is the high authority, even higher than the gods. Creon will have problems because he can not have anyone to break his rules thinking that he is the high authority, even higher than the

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1226 Words | 5 Pages

His free choice is represented by a quote from the guard surveying Polyneices body, “We saw this girl giving that dead man's corpse full burial rites—an act you’d made illegal” (337). Although Creon's own niece turns out to be the one that went against his word, he still chooses to follow through with the punishment even though the deed Antigone did was morally right. The punishment that he lays upon Antigone is excessive and unjust considering the crime. While in an argument with her, he calls to his guards proclaiming, “Take her and shut her up, as I have ordered, in her tomb’s embrace [...]

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660 Words | 3 Pages

oh look at him, Bearing his own damnation in his arms” (Antigone Exodos. 84-85). He is saying ‘Look what has happened to Creon’. He has payed for his arrogance with the death of his niece, son, and wife; that being his tragic fall, caused by his

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1092 Words | 5 Pages

(Scene 1. 39-42) Creon must rule with iron fist in order to gain respect from the people. He loses two family members,, takes the throne, and must banish the prayers for his poor, fallen nephew. Additionally, Creon loses his wife and son in scene five. CREON.

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1097 Words | 5 Pages

Creon regretfully says “I have killed my son and my wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust” (Exodos). Creon comes to his senses when it was too late.

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1136 Words | 5 Pages

Creon finally realizes that his hubris has not let him effectively deal with his conflicts. Creon has his epiphany and even says, “I have been rash and foolish.” He finally acknowledges that he has let his pride take over for the worse. Creon also realizes that it was his fault Haemon dies. He would not listen to Haemon and take his advice.

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882 Words | 4 Pages

“ Mistakes made by a foolish mind, cruel mistakes that bring on death.” (1406 to 1407.) In this quote, King Creon of Thebes is acknowledging that he has made tragic mistakes, because he wanted to the laws of his state, that he put in place, instead of preserving the safety of his family, which consequently lead to suffering for many. In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, the character Creon makes decisions based on what he feels is right, and refuses to pay attention to other’s advice. His stubbornness and selfishness prove fatal, and as a consequence of his moral deficiency, he kills an innocent woman, and loses his son in the aftermath.

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489 Words | 2 Pages

I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it” (I.ii.1021-1022). This quote indicates that Creon blames himself and only himself. In addition he now he has to live with the fact that his hubris not only killed his family, it also will always torment him for

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703 Words | 3 Pages

In Antigone by Sophocles, the purpose of Creon’s speech is to explain his new leadership. First, Creon wants to gain the loyalty from the citizens of Thebes. A great king would first need the trust of his state in order to rule effectively. Especially, Creon would need trust from his state after the tragic events that happened beforehand, which was Polyneices and Eteocles dying. He state this fact in his speech: “I am aware, of course, that no ruler can expect complete loyalty from his subjects until he has been tested in office.”

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757 Words | 4 Pages

Creon was completely blinded by his pride and power that he lost those closest to him. Starting with his son... “Then she’ll die-- and in her death kill someone else. ”(Haemon; line 859). Creon thinks that his son is threatening him, and doesn’t pay attention to what his son is feeling towards Antigone.

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