Creon Tragic Hero Essay

The article “The Tragic Hero in Greek Drama” claims that Sophocles, through the tragic heroes in Antigone and Oedipus the King, suggests, “we could do everything right, act on the best information available, and with the best of intentions, yet still commit unspeakable horrors” (“The Tragic Hero in Greek Drama”). Aristotle, a well-known ancient Greek literary critic, created a definition of a tragic hero. His definition is known as the Aristotelian tragic hero, which has many requirements that the character must possess. Creon is the character that best exemplifies Aristotle’s tragic hero because of his virtue, his hubris, and his realization of his fate; however, others may argue that Antigone is a better example of a tragic hero because of

She is a good and admirable character because of her decision to bury her brother, Polynices, against Creon’s rule. Antigone, showing her attitude towards doing the right thing, informs Creon, “I was born to join in love, not hate—that is my nature” (Sophocles, Antigone 86). Creon’s statement of exiling her to die does not trouble her. Antigone’s personal error was not denying Creon’s assertions. She declares, “[d]ie I must, I’ve known it all my life” to show Creon that she does not care if she dies because she is dying for something she strongly believes in (Sophocles, Antigone 82). This decision was “[a] simple mistake […] that eventually [led] to the final catastrophe” (Simpson). After Creon bans her, she hangs herself. Antigone’s persecution, banishment, and death all cause a catharsis of pity and fear from the audience. Although she follows most of the requirements of a tragic hero set by Aristotle, she is missing “a moment of clairvoyant insight or understanding in the mind of the tragic hero as [s]he suddenly comprehends the web of fate that [s]he has entangled [her]self in” (Simpson). Throughout the story, Antigone never backs down to Creon. She fights for what she believes in, knowing the consequences, and does not suddenly come to an understanding that her decision of burying her brother led to her downfall and ultimate death. Creon not only meets the requirements of a tragic hero that Antigone does, but he also suddenly understood that his decisions were the reason for his