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Creon as a tragic hero in Antigone
Creon development as a tragic hero
Creon development as a tragic hero
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Creon as a tragic hero in Antigone
Creon development as a tragic hero
Creon development as a tragic hero
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In Sophocles Antigone Creon’s fatal flaw is his overabundance of arrogance. Over the course of the play Creon’s own pride distances him from his loved ones, his subjects, and ultimately from his own mind. During the play, Sophocles utilizes varied literary techniques such as exposition and dramatic irony to express his own view of mankind. For example, in Antigone, Sophocles expresses the idea that hubris, or excessive pride is the key element in self destruction. For the duration of the play, Sophocles builds the character of Creon, the tyrannical king of Thebes, who seems to embody this particular flaw.
Creon learns that, as Haimon had argued before leaving in a rage, there are severe consequences for believing a state can be run by one single person rather than listening to the reason of others just as wise. According to the definition of tragedy, there must be the descent of a hero due to a tragic flaw; such a definition suits the ill-tempered king Creon rather than heroic and justified Antigone. What brings this king to an all-time low are his flaws, actions, and position in power. Due to having such power and strength, he can very easily strike fear into the hearts of many—Antigone seems to have been one of the very few exceptions. Additionally, his flaws include his ego and pride; this results in his refusal to accept the reasoning
Creon’s main motives behind this law were to gain trust from his people and to have a stabilized power. This law however, was disobeyed by the daughter of Oedipus, Antigone. This is the all the start of the direct
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.
(Antigone 8). This quote shows that he wants everyone to obey him and anyone who disobeys him will get in trouble. The last support can be found when Creon said, “But he who crosses law, or forces it, or hopes to bring the ruler under him, shall never have a word of praise from me.” (Antigone 23). This means that Creon is “madly in love” with his power and thinks that he can do anything because he is the king.
Leaders who have absolute control tend to take their power too far, which in turn, could make things difficult for everyone. As shown in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, The leader takes his power too far, and while doing so, his kingdom, and life, starts to crumble In Antigone, the character Creon could be considered immoral because of his unwillingness to listen to others opinions and beliefs, and because he takes his power too far; but, also how he eventually makes others feel sympathetic towards him due to the loss of a few of his loved ones. Creon makes everyone aware of his ignorant and immoral ways by not listing to the beliefs of others. When it came time for him to test out his new position as ruler of Thebes, he makes a harsh decision,
Ironically, he states that “the mind that is most rigid stumbles soonest,” which would lead one to assume that his leadership style would be flexible (473-474). Creon has the correct intentions by attempting to follow the established law, yet contradicts his statement on a rigid mindset by allowing no exception in Antigone’s case. Creon is in a difficult position
However, Creon is not only authoritative but also wise. An example of this is when he says, "...whoever shows by word and deed that he is on the side of the state -- he shall have my respect while he is living, and my reverence when he is dead" (1. 45-47). As the king of Thebes, Creon is a man whose respect is earned, not given. Creon explains to the Chorus that a man who is loyal to the state and the ruler earns his total respect. A clever ruler would compel his subjects to obey him and follow his rules without explicitly stating the consequences.
How would you feel if you were locked away to rot by one of your own family members because you did something they didn’t approve of? In Sophocles play, Antigone, this is just the case for the niece of Creon, King of Thebes. After getting word that her “own two brothers [...] slaughtered one another and brought about their common doom” (Sophocles 318), Antigone is distraught. What makes her infuriated is when she learns that her uncle, Creon, has decided that one of her brothers, Eteocles, will receive a proper burial and be honored while the other brother, Polyneices, will receive no burial and be remembered as a traitor. Soon after, Antigone takes action and performs a secret burial and ritual on her dead brothers corpse, but she is also
His principal belief is that they must emotionally detach when deciding upon a verdict in order to overcome the moralities of society. As part of his primary response to Antigone’s defiance, he notably articulates that “kings have other things to do besides [wallowing in] their own woes” (33). This is of significance as the statement is in reference to his comparison of Antigone’s actions to “the pride of Oedipus” (32). Creon is emphatically criticizing the rule of the previous authority of Thebes by attributing Oedipus’ demise to his inability to detach himself from the direct social and emotional environment. Therefore, Creon indirectly suggests that in order to operate a society “more sensibly” authority must evade external influences and moralities (33).
“Not so self-centered that you never listen to other people” (Hugh Hefner). In the story of Antigone, Creon shows the characteristics of a tragic hero, as he is the king he shows his self-confident and he does not recognize his flaws until the end of the story. All of this leads into his downfall in the tragedy and causes him to realized what he had done. Creon is a tragic hero because of his self-righteousness, his excessive pride, and he does not listen to the opinion of others.
After reading the tragedy of Antigone by Sophocles, one is left to wonder who the protagonist of this play is. Is it Creon or is it Antigone? To answer this question, one must define what a protagonist is. By definition, a protagonist is a leading actor or a character. Creon fits this description because not only do his actions lead into the whole tragedy, but his character shows a great development and the values he teaches to the readers.
The reader feels pity for Creon for his lack of time to grieve and his tragic mistake that led to the loss of his family, this demonstrates his goodness. Creon, recently succeeded to take the throne of Eteocles, making him king. Therefore, giving him the title of royalty and showing superiority. His power and control over Thebes makes him important, and this power and importance leads to a lack of mercy for criminals.. CREON. I have summoned you here this morning because I know that I can depend on you: your devotion to King Laius was absolute; you never hesitated in your duty to our late ruler Oedipus; and
Creon is the protagonist in Antigone, because his motivation throughout Antigone is the stability and wellbeing of Thebes. Moreover, Antigone is the antagonist in Antigone, because her motivation is selfish and deceiving. In Antigone the setting is Thebes post the death of both airs to the throne. Eteocles dies defending his country from his brother Polynieces which died attempting to reclaim his right to the throne. The conflict throughout Antigone is Antigone’s responsibility to bury her brother Polynices and the law created by Creon, the new king of Thebes, which states that “No one shall bury him, no one mourn for him.”
Eric Estrella Professor: Corinne Croce ENG 210 September 28, 2016 Antigone The character from the play that I have chosen is Creon. Creon in the play is the king of Thebes and is Antigone’s uncle. Creon is a powerfully built person who cherishes order and loyalty above anything. Creon is also the man who suffers the burdens of the rule he had enforced over his pride to make the Gods satisfy and to make people see he wasn't someone to be disobey too.