Creon The Tragic Hero In Antigone By Sophocles

“Antigone” is a novel by Sophocles. Antigone was the daughter of king Oedipus from “Oedipus Rex.” Oedipus’ future generation family, as in his children, were “cursed” by the gods because of Oedipus actions of killing his father and marrying his mother. One of the “curses” was on Antigone’s brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles; they were to fight in a battle and kill each other. This prophecy became a reality and both brothers died, but Polyneices was not buried properly because king Creon did not allow it. King Creon was Oedipus’ uncle and brother-in-law. Creon did not allow for Polyneices to be buried because Polyneices betrayed him and the town. Antigone wanted to do as the gods said, which was burying her brother, but doing so led her to a sequence of problems. Creon is the tragic hero in “Antigone” because he is excessively prideful and stubborn as a king. Creon’s downfall began with him not burying Polyneices and ended with him being alone without a family. When Creon found out that Polyneices’ body was stolen from where he kept it, he was livid. His sentry told him some time later

Creon went to his son and attempted speaking to him, but Haemon verbally attacked him. Before Creon knew it, his son had stabbed himself and clung lifeless to Antigone. Creon grabbed his son and solemnly carried him back to the palace. When Creon and his son entered the palace, a messenger of Thebes told him that his wife, Eurydice, was found dead in the altar; she killed herself when she was told about Haemon’s death. It was in this moment that Creon recognized his huge mistake. He felt remorse for his actions, but knew it was too late because he had already lost his family. Losing his family was his downfall from his actions. He was a stubborn king that never wanted to listen to others and a prideful one that did not care about hurting others. His flaws led him to his