All people can have power in our world, but only a few can have power and fewer can wield it with control in “Antigone”. Creon in the play “Antigone”, is the tragic hero because of the choices he makes and the way he acts. Creon is the tragic hero because he was born into nobility, responsible for his own fate, and doomed to make a serious error in judgement.
Creon shows that he is the tragic hero in “Antigone” because he is born into nobility. Creon shows nobility when he is announced as King of Thebes. The text states, “As the next in blood, I have succeeded to the full power of the throne.”(pg.755) Creon has now become King of Thebes because Oedipus, the last king, has died and so have his sons, and Creon is the next in the line of nobility to be King. Creon is born into nobility when he starts enforcing laws that he makes as soon as he is made King. Creon says, “As long as I am King”.(pg.758) Now that Creon
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Creon is responsible for his own fate when he makes the decision to outlaw Polyneices’ honorable burial. Antigone states to Ismene, “They say that Creon has sworn no one shall bury him.”(pg.751) Creon’s decision to outlaw Polyneices’ burial has led Antigone to go out and bury Polyneices which ultimately leads to her death showing that Creon a tragic hero for being responsible for his own fate. Creon feels his decision was very right and he didn’t stop to think of what will others feel or say about him and his decision. It says in the play, “Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him.”(pg.756) Creon, as a stubborn king, doesn’t even consult or argue with the high counsel about what they should do, he just makes his decision right away when he feels he has the only right to. Creon’s choice to outlaw Polyneices’ burial without advice or consulting ultimately gave him a trait of a tragic hero in