Creon's Tragic Hero In Sophocles Antigone

A tragedy is a difficult and rewarding form of drama for the audience, which was made into an art by the Greeks. A tragic hero is a character that of a noble stature, brought down by an act of injustice, has a tragic flaw, has a choice that results in the characters downfall, a misfortune not entirely deserved, and most importantly, the character gins self-knowledge. This skillfully describes King Creon. In the Greek drama Antigone by Sophocles, Teiresias, the prophet, is a foil to King Creon. Teriesias display of stubbornness highlights Creon’s hamartia of pride. Teriesias advice to King Creon in the last scene of the play leads Creon to come to the realization of self-knowledge of his fatal flaw which helps him to discover that true success

Teriesias an old blind, prophet, who has never given a false prophecy comes to Creon to help him before he destroys himself and his family. He gives his prophecy but, when he cannot get through to Creon he states “Men who put their stubbornness on show invite accusation of stupidity. Make concession to the dead-don’t ever stab a man who’s just been killed’ (Sophocles 1144-1147). Teriesias tries every way to help Creon. This shows Teriesias stubbornness because he will not take no as an answer. He commands Creon to bury Antigone’s brother, even though, Creon is his king. Although, in turn, the readers see Creon’s true hamartia as he replied “Even if Zeus’ eagles should choose seize his festering body and take it up, right to the throne of Zeus, not even then would I, in trembling fear of some defilement, permit that corpse a burial” (Sophocles 1160-1165). This is a really important turning point in Antigone because previously he has said that he was not burring the corpse because that was what the gods would want him to do, but now Creon specifically says that he would go against the god’s interest to insure he was not seen as mistaken. Overall, to protect his pride as king. This is just one way that Teriesias interaction with Creon help Creon to develop into a tragic

After Teiresias tells, Creon his advice, he tells him the consequences if he does not reverse his action, for example, “Before you lose a child of your own loins a corpse in payment for these corpses. You’ve thrown down to those below someone from up above- in your own arrogance you’ve moved a living soul into a grave, leaving here a body owned by gods below, unburied, dispossessed, and unsanctified. That’s not concern of yours or the gods above” (Sophocles 1195-1201). Teriesias says honestly that not only will Creon loose his only son left, but when he dies he will live in the underworld because of his arrogance. This an ultimate consequence for protecting his pride fullness. Although, his honest harsh consequence makes Creon understand his wrong doing. After Teiresias leaves Creon to think, he ask the chorus leader on his advice, Creon thinks of the consequences and comes to the moment of catharsis, when he decides “Alas-it’s difficult. But I’ll give up. I’ll not do what I’d set my heart upon. It’s not right to fight against necessity” (Sophocles 1236-1238). This was the moment that the reader’s see that Creon has finally gained the self-knowledge he needed to seek redemption before his ultimate downfall. This is the moment he decides to bury the corps, and let Antigone go because he know that it is indispensable that he seeks redemption to have any chance