Creon's Tragic Hero In Sophocles Antigone

Almost always, in Greek tragedies a “tragic hero” has a hamartia, or tragic flaw, which will cause their concluding demise. In the Greek playwright, Antigone written by Sophocles, the interesting character, Creon, is a prime example of this. According the Aristotle’s theory, to be a tragic hero you have to have three traits: a flaw, a fall, and acceptance of your current situation. Creon’s flaw is his ego, which blinds him and lures him to do rather profane activities. Due to Creon’s ego, him losing everything caused by that very hamartia, and acceptance of the series of unfortunate events that occurred; Creon is the tragic hero in Antigone

Creon’s tragic flaw is his overwhelming ego. The series of events began to occur when Creon denied

With Creon having too much ego, it initiated all the conflicts that arose. He won 't listen to anyone, even when Teiresias tells him his truthful prophecy he thinks that he is being paid off. Creon has a certain cockiness that no one in their right mind would bare. Soon Creon suffers a peripeteia, which he was warned about from many. A king, with a kingdoms submission, is easily above others; but they still suffer. Teiresias’s prophecy tells that the king is damned, yet he can still reverse his actions; for the only true crime is pride. By then , it is too late. Everything falls abruptly. He loses his only son left, and his wife. Charagos says, “But here is the king himself: oh look at him, Bearing his own damnation in his arms” (Antigone Exodos. 84-85). He is saying ‘Look what has happened to Creon’. He has payed for his arrogance with the death of his niece, son, and wife; that being his tragic fall, caused by his

Near the end of the play, after he lost his immediate family, Creon has a conversation with the messenger. Creon begs someone to kill him, for he has lost his entire family due to his actions. The messenger implies that he has a curse upon him for the death of his niece, which he caused. He replies, “It is right that it should be.” (Antigone Exodos. 121-122). By him saying that the curse should be upon him, as it is, he’s accepting his situation and agrees with the way everything panned out. Which is a true trait of a tragic hero. Then again he says, “I have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and wife.” (Antigone Exodos. 134-135). Creon has his epiphany, he in no way is in denial, he knows exactly what has happened and that it’s entirely his fault. He is completely aware that his hubris has taken over him and caused his