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Antigone tragedy essay full
Tragedy of antigone
Tragedy of antigone
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Antigone tragedy essay full
Tragedy of antigone
Tragedy of antigone
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
During their conversation about Antigone’s punishment and how the public are reacting to it, he tells Creon “because of who you are, you can't perceive all the things' men say or do” which consequentially not only reveals how narrowminded Creon is by jumping to conclusions, but it also reminds Creon to listen to what people have to say (782-783). This subsequentially contrasts Haemon's logical thinking and open mind with Creon's intolerant thinking highlighting Creon's trait of narrow mindedness by displaying Creon's inability to listen, perceive and acknowledge what people say. In addition, this shows that Creon could be misinterpreting what others say or do, in this case Haemon thinks he does so with Antigone, telling him “Surely she deserves some golden honour,” suggesting to Creon that death is unfair for her punishment (792). Implying that his punishment is unfair again displays that Creon is narrowminded because the fact that he does not want to listen to what anybody says including his son Haemon, is more than enough proof that Creon is narrowminded. Overall, both pieces of evidence exhibit Haemon being a foil to Creon with Haemon being calm and logical vs Creon's narrowminded
Another scene in the play which demonstrates Creon’s ineffective rule is when Teiresias comes to deliver Creon’s prophecy. Teiresias first addresses Creon by informing him to listen to what the prophet has to say. Here is where it is evident that Creon is often one minded in his thinking. As soon as Creon is asked to listen he snaps back at Teiresias, “I am not aware that I have ever failed to listen.” (Sophocles 835)
(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.
But for a living lesson against such infamy, / You shall be racked and tortured till you tell / The whole truth of this outrage; so you may learn / To seek your gain where gain is yours to get, / Not try to grasp it everywhere. / In wickedness you’ll find more loss than profit” (lines 251-261). Most people know that when a king threatens to brutally hurt one of his subjects if they are unable to follow a command or assignment means he is misusing his power. Creon is misusing his power because he states, “You shall be racked and tortured to death”, even though the sentry
Creon is admirable in defeat because he realized what he had done but only when it was too late. Creon’s defeat is shown when he says “I alone am guilty”(1060). Creon gains structure as a character because his eyes are opened to the fact that his ignorance has brought death and destruction among his family and to Antigone as well as her Antigone's family. Finally, the weakness of Creon and error in judgement(“Aristotle”) brings doom upon himself.
Creon’s tragic flaw is his overwhelming ego. The series of events began to occur when Creon denied
(Sophocles 25). This quotation displays Creon’s focus on the state, forgetfulness of his family, and stubborn personality when not listening to other’s opinions. All three of these traits that Creon possesses prove that he is determined and in a right mindset, but all of them also lead to his downfall at the end of the
Creon exclaims to Haemon his feelings about how his decision will affect his reputation by stating, “I caught her in naked rebellion, the traitor, the only one in the whole city. I am not about to prove myself a liar, not to my people, no, I am going to kill her.” (22. 25-28). He feels that if he backs down from his word and does not pursue the death of a traitor, that the people of his country will start to question his strength and their own sense of security. He would not take the advice of The Leader and let Antigone go, due to the thought of damaging his pride and reputation.
He can act quite stubborn and overconfident in himself and his ruling, and he needs to see this situation from another point of view in order to prevent anarchy. We find Creon irritated and belligerent when speaking with Teiresias. TEIRESIAS. King, you will drive me to words that - CREON. Say them, say them!
The immortal unrecorded laws of God.- They are not merely now: they were, and shall be,- Operative for ever, beyond man utterly.” (359-363) Creon denied this law because he thought that he was higher than the
As demonstrated throughout the Greek tragedy Antigone, Creon’s tragic flaw is hubris which causes his downfall . The downfall begins when Creon refuses to give Polyneices, the son of Oedipus and the brother of Antigone, a burial. Creon believes that Polyneices did not die an honorable death as he broke exile and raised the sword against his home city, Thebes, so in return he will not receive a burial. Creon’s pride takes over and so he believes he is a man not only superior to women , but a king superior to the gods. He claims, Go out of your heads entirely?
Tragic Hero Essay During the times of 500 B.C., the Greek tragedy of Antigone by Sophocles took place in a Palace. Moreover, it had been a classical Greek tragedy which was quite common in ancient times like these. This specific play was about a King, named Creon and a woman named Antigone, who buried her brother and because it was against the king's law, she got sentenced to death. As times have passed, it has been greatly debated among others who the real tragic hero in Antigone is, but it can clearly be argued it is Antigone.
The play, Antigone written by Sophocles, presents a tragedy that fits the classical definition, but it is the story of Creon, the king of the main character. Creon starts out as the king of Thebes , Creon’s tragic flaw is his pride and his arrogance which caused him reflecting upon his mistakes making him a broken man, recognizing what he did to his niece, he is a character within Antigone, even though he was portrayed as an antagonist he was the main character since he was. Creon’s tragic flaw, hubris, causes his downfall. Creon will not listen to anyone.
In Sophocles’ Antigone, Antigone and Creon both have qualities of a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition. Aristotle believes a tragic hero is a decent human, but falls due to a weakness in one’s character. In the plot, Antigone decides to bury her brother, which defies the laws of Creon, the dictator of Thebes. Antigone believes she must hold her family values and the gods’ beliefs with utmost respect. Antigone refuses to deny her crime, so she is sentenced to be death by Creon.