Antigone's Tragic Hero

Antigones Tragic Hero
Sophocles Antigone holds with it a controversy involving the plays tragic
hero, sparking heated debates on whether the tragic hero is Creon or Antigone.
Throughout the play, readers often select a certain character that they believe
possesses more characteristics of a tragic hero. It becomes very easy for readers to
pick these characters out because these readers often find qualities of a tragic hero
in themselves that assist them in making comparisons to the plays characters. Some
of these qualities are the responsibility people feel for their personal calamities,
their recognition of their mistakes and faults, and often even punishments for their
mistakes. In his play Antigone, Sophocles proves Creon to be the tragic hero, rather
than Antigone. Sophocles proves this point by emphasizing Creons ultimate
responsibility for the plays calamity, his utterly irrevocable recognition of his own
mistake, and his harsh, excessive punishment, while he does not for Antigone.
Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because he is completely accountable for
the calamity in the play, as he is the one who set the decree that brought about the
entire mess. While Creon is arguing with Teiresias about his culpability, Teiresias
says, I tell you, Creon, you yourself have brought / This new calamity upon us
(1.5.25-26).1 This evidence is extremely important because it expresses the fact that
Creon is primarily responsible for the plays calamity. Creons ultimate culpability
for Antigones calamity proves to be one of the strong reasons as to why Creon is the
plays tragic hero.
An additional reason that Creon is the tragic hero is the fact that he faces the
harshest of punishments, which happens to be the death of his loved ones. Adding
on to his punishment, Creon is utterly aware of the fact that his punishment is self-
inflicted, as his arrogance was the predecessor to the suicides of three of his family
members. After Creon has been shown the corpses of his kin, he says, I have killed
my son and wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead (1.5.135-136).3 He
states this heavy with emotion, finally realizing that he has been punished for his
pride in the most merciless of ways. Creon has clearly received a severely harsh
punishment, as he expresses the lack of any comfort as well as the lack of hope for
future comfort. Creons suffering spawns a sense of pity to readers in that he has lost
everything, including his family. The purpose of tragedy is to draw a fear or feeling
for the character from the audience and to emotionally cleanse the audience
through the characters journey to disaster. The immensity of Creons punishment
connects him to the characterization of a tragic hero, along with a few additional
justifications.
Another reason that furthers Creons characterization of a tragic hero is the
fact that he realizes the mistakes he has made upon conversing with Teiresias.
Antigone is not the tragic hero for this exact reason, as she has no moment in which
her own symphony of errors comes rushing into clarity. After Creon finds Antigone,
Haimon, and Eurydice to be dead, he says, I alone am guilty./I know it and I say it
(1.5.121-122). This is the moment he finally comes to terms with what he has done
and the greatness of its magnitude. This quote also exemplifies the fact that Creon
has picked out his mistakes and has learned from them. Also, it is a firsthand
recognition from the perpetrator, himself. He knows what he has done wrong, and
he is now learning to be wise. When Creon sends Antigone to her place of death, she
says, What things I suffer, and at what mens hands, because I would not transgress
the laws of heaven (1.4.79-80). She is making one last futile attempt to convince
Creon that she has done no wrong in this situation. This quote conveys a sense of
accusation, rather than self-blame and recognition of her own mistakes. She still
sees her punishment as unfair, and if she recognized her mistakes as a tragic hero
does, she would not have been as astounded. Creons recognition of his mistakes and
Antigones lack thereof proves that Creon is Antigones tragic hero.
Over and over again in his play Antigone, Sophocles ratifies the fact that
Creon is the tragic hero and Antigone is not. He does this through accenting Creons
culpability for the plays tragedies, his acknowledgement of his mistake, and his
strict, cruel punishment. The determination of which character is the plays tragic
hero often leads to a bit of self-discovery. In evaluating the characteristics of a tragic
hero, readers often make self-comparisons, which lead to parallels between readers
and characters. This often enables readers to have a simpler time determining
which character happens to be the tragic hero. It is important for readers to know
how to determine a tragic hero because it provides a better insight on the play as a
whole as well as on its individual characters. Additionally, establishing a plays
tragic hero helps readers find qualities or similarities in themselves. Lastly, readers
can learn, through reading the listed tragic hero characteristics and their
applications to the characters of Antigone, how to assess the possible results of their
decisions, no matter how much smaller the magnitude.
Works Cited
Sophocles Antigone. Elements of Literature: Fourth Course. Ed. Robert Anderson.
Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1989. 749-792. Print.

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Antigones Tragic Hero

Sophocles Antigone holds with it a controversy involving the plays tragic

than Antigone. Sophocles proves this point by emphasizing Creons ultimate

Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because he is completely accountable for

plays tragic hero.

through the characters journey to disaster. The immensity of Creons punishment

Another reason that furthers Creons characterization of a tragic hero is the

Antigones lack thereof proves that Creon is Antigones tragic hero.

hero often leads to a bit of self-discovery. In evaluating the characteristics of a tragic

whole as well as on its individual characters. Additionally, establishing a plays

decisions, no matter how much smaller the magnitude.

Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1989. 749-792. Print.

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