How are Both Antigone and Creon Tragic Heros
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A tragic hero, according to Aristotle, must be of high standing (maybe noble childbirth of strong character) possess a defect which causes his fall, recognize his failure, and suffer heavily as a result of his failure.
Antigone and her uncle Creon may well be called a tragic hero in the play “Antigone.” Creon best fits the tragic hero’s model as he is traversing the journey of the tragic hero I think of two characters. On the other hand, Antigone has a good attribute but does not come from noble birth. She also refuses that a tragic hero must consider his fault or error, which resulted in his downfall by the tragic hero. Because of her ‘flaw’ in obedience to the gods and reversely her disloyalty to King Creon, Antigone suffers greatly. Antigone is also reluctant and focuses more on burying her brother than listening to her sister, Ismene, who encourages her to return and follow the orders of King Creon. Nevertheless, her failure to recognize its weaknesses is an important factor which disqualifies Antigone as the real tragic hero. In reality, when, in the near future, she sees her death, “I did no wrong yet, as the hearts of men know, I have not sinned before God”. However, she fulfils the final need for a true tragic hero but suffers greatly by her death on King Creon’s orders. Antigone’s fault, along with reluctance, was her inability to compromise. Antigone decides that her allegiance to the gods is greater than the state; she insists that she obeys a higher law than the human law. She claimed that everyone had the right to be buried, and she felt obligated to bury her brother, Polyneices. Antigone considers her “crime to be divine” since it is not the state but the creator. It’s the sacred law of the departed. Because of her brother’s affection, she defends her decision. Even after her sister Ismene had tried to persuade her, she was not willing to compromise her decision; she was determined to do it, even if she would die. Antigone realizes she should be punished, so she gladly acknowledged her penalty when found guilty. The gods’ will was not to punish her for her crime, but she took her life before she was released. In her opinion, this was a mistake. She could’ve survived if she hadn’t killed herself. But she believed her family had been tainted by death, her two brothers and dad were dead, and she had no hope of survival. Creon is the person who best fits the image of a true tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone. Creon has become a leader as the King of Thebes and is born with a high rank in society. Creon had been a very just and pitiful king in the first place. “I have always held the view that a king whose lips are twisted up in fear, unable to take guidance, is cursed,” he starts like Edypus, who can be easily recognized and respected as a monarch. “These words sound ironical when you consider so much more during the play; Creon ignores any counsel in liberating Antigone. Creon’s hobbling and hybris indicates the second prerequisite for a true tragic hero to have a fault or error. For example, Creon denied Antigone the right to bury her brother, saying that “If God’s great eagles himself brought him little by little stinking in the sky, I wouldn’t offer. Even after the Prophet Teiresias came to plead with him for the release of Antigone, Creon said that Teiresias had been paid off and he said, “You shall not alter my will whatever you tell.” I have no fear of pollution. “State is King,” he says.” proving his supremacy even over the gods. Creon’s fault or error is his utter inability to release Antigone.
The gods are furious as it turns out. Creon is really proud, and the gods don’t like it. The prophecy of Teiresia shows that Creon is cursed and that he can not escape his destiny. That’s Creon’s downfall. Teiresias is trying to make the sacrifices of Creon, but they are not going to burn, and birds fight, and that is pride. Creon’s wife and son commit suicide, which is used by the gods as a punishment for Creon’s misfortune.
Finally, as he understands and acknowledges its flaws, Creon meets the ultimate condition for a tragic hero. He confesses that “I was reckless and insensitive.” He adds that” I was brought into darkness by my own blind heart. The above statement indicates that Creon truly suffers greatly for his fault. It is a tragedy that gives a hero his true identity. Artistotle speaks about that as a central part of the catastrophe. Later, Creon learns and acknowledges that his misplaced ego was the reason why his family member had died. Therefore, as stated by Aristotle, Creon fulfils all the criteria for a true tragic hero, which is why he is a tragic hero in Antigone. Although Antigone also regarded as a tragic hero.