The Tragic Downfalls of Creon and Antigone in Sophocles...

The hubris resonating throughout the play, ‘Antigone’ is seen in the characters of Creon and Antigone. Their pride causes them to act impulsively, resulting in their individual downfalls. In his opening speech, Creon makes his motives clear, that â€Å"no man who is his country’s enemy shall call himself my friend.† This part of his declaration was kept to the letter, as he refused burial for his nephew, Polynices. However, when the situation arises where it is crucial that Creon takes advice, he neglects the part of the speech where he says â€Å"a king... unwilling to seek advice is damned.† This results in Creon’s tragic undoing. Being in power yields the assumption that everything is possible. In Creon’s case, he states that â€Å"never, if I can†¦show more content†¦Creon overlooked this fact when making his proclamation of the fate of the two brothers. However, Antigone disobeyed him because of her own pride. This becomes apparent in her closing speech, where she says â€Å"you see me... on my last journey... my last leave...† her references to herself puts her in a selfish light where she did not bury her brother for the sake of honouring the dead or the gods, but rather for her own stubborn satisfaction. Fate is another reason that Antigone buries her brother against the law of her uncle, the king. Assumedly, Antigone is receiving â€Å"the expiation... for the sin of your father† who married his own mother and bore children with her. Antigone believes herself to be â€Å"doomed to this death by the ill- starred marriage that marred my brother’s life.† This fated death will result in Antigone being taken â€Å"alive across the silent river,† presumably believing in an afterlife. Creon begins his Kingship with a controversial ruling which he truly believes is in the gods’ wishes. He attempts to determine the will of the gods, creating havoc in Antigone who doesn’t believe that they would wish for someone to be left unburied. Creon, after realising his mistake, calls himself â€Å"the sport of gods† in his certainty that his son, Haemon is in the cave with Antigone. In reality, he is. He played with fate, determining things that if need be, the godsShow MoreRelatedCreon as Tragic Hero1586 Words   |  7 PagesFinest In the Greek play Antigone, Creon and Antigone can both be claimed the title of Tragic Hero. Creon was made king when Oedipus Rex fled the kingship. Creon is the brother in law of Oedipus, and was giving the kingship only because Oedipus’s sons, Eteocles and Polyneices were killed trying to fight for the thrown. Antigone is Oedipus’s daughter and Creon’s niece. When it comes down to who the tragic hero is, Creon most definitely walks away with the title. A tragic hero by definition is ordinaryRead MoreThe Tragic Characters Of Sophocles Antigone1652 Words   |  7 Pagescharacters are tragic characters. These tragic characters, however, must follow Aristotle’s principles which include hamartia, hubris, peripeteia, anagnorisis, nemesis, and catharsis. If the character has all six of Aristotle’s principles, then the character can qualify as an Aristotelian tragic character. Two examples of Aristotelian tragic characters are from Sophocles’ Greek play Antigone from the trilogy dealing with Oedipus and his children (Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone). The twoRead MoreTragic Heroism of Creon Essay1032 Words   |  5 Pagesfeel pity and fear. Creon, a character in the Greek tragedy â€Å"Antigone†, resembles a perfect example of a tragic hero. This play was written by Sophocles, a historic playwright during the 5th century. It begins with the illegal burial of Polyneices, Antigone’s beloved brother. 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In Sophocles Antigone, most people probably believe Antigone to be the tragic heroine, even after they have finished watching the play. It may be argued, however, that Creon, not Antigone, is the tragic character. When we examine the nature and concept of the Greek Tragedy and what it means to be a tragic character, it becomesRead More Creon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Essay593 Words   |  3 PagesCreon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone There has always been a bit of confusion as to the tragic hero of the Greek Drama Antigone. Many assume that simply because the play is named for Antigone, that she is the tragic hero. However, evidence supports that Creon, and not Antigone, is the tragic hero of the play. Examining the factors that create a Greek Tragedy, and a tragic character, it is clear that the tragic hero is in fact Creon. First, take into account the timeframe in whichRead MoreWho Is More Tragic, Creon or Antigone?863 Words   |  4 Pagesthe downfall of the character. 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