Antigone Tragism Essay, Research Paper

Antigone, which was written by Sophocles, is possibly the first written play

that still exists today (www.imagi? 1). There is much controversy between who

the ?tragic hero? is in the play. Some people say Antigone, some say Creon,

others even say Heamon. I believe Creon displays all of the characteristics of a

?tragic hero?. He receives compassion through the audience, yet recognizes

his weaknesses, and his downfalls from his own self-pride, stubbornness, and

controlling demands. He is the true protagonist. Though the audience notices how

villainous Creon is, they still express sympathy towards him. They realize that

he has brought all of his problems on himself and should have been more

open-minded, but think no one should have to go through what he has. They

understand how the warrior king Creon felt when he notices his son is love

struck. The audience also expresses pity towards him because Antigone is a

murderer and understands why he is upset. Creon?s noble quality is his caring

for Antigone and Ismene when their father was persecuted. Creon is a very

authoritative person and demands control of others. When talking to the Chorus,

Creon does not ask them to agree with the decree but demands that they follow

it. Creon expects loyalty from others. It is apparent that Creon is very

dominating and wants to be in control. ?The man the city sets up in authority

must be obeyed in small things and in just but also in their

opposites?(717-719). Through this quote the reader realizes that Creon wants

obedience in everything he decides even if he is at fault. ?There is nothing

worse than disobedience to authority? (723-724). Further supporting Creon?s

belief that everyone shall remain faithful to him even if he rules unfairly.

This is proved true when Creon says, ?Should the city tell me how I am to rule

them?? (790). Creon has forgotten that the ruler is supposed to do what is

best for the city and its citizens. Creon is under the impression that he is

always correct in his judgments and his beliefs. Before the sentry even explains

the event that has occurred, the sentry states that he is only a messenger and

has not committed the crime. Yet Creon still accuses the sentry of receiving

money to do the crime and threatens to punish him. ?That will teach you in the

days to come from what you may draw profit [?], ill-gotten gains ruin more

than they save? (342-346). Consequently, the Chorus suggests that the Gods may

have committed the act. Creon stops this ?nonsense? conversation immediately

and remarks that Zeus and the Gods would not honor criminals. Creon seems to

believe he knows everything and stubbornly refuses to listen to others. He does

not even believe Haemon his son. Haemon informs his father of the reputation he

has created for himself. Creon thinks, ?It seems this boy (Haemon) is on the

woman?s side (Antigone)? (798). Creon refuses to believe what Haemon says

and gets into an argument with him for siding with Antigone. Creon presumes that

he is the one and only perfect ruler for Thebes. He believes that he can create

a better city with his presence: ?I would not be silent if I saw ruin [?]. I

would not count any enemy of my country as a friend [?],?(202-206). Creon

further continues by stating ?I will make her greater still? (210). In this

quote Creon declares that he will improve the city (she) by his rulings. Creon

describes how his qualities make him a good ruler. Furthermore, Creon views

himself as a good leader because he believes he has the best attributes and no

one can compare to him. He feels he has no time for ordinary people because he

is of higher standards. When Creon says ?I will not comfort you with hope that

the sentence will not be accomplished? (982-983), this shows his absolute lack

of compassion when he is talking with Antigone. King Creon noticed that he had a

weakness in which he tries to correct but is too late. His weakness is impulsive

with his decision-making. He never really sits down and thinks about things;

instead he just says what comes to mind. Creon says ?you will never marry her

while she lives?(807), right after his first discussion about Antigone. Creon

summarizes his plans for Antigone, which comes to his mind after talking with

Haemon (833-841). These two decisions decided the lives of two young people, but

the impulsive Creon never thought about that. Creon?s stubbornness brings

about his own downfall when he chooses not to believe Teiresias, the blind

prophet. Instead, Creon falsely accuses Teiresias of making ?profit from

silver-gold? (1088). Insulted by the false remark of trying to make money,

Teiresias tells Creon of his dangerous future ahead of him. Creon tries to

correct his impulsiveness with, ?I will go, just as I am. Come, servants, all

of you; take axes in your hands; away with you to place you see, there. For my

part, since my intention is so changed, as I bound her myself, myself will free

her?(1175-1180). These lines show how he changed his impulsive decision, but

unfortunately was too late. He is forced to live, knowing that three people are

dead because of his ignorance. Self-pride is the tragic flaw that Creon faces in

this story. Creon is stubborn and does not want to compromise. Due to his

overwhelming power of pride, he makes destruction fall upon him. His downfall

comes from attempting to be just and right by enforcing the law. Since he acted

the way he thought was right, he ultimately suffered a tragedy. Creon displays

the image of a ?tragic hero? on account of the errors he has made. According

to Aristotle, quoted in McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama, Creon fits the

image of a ?tragic hero? ?A man who is not eminently good and just, yet

whose misfortune is brought about not by purpose, but by some error or frailty.

He must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous? (Hochman v4 1274).

Creon?s tragic flaw causes the deaths of both his wife and son. This is

because he shows so much ignorance in every decision he makes. Even if his

decisions are wrong he will not correct them, because he is the king, and the

king is never wrong. By Creon?s self-pride deciding to never let his son marry

Antigone, ends up killing his son also. In closing Creon is not entirely good,

he does make mistakes, however the mistakes he made are simply and error of

judgment, and completely understandable. His greatest error was that he truly

believed that Polynices was a traitor, which consequently forced him to issue a

decree, forbidding Polynices a proper burial. Polynices ?sought to taste the

blood he shared with us, and lead the rest of us to slavery; [?] shall no one

honor with a grave and none shall mourn?(220-224). Creon loses all that he

lives for ?I do not know where to turn my eyes to look to, for support.

Everything in my hands is crossed. A most unwelcome fate has leaped upon me?

(1405-1408). After the death of his wife he acknowledges his great mistakes in

being prideful and realizes how his pride has caused suffering. ?Lead me away,

a vain silly man who killed you, son, and you, too, lady?(1402-1403). He

blunders and pays drastically for his frailty, but in the end he realizes what

he has done wrong accepting the guilt and responsibilities for his actions. As

the editor in chief Stanley Hochman stated in McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World

Drama ?a ?tragic hero? learns, although too late, from their experiences,

as when Creon cries in the end of the play: Yes, I have learned it to my

bitterness. At this moment God has sprung on my head with a vast weight and

struck me down. He shook me in my savage ways; he has overturned my joy, has

trampled it, underfoot. The pains men suffer are pains indeed? (1337-1342). To

be a good leader you must have the rock solid principals to fall back on in

times of stress. Creon lost grasp of these, and that contributed to his failure

as a leader. By tragically losing all, one is forced to feel sympathy toward

him, by doing what he always thought was right, and what he thought would

further protect his kingdom, he is regarded as a hero. These elements combine

his stubbornness, controlling demands, and self-pride made Creon a true ancient

Greek ‘tragic hero’.