Antigone And Kreon Essay, Research Paper

In Antigone, both Antigone and Kreon could be considered the tragic hero

of the play. A tragic hero, defined by A Dictionary of Literary, Dramatic and

Cinematic Terms, is someone who suffers due to a tragic flaw, or hamartia. This

Greek word is variously translated as ?tragic flaw? or ?error? or

?weakness?. Kreon?s hamartia, like in many plays, is hybris ? Greek for

overweening pride, arrogance, or excessive confidence. Kreon?s hybris causes

him to attempt to violate the laws of order or human rights, another main part

of a tragic hero. Also, like all tragic heroes, Kreon suffers because of his

hamartia and then realizes his flaw. The belief that Antigone is the hero is a

strong one, but there is a stronger belief that Kreon, the Ruler of Thebes, is

the true protagonist. Kreon?s main and foremost hamartia was his hybris, or

his extreme pride. Kreon was a new king, and he would never let anyone prove him

wrong or let anyone change his mind once it was made. One main event that showed

Kreon?s hamartia and also caused the catastrophe was when he asked his son

Haimon, who was engaged to marry Antigone, if he still loves his father. Haimon

says he respects Kreon?s ruling, but he feels, in this case, that Kreon was

wrong. Haimon asks his father to take his advice and not have Antigone executed,

but, because of Kreon?s hybris, Kreon gets furious and makes the situation

worse then it already was. He was way too proud to take advice from someone

younger, and in his anger he decided to kill Antigone right away in front of

Haimon?s eyes. ??Just understand: You don?t insult me and go off

laughing. Bring her here! Let him see her. Kill her here, beside her

bridegroom?? (Sophocles 919-921). This was too much for Haimon to take, and

he runs out of the room, yelling, ???her death will destroy others?? (Sophocles

908). Blinded by his pride and arrogance, Kreon takes that remark as a threat to

himself, unknowing that it wasn?t directed to himself, but was a suicide

threat by his own son. Another example of Kreon?s tragic pride is when the

prophet, Teiresias, travels all the way to Thebes to tell Kreon very important

news, but Kreon pride makes him ignore it and he accuses Teiresias of being

bribed. Teiresias tells Kreon that the gods are angered by Kreon?s disregard

for their laws, and that Kreon should release Antigone and bury Polyneices.

After Teiresias tells Kreon that he, the King of Thebes, has made a wrong

decision, Kreon?s tragic pride is shown again. Teiresias: ?Doesn?t anyone

know, won?t anyone consider..? Kreon: ?Consider what? What universal

truths are you going to proclaim?? Teiresias: ??how much more valuable

than money good advice is?? Kreon: ?Or how much worse losing your judgement

is?? (Sophocles 1210-1214) Teiresias, a blind prophet from Delphi whom has

never been proven wrong, tells Kreon, ??All mankind is subject to error.

Once a mistake is made? it is wise of him to make amends and not be unbending.

Stubbornness is stupidity?? (Sophocles 1180-1184), but Kreon remains

stubborn. ?Teiresias: ?And tyrants love to have their own way regardless of

right and wrong.? Kreon: ?Do you know who you?re talking to? We?re your

rulers?? (Sophocles 1225-1228). Like all tragic heroes, Kreon must suffer

because of his hamartia. After his anagnorisis, Greek for recognition, he

realizes that he was filled with too much pride and that the prophet?s

prediction must be true. Kreon attempts to set things right, but unfortunately,

does not in time. In a very ironic peripereia, Greek for reversal, his son

commits suicide, as does his wife. This is all because of Kreon?s tragic flaw:

Pride. Kreon realizes this, and suffers, like all tragic heroes. Suffering is

one of the main parts a tragic hero: realizing his or her tragic flaw when

it?s too late and suffering because of it. Kreon?s realization of his flaw

is very obviously shown when he says ???I was wrong, not you?? (Sophocles

1464), and ??I have learned, I am ruined. It was a god. Then, right then!

Hit me, held me, heaped heavy on my head??? (Sophocles 1468-1469). His

suffering is also obviously shown. ??Has someone a sword? I and grief are

blended. I am grief?? (Sophocles 1502), ??Hurry, take me out of the way,

I?m nobody. I?m nothing?? (Sophocles 1510-1511). Kreon is tragic hero

because his actions follow the typical ?tragic hero? outline. He had a

hamartia, a tragic flaw, which was his pride and stubbornness, or hybris. He

realized his hamartia, but unfortunately just too late, and suffered because of

it. Now, ?Suffering is his teacher?. He has learned the hard way, but like

all tragic heroes, he has learned. Kreon?s character followed the basic

outline of a tragic hero. Critics to this day still argue about who is the

tragic hero of Antigone, Antigone herself, or Kreon. From what I have found,

Kreon seems like the perfect ?Tragic Hero? because he fits all the

requirements of a tragic hero. Antigone, on the other hand, does not. She does

not realize her hamartia, and while Kreon must live with what he has done,

Antigone is dead. Death, which ceases her suffering, letting her rest for

infinity.