Creon The Tragic Hero In Sophocles 'Antigone'

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Jordan Golenberg Mrs. Connoly English Per 1 29 September 2015 In Sophocles Short story, "Antigone", Creon is the tragic hero. He displays descriptions of the tragic hero with having Hubris, Hamartia, and Anagnorisis . He is the tragic hero because he is from a high birth, he is not good or evil ,has a very high social ranking, is powerful and he has a major downfall (Sophocles). Creon's overuse of his power leads to a chaotic breakout in the city of Thebes. Once this breakout has happened, Creon realizes it is too late and this leads to his family's death. These deplorable actions describe why Creon is the tragic hero. Although some may argue that Antigone is the tragic hero, since she has a major flaw, her affection towards her brother was more important than her and her family's life. She does not care how…show more content…
Creon thinks that he has more power than the gods. His pride in this rule led to his own downfall. “There is no art that teaches us to know/ The temper, mind or spirit of any man/ Until he has been proved by government/ And lawgiving.” (175-178). Creon states that he will forbid Polyneicies burial, which revealed his true faulty character. He will not listen to anyone, he is stubborn and his pride is so great, he can not bring himself to acknowledge that he could ever wrong. Teiresias's prophecy claims that Creon is doomed and he cannot escape his fate. (Sophocles) Now that Creon's family is all dead he has developed a fatal flaw. He is very miserable, but still does not think anyone will go against his laws. “Wonders are many, yet of all/ Things is Man the most wonderful” (lines 332-33). Creon thinks that he is flawless and believes that human hands can make human life perfect. “disaster is linked with disaster./ Woe again must each generation inherit.” (lines 595-96). Creon’s family had past and his disaster of locking up Antigone lead to the death of Antigone and

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