bury Polyneices. Everyone in Thebes are intimidated by Creon’s iron fist ruling methods that is caused by his hubris, excessive or extreme pride. Based on Aristotle’s definition, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads to a tremendous catastrophe; he realizes his errors of his ways; however, its too late to prevent the catastrophe; his downfall and suffering lead him humbled and enlightened.
Creon is the tragic hero of antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw lead to a tremendous catastrophe.
Creon and his hubris are the only things responsible for his downfall. Creon says, “As long as I am king, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man.”(Sophocles 976). Creon wanted to make his point clear, but upon doing he announced he is king in a democratic society abolishing their traditional ways. Another way that Creon exemplifies his hubris is when he was talking with the guard and threatens his life because he is angered when he tells him that Antigone performed a burial on her brother Polyneices. He said, “I’ll string you up Alive, and there will be certain ways to make you Discover your employer before you die; And the process may teach you a lesson you seem to have missed:..” (Sophocles 978). Again Creon lets his hubris interfere with Thebans political policies by not even offering the man a trial and wrongfully punishing the guard for simply delivering bad …show more content…
news.
Second, Creon is the tragic hero of antigone because he realizes the error of his ways but it's too late to prevent the catastrophe. Creon has a change of heart and decides to finally decides to free Antigone. He says, “It is hard to deny the heart! But I Will do it: I will not fight with destiny” (Sophocles 1001). Creon again unknowingly allows his hubris to get in the way of The Thebans Political ways because they still address him as a king rather than their equals. The say, “The old man has gone, King, but his words Remain to plague us. I am old, too, But I cannot remember that he was ever false.” (Sophocles 1001). Here, they are still addressing him as king.
Finally, Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because his downfall and suffering leave him humbled and enlightened.
Creon lost everything due to his hubris. He realizes the error of his ways and it is all his fault.” Lead me away. I have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and my wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust.” (Sophocles 1006). Creon says this at the end of the play admitting he is nothing and it is due to his pride. If Creon didn’t rule as a king and kept the Thebans ways as a democracy he would not have suffered the problems he did. The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles’ Antigone translated by Seamus Heaney, is still read and reacted today to remind us on the importance of democracy in society and to connect with the readers/watchers to emphasize the negative impact of hubris. Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone because although he starts from a position of greatness, his tragic flaw leads him to a catastrophe; he realizes the error of his ways, it is too late to prevent the catastrophe; and his downfall and suffering leave him both humbled and
enlightened.