Creon Is a Tragic Hero Essay Creon As A Tragic Hero Essay about Creon the Tragic Hero Creon Tragic Hero Creon, the Tragic Hero Essay

1. Creon Is a Tragic Hero Essay
The Hero, Creon
Aristotle once said, regarding his principles that a certain character is a tragic hero, "A man cannot
become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." This quotation is an accurate statement
regarding the actions between Creon in the beginning of the play, and at the end once he has lost his
family. Atragic hero is defined as a character of noble stature, the hero is imperfect allowing the
audience to relate to him, as well as the hero's downfall is caused by his own fate, leading to the
punishment exceeding the crime and the character's realization leading to the fall. The audience
experiences a catharsis at the end of the play, which allows the audience feel that society is "right"
again. All six of...show more content...
Throughout the play, Creon shows many examples of how he is imperfect. One example would
be how he believes that the state is primary to his family and relationships, "If this is your
pleasure, Creon, treating our city's enemy and our friend this way ... the power is yours, I suppose,
to enforce it with the laws, both for the dead and all of us, the living," this quotation said by the
leader of the chorus describes how the elder people of Thebes respect their family more than the
state, but they held back on their opinions, knowing of what Creon, the leader, wanted to hear
(235–240). Another example of how Creon shows the audience of how he is imperfect is when,
Creon meets with Haemon. Creon argues with Haemon about how people should act towards the
country which they reside in, "But whoever steps out of line, violates the laws or presumes to hand
out orders to his superiors, he'll win no praise from me. But that man the city places in authority, his
orders must be obeyed, large and small, right and wrong," Creon believes since he has the highest
throne in his country, that he should be obeyed whether the circumstance (745–751). Lastly, Creon
demonstrates to the audience that he is imperfect by wanting to protect his country too much. This is
visible when Creon sentences Antigone to a slow death, because of burying her brother, who was
outcasted as a traitor. Creon put the state over his family which will lead to the complete
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2. Creon As A Tragic Hero
As people, we each have characteristics that define who we are as an individual. While no one is
perfect, flaws can lead to one's downfall. Often, this is seen in many characters in literature. They
demonstrate this type of downfall. In the Greek Tragedy, Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon suffers a
series of unfortunate events because of his imperfections that lead to his downfall. In order to
prove himself as a worthy and strong leader, Creon creates a law that goes against the state's
morality and refuses to listen to reason. The downfall is important to the work as a whole because
it shows how Creom is a tragic hero and his actions reinforces the theme.
Antigone takes place in the state of Thebes in Ancient Greece. Two brothers, Polyneices and
Eteocles, were in war over the throne they were supposed to share. Polyneices brought a foreign
army and this battle caused them both to perish on the battlefield. To fill the throne, Creon
assumes power as king and felt as if he needed to prove himself as an ethical leader. He gave the
state an edict that outlaws the burial of Polyneices. However, the Gods do not approve of the law
since it defies their unwritten laws. Antigone, the sister of Polyneices, is rebellious to the law
because she knows it is wrong in the eyes of the Gods. Her defiance, especially as a woman,
challenges Creon's self esteem and sets him off on a tirade of irrational behavior.
Enraged by Polyneices' burial, Creon damns anyone he suspects broke his law. He
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3. Essay about Creon the Tragic Hero
In the play Antigone by Sophocles,one could easily be lead to believe Antigone is the the tragic
hero when in fact a strong case can be made that Creon, the king of Thebes, is actually the tragic
hero. In believing that Creon is the tragic hero it would seem practical to call the play Creon rather
than Antigone. On the other hand, naming the play Antigone gives the play a twist that leads the
audience into a dynamically tragic journey through the lives of a prestigious royal family and it
gives birth to thoughts of politics, religious beliefs, social roles and moral obligations. A definition
of a "tragic hero" is, "a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall,
suffering,or defeat."tragic hero"...show more content...
The Burial At Thebes a version of Sophocles' Antigone), Creon's tragic flaw happens when
Antigone, his niece, disobeyed his command by sprinkling dust on her brothers body to give him
a proper burial. Antigone believed that the laws of the Gods was higher than the king's orders. It
is said in The Burial of Polynecies,that"Creon's fatal test comes when Antigone is set before him as
the violator of his edict. He must choose between that edict and the life of his niece"(S.M. Adams
The Classical Review. Vol. 45, No. 3; pp. 110
–111). Creon has three main behaviors that cause him
to be the tragic hero. First he favors civic laws over the love of his family. Second, his pride
overcomes his rational decision making process because he does not want to be defeated by a
women, even his niece. According to Teaching politics using Antigone "creaon has the inability to
learn how to gain power. Creon comes to office throuigh the rather dubious claim of being the only
male in the family who has not either killed his father and slept with his mother(or been killed by)
his brother recently." Creon must earn the respect of the people. He must, in weberian terms, earn
the monopoly of legitimate authority over the instruments of the state" (Teaching Politics using
Antigone.vol.39, No. 2; pp.347–349). Creon suppresses the people of Thebes by keeping the town
people from speaking out on the law of the gods for fear that they may be killed. By banning
Polyneices from not havining an
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4. Creon Tragic Hero
According to Aristotle, a tragic hero can be defined as a "literary character who makes a judgement
error that inevitably leads to his or her own destruction." Aristotle uses ideas such as the anagnorisis,
peripeteia, hamartia and hubris to define a hero as a tragic hero. The author, Sophocles, creates
Creon to be the leader of the town of Thebes in the play Antigone, after Oedipus. His niece, Antigone
is also a main character in such a way that makes her a hero but not quite a tragic hero. Creon is the
well–known character who begins as the leader and eventually becomes the true tragic hero. In
the play Antigone, the tragic hero is Creon due to his pride, nobility and realization that leads to a
tragic outcome. One of Creon's characteristics in Antigone includes pride which helps to define
him as a tragic hero. Reaching the end of the play, Teiresias has a discussion with Creon about how
"all men make mistakes" except a hero, who "yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs
the evil." Teiresias finally...show more content...
A tragic hero is often someone who is very well–known and honored by many people. After Creon
announces his laws as king, he states "you will give no support to whoever breaks this law"
(198). Creon makes his role as the king of Thebes clear and seems to believe that no one should
disobey him. This suggests his authority over the city and shows the honor that has been given
to him. Also, during a discussion between Creon and Teiresias, Creon tells Teiresias "you forget
yourself! You are speaking to your King." Teiresias replies with "I know it. You are a king
because of me" (233). Creon's pride also interferes with his understanding of other's because he
demands control of the city so much that he even if he rules unfairly that everyone still has to show
respect towards him. Nobility as one of Creon's characteristics provides an added reason to show
that he truly is a tragic
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5. Creon, the Tragic Hero Essay
In the story of Antigone, an argument of who is the tragic hero between Antigone and Creon exists.
I firmly believe Creon is the tragic hero of the play. Creon becomes the typical fallen hero in Greek
drama. He faces many conflicts, internally and externally, and undergoes quite a bit of painful
emotions. One might say Antigone should receive the title of being the tragic hero, but Creon plays a
more significant role by learning his lesson the hard way and ending up as the classic tragic hero
who loses everything at the end of the dramatic play.
There has always been much controversy between who the tragic hero is in the play. A tragic hero
is a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with...show
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Through this quote the reader realizes that Creon wants obedience in everything he decides even if
he is at fault. Creon gives the impression that he feels that there is nothing worse than disobedience
to authority, even if the authority is wrong. This further supports Creon's belief that everyone shall
remain faithful to him even if he rules unfairly.
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," (Graves 46).
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, Creon still accuses the sentry of receiving money to do
the crime and threatens to punish him. 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. This shows how Creon is able to make accusations against any
person and punish them without rhyme or reason, knowing in his mind that he is correct. It also
shows that Creon is quick to shut out, or brush off, those who may disobey his power of authority in
the city.
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
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