1) Creon fits the Aristotelian model of a tragic hero as he holds a position of high nobility as the King of Thebes and displays dignified actions in serving Oedipus and upholding justice. 2) However, Creon's flaw is his pride and abuse of authority, as he believes his judgment is infallible and refuses to listen to wise advice. 3) This hubris leads to his downfall, as his refusal to heed the prophet Teiresias results in the death of Creon's son and wife. He finally recognizes his error and takes responsibility for the misfortune he has brought upon himself and his family.

1. Gin Ung Ung 1<br />Maroun<br />AP English<br />Rough Draft<br />10 October 2011<br />The Non-Titular Character, Creon<br />In the tragic play Antigone by Sophocles, Creon best fits the Aristotelian model for a tragic hero as he contains the three characteristics needed. Firstly, is to have dignity in your actions, and to hold the high position of noble status. Secondly, the hero must have an imperfection. The flaws that the hero holds will pull back his full potential and possibly make him undergo change. Thirdly, the wholly undeserving misfortunes that he is put through allow him to achieve anagorisis. <br />Creon, who was of high nobility, displays dignified actions before and after the death of Oedipus, when he was crowned King of Thebes. “But now at last our new King is coming: Creon of Thebes, Menoikeus’ son,” (Sophocles 196) demonstrates how Creon obtains his status as he was the next in line for the crown. He is respected amongst the people because of his reliability and fairness in judgment during the times he serves Oedipus. When he is crowned king, he announces his principle that he “…would never have any dealings with an enemy of the people,” (197) showing his loyalty to his country. He will never betray his people because he values justice above all else; not even friendship can overcome the boundaries of the laws that he creates. <br />Though Creon’s principle of justice is righteous, his abuse of authority is an act of arrogance that causes his downfall. During the Greeks’ time period, they believed that Gods rule over the people so they honor them, but Creon ignores this fact. The argument of correct judgment between Creon and Teiresias depicts how Creon’s pride causes the misfortune of his family’s death as he is too consumed with his own principles that he is blind to even a wise man’s knowledge of fate. ”You forget yourself! You are speaking to your King,” (233) portrays hubris as he is grasping the idea that because he is the king, he is able to have infinite power and that no man can say he is wrong. Because of his disrespect to the prophet <br /> Ung 2<br />-teller who is always accurate in his predictions, Creon experiences his fate: the death of his son and wife, Haimon and Eurydice. This was his own fault because the choice he makes was of his own accord. It was his free will to decide whether he will listen to Teiresias , who has a good reputation, or to continue believing his prideful judgment and in the end, he chooses his tragedy. <br />It was not a pure loss for Creon yet because he finally acquires anagnorisis. After realizing too late that a change of heart is useless, Creon finally shows acceptance of his wrongdoing because he finally declares that “it is right that it should be. I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it” (244). He gains self-knowledge as he realizes that his arrogance destroys his bonds and relationships with his family, friends, and the people of Thebes. This change he undergoes gives the audience a feeling of sympathy and connection to the character. They are able to relate to Creon with their own similar experiences and feel pity for him because Sophocles makes the audience feel that he is wholly undeserving of this disastrous fate. <br />Creon, who is a dynamic character, shows how a tragic hero is very different from what today’s hero is like. A tragic hero does not need to have a happy or successful ending and save the world in order to be named as a hero like how people view in the present. They each have their similarities and differences as to various peoples’ perspectives. A hero can be anyone at all depending on how one looks at it. Sophocles only shows one side of what a hero is while people today depict it another way. <br />