A tragic hero, according to Aristotelian definitions, is a "highly renowned and prosperous" character. This figure is not perfect and has to be on some level responsible for his or her downfall. The hero's punishment usually exceeds the crime. By the end of the play, this hero recognizes his or her own error or flaw and accepts the overwhelming retribution. Through this experience, he or she finally gains wisdom. According to Aristotle, tragedy has two special effects. First, the tragic hero should arouse the emotions of pity and/or terror. Secondly, the audience should have a sense of resolution at the end of the tragedy. These two results are achieved in the story of Antigone. Surprisingly, it is not Antigone who is the tragic protagonist of Antigone, but Creon, the ruler of Thebes. This fact is quite evident through Creon's belief in his own freedom, excessive pride, and his path from ignorance to knowledge.
In Antigone, Creon's belief in his own freedom cause him to be arrogant and self-righteous. He believes that he will always make the right decision and feels that he can accept the outcomes of his choices. Creon thinks that he is the sole de
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To a certain degree, he feels superior to man and equal to the gods. Creon is a person of great influence who moves through a reversal of good fortune to misfortune due to a result of a tragic flaw. He doesn't listen to what Antigone has to say; he does not listen to his son, Haemon. He recognizes that it is because of his own choices and actions that caused his sufferings. Therefore, Creon is the real tragic hero of Antigone. Creon, on the other hand, is a great man reduced to a pitiable condition as a result of a tragic flaw and is humbled by this tragedy. His pride, lack of judgement, and unwillingness to bow to a woman have thrown him into complete disarray and despair. The two have some character flaws, and both are responsible for their own tragic consequences. His pride and stubbornness blind him from the possibility that he could be wrong. His paradox occurs when he tries to be a strong king. He now knows that his decree has dishonored the gods and his own family, and his accepts the punishment he feels he deserves. Creon doesn't listen to Tiresias when he predicts disaster in the future. He does not want to change his mind for he thinks that it will be a sign of weakness. In Antigone, Creon fits the term tragic hero more adequately than Antigone. His belief in his own freedom, supreme pride, and transfiguration makes him appear to be more tragic than Antigone.
Approximate Word count =
781
Approximate Pages =
3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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