Antigone and Creon

“Sophocles makes us find some right in Creon, some wrong in Antigone.” Discuss the validity of this statement, commenting where possible on the use of language and dramatic/theatrical devices in creating two flawed tragic heroes.

In his play, Antigone, Sophocles does in fact show some right in Creon and some wrong in Antigone. This stems from the understanding of Creon as the protagonist in this tragedy, whereas Antigone is seen in a subordinate role. Thus being the case, Creon can be perceived as an honourable man, whose corruption can be traced to his hamartia, or tragic error. On the other hand, Antigone is clearly seen as a virtuous person, but her flaws in the play can only be traced back to her own personality. These arguments are supported by the language and dramatic devices used in this play.

Creon can be seen as the protagonist of this play on many different levels. In terms of the structure of the play, Creon speaks almost twice the lines of Antigone and is in almost every scene of the play, whereas Antigone in last seen at line 943 in a 1353 line play. Since Sophocles wrote this play for a viewing audience, Creon assumes a greater importance than Antigone. There is also the fact that the charact

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She is patronising and flippant when addressing the king on page 138, arrogant in the belief that she was right not to follow the orders of Creon:

That order did not come from God. In this play, it is clear that Creon’s plight resembles these principles more than Antigone’s condition, which is simply seen as the fated path of a martyr. Creon begins in the play as a wise man, and acknowledges the involvement of the Gods regarding the victory of Thebes. On page 156 he says, “Now I believe / It is by the laws of heaven that man must live. ” This metaphor highlights the force of her hate as she makes her last remarks, still defiant, still stubborn. ” This plea reminds the reader of what was said in the beginning of the play, that he who is “unwilling to seek advice is damned,” and a king who humbles himself and to admits his mistakes, deserves a certain amount of respect from the reader. This is because the hamartia occurs early in the play, and therefore, Creon plays the ‘evil leader’ throughout the majority of the story, which is not an accurate reflection of his true nature. Later in the play, a messenger speaks about Creon on page 157, “Creon was once an enviable man; / He saved his country from her enemies, / Assumed the sovereign power and bore it well.

Creon’s belief in the beginning of the play that the gods had more importance than everything is restated in the anagnorisis. The pathos in the last scene drives the audience towards katharsis or an outpouring of emotions where Creon is open in confronting his mistakes resulting from his hubris, “O the curse of my stubborn will!” And more pity is evoked when he hears of the death of his wife, “Insatiable Death.

Antigone is portrayed as a woman who values family love and duty to the gods above everything else. She honours the values of family and piety to the gods above duty to her country, and her death because of these values draws sympathy from the reader. This extreme passion is commented on by the Chorus afterwards, “Still the same tempest in the heart / Torments her soul with angry gusts.

Sophocles has made Creon the protagonist of the play and has drawn attention to the inherent good associated with the tragic hero, before the hamartia was committed, and during the anagnorisis.

Approximate Word count = 2424
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

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