Creon As A Tragic Hero Essay - 1650 Words

Josh Gindi Mrs. Orens English 10H 26 October 2017 What makes tragic heroes different from an ordinary hero? A tragic hero is a character who is complex by nature, having the ability to give off distinctive impressions to different readers. Creon, king of Thebes, is the tragic hero in Sophocles’ â€Å"Antigone† who can be perceived as the antagonist on account of his behavior. One can say that Creon’s decision to prosecute Antigone for burying her brother made Creon look like the enemy. However, with further examination of the totality of his character, one can begin to understand that his seemingly immoral actions were not only justified, but rather also required of him. Although his behavior can create the impression that he is wicked, one†¦show more content†¦When Creon asked Antigone if she knew about his previous promulgation, she replied, â€Å"It was public. Could I help hearing it?† (783, 63). Because Antigone knew he would have to execute her, one can imply that one of her intentions was to make Creon seem unjust. The king was forced to deal with being the â€Å"bad guy† for protecting the law, which he created for the best interest of the state. Creon explains this point when he says, â€Å"...I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid...to follow the course that he knows is best for the state† (777, 21-23). Despite the harshness of his means, Creon’s intentions were to create a more effective government, which could ultimately succeed in helping the people. Given this perspective, one may begin to appreciate Creon’s devotion in restoring order in the Thebes. One can additionally feel sympathy for the desperate measures Creon had to take to protect the law. If even he didn t obey the law, who else would? Even though his methods gave him the reputation of being an immoral king, one can sympathize with Creon due to his unyielding concern for the welfare of Thebes. A person of authority is almost always responsible for making decisions, which influence those which he has power over. This seems to be the case in â€Å"Antigone,† as Creon, king of Thebes, is in charge of choosing what is right not only for himself, butShow MoreRelatedCreon Is a Tragic Hero Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesThe 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. A tragic 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 hisRead MoreCreon, the Tragic Hero Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pages 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 theRead MoreEssay on Creon as the Tragic Hero in Sophocles Antigone1326 Words   |  6 PagesCreon as the Tragic Hero in Antigone     Ã‚   This essay will compare two of the characters in â€Å"Antigone†, Antigone and Creon, in an effort to determine the identity of the tragic hero in this tale.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To identify the tragic hero in Sophocles’ renowned play â€Å"Antigone†, we should first consider both the elements present in Greek tragedies and what characteristics define a tragic hero. 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Creon fits Aristotle’s tragic hero traits as a significant person who is faced with difficult decisions. Creon is significant because he is king. This makes him both renowned and prosperous. Creon is not completely good nor completely bad;Read More Creon As Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone Essay836 Words   |  4 PagesCreon As Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone Since the play’s inception, there has always existed a contention concerning the true hero of Sophocles’ Antigone. It is a widely held belief that Antigone must be the main character simply because she and the drama share name. This is, of course, a very logical assumption. Certainly Sophocles must have at least meant her to be viewed as the protagonist, else he would not have given her the play’s title. 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