Antigone is a Tragic Hero Essay -- essays papers

Antigone is a Tragic HeroA subject of fight in Sophocles play Antigone is which character complies with the characteristics of a tragical hero. The qualities that constitute a tragic hero are, in no particular order, having a high companionable position, not world overly good or bad, isolation, being tenacious in their actions, arousing forgiveness in the audience, a revelatory manifestation, and having a single flaw that brings about their own demise and the demise of others or so them. Creon possesses some of these qualities but, does not completely fulfill them all. Antigone does, however, conform to the persona of a tragic hero. The first qualifying aspect is that Antigone has a high social position. She is the daughter of Jocasta and Oedipus (the former king and queen of Thebes), and the niece of Creon (the present king of Thebes). Because of her elevation she is capable of suffering more and losing the fame and regard she holds. Some may contend that because she ha d no political power she does not qualify to be a tragic hero but, she is still a powerful figure in Thebes. She was to be wed to Creons son, Haemon, and it seemed as though the citizens of Thebes knew how tragic her spiritedness had become. Both Creon and Antigone show that they are not overly good or bad. Creon shows his negative side when he creates a law against burying Polyneices. His appointed side is that he has let Antigone and Ismene live with him and raise them subsequently their scram passed on. Antigone expresses her positive side when she insists on burying her blood brother who has been killed in battle.Antigone isolates herself from others, a quality common among tragic heros. Ismene offers to share the crime of burying their brother but, Antigone denies the re... ...come of her life was due to her own fatal flaw. Antigone clearly captures the audiences pity. Creons possession and lack of compassion do not win pity. When Creons married woman and son die th e pity is shifted to them not Creon. All of Thebes sympathizes with Antigone, especially after she has been sentenced to die. Haemon even tells Creon what people have said. And I have heard them, grumbling and whisperingNo other woman, So they are saying, so undeservedly Has been condemned for such a glorious deed (Lines 693-695). It is obvious that she had the pity of the entire city except for Creon. Only the chorus sympathized with Creon at times. not having pity disqualifies Creon as being the tragic hero.From her tenacity and personal intensiveness in defying the law to her tragic death, Antigone captures the audiences pity and sympathy. She is the tragic hero.