Book Review: Antigone written by Sophocles

Antigone written by Sophocles, speaks about the energy struggle among Antigone and her Uncle Creon who is the King of Thebes. Both characters seemed to have their own beliefs in how Antigone’s brother Polyneices should be buried. With both Creon and Antigone being strong-willed people, they refrain from changing their morals for any individual. As the play progresses to the end, it can be shown that both characters play element as the tragic hero. They can both be observed as characters that created judgmental errors top to their downfall. Nonetheless, there seemed to be one character that played the actual tragic hero of the story. With Creon’s authority, stubbornness, nobility and flaws, he is the actual tragic hero in the play.

Creon is recognized as the King in the play Antigone. An instance of Creon’s antagonist actions is quoted:“…Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial:no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him he shall lie on the plain, unburied and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him what ever they like” (Sophocles 1. 43-46). Though he is perceived negatively, he is nevertheless perceived as superior to Thebans. Antigone was known in the society as the princess but, was not identified as a grand individual. Creon is really proud of his status in society and is prideful of his city and his choices. Creon mentioned proudly, “You neglect yourself! You are speaking to your King!” (Sophocles five. 66) Creon shows his level of his status in this quote. Antigone is extensively known for getting the princess of the former king and disobeying Creon’s intentions of giving her brother an improper burial.

Creon and Antigone are similar in nobility. Creon was the brother of Oedipus. Quoted, “But now, at last, is our new King is coming:Creon of Thebes, Menoikeus” son.” (Sophocles 1. 1-2) This quote shows that Creon was raised in a noble family and had a higher status compared to other Thebans. Antigone was also born into nobility, as she was the daughter of Oedipus, but Creon was nevertheless in a larger position than she was. As addressing his servants, “Unfortunately, as you know, his two sons, the princes Eteocles and Polynices have killed every other in battle and I, as the next in blood, have succeeded to the complete energy of the throne” (Sophocles 1. 15-19). This shows Creon’s notability. Creon’s nobility produced him a really greedy individual but his character fits a portion of the definition of a tragic hero.

1 of the many characteristics that can thoroughly describe Creon is prideful. All through the tragedy, Creon reveals he has a flaw:Self-pride. Antigone is regarded as to have the tragic flaw of also a lot ambition. :“…Is significantly less of value but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not” (Sophocles 2. 79-81). In this quote, she is shown to have the ambition to disobey Creon. On the flipside, characters have the capacity to acquire the ambition trait whereas self-pride is a trait exclusive to certain men and women. Creon’s pride place him in a negative predicament and brought on him to pay for his own consequences, but a tragic can find out from their personal errors. Creon learned from his actions. It is not clear if Antigone discovered from hers. This quote from Creon helps help this.:“Good. That is the way to behave:subordinate¬- Almost everything else, my son, to your father’s will” (Sophocles 3. 13-14). Creon’s flaw of self-pride explains why he is the tragic hero of the Greek tragedy, not Antigone.

Why would readers or viewers of this play assume that Antigone is the tragic hero of Antigone? When readers begin reading the Greek Tragedy, you assume that Antigone is the major character due to the fact the play is named following her, consequently producing it affordable why men and women assume that she is also the tragic hero.to her family members and to the gods, she may well be a hero but she is not the tragic hero. “I should have praise and honor for what I have completed. All these men here would praise me- Were their lips not frozen shut with worry of you” (Sophocles 2. 113-115). This quote explains Antigone belief that she is a hero. Readers, right after reading the play, consider that Antigone was such a wonderful character, and she should be deemed. The Tragic Hero. Lastly, readers usually feel that considering that Antigone is the protagonist, then she is automatically the tragic hero. This quote shows that she is the protagonist:“Creon is not sturdy sufficient to stand in my way” (Sophocles Prologue. 36). This quote undoubtedly shows that she is a protagonist, but there is a difference amongst the protagonist and tragic hero.

A tragic hero is said to have the following:superiority, near to perfection, a tragic flaw, a noble birth, or he discovers that the person’s downfall is a result of their personal actions. As stated in previous sections of this argument, Creon fits the mold of a tragic hero more than Antigone. For instance, did most Thebans appear a lot more up to King Creon or Antigone? This quotation answers the question.:“This is my command, and you can see the wisdom behind it. As extended as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man” (Sophocles 1. 47-49). This shows Creon’s power. Antigone at a single time may possibly have been superior, but when her father, Oedipus was forced to exile all of that went away. Creon’s proves that he is the tragic hero by his nobility. Who is nobler:the present king, or the daughter of the former king? Creon’s loved ones background defeats Antigone’s in nobility. As shown in other parts of the argument, the self-pride is a lot more distinctive and it is much less typical to characters. Whereas Antigone’s flaw, excess ambition is a lot more most likely to be offered to major characters in a story in an attempt to make the character appear far more heroic. Sophocles made Creon the tragic hero of this play due to the fact he wanted to illustrate that not all heroes have to be necessarily pleasant. At finish of the story Creon says, “…I have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and my wife” (Sophocles Exodus. 142-143). This illustrates Creon’s realization to his choices. He sees that his decisions had been expensive to the individuals he cared most about. Based off the tone of his voice, he seemed to be regretful in what he has accomplished considering that he has inflicted pain upon himself.

Creon and Antigone were both vital characters of the play. These two characters make the play relevant. Creon’s stubbornness to provide an improper burial for Polyneices due to his personal beliefs led to his downfall. His choices and choices had affected everyone about him which in-turn impacts him. Antigone beliefs to give Polyneices a proper burial to please the Gods led to her downfall. Due to her beliefs, she leaves the play as a character who committed suicide. Creon, being alive, suffers through the guilt and pain he acquired via the choices he created. He will live with the discomfort and guilt that he caused upon himself with is a extremely tough point to do. With Creon’s status in society, his flaws and

qualities, he appeared to be much more of a tragic hero in comparison to Antigone.