Antigone is one of Sophocles’ most renowned works, and tells the story of a tragic heroine’s battle against her uncle, the king. Antigone is often considered the tragic hero of the play, as she fights for what she believes in despite the odds being stacked against her. However, some argue that it is Creon, Antigone’s uncle, who is the true tragic hero.
Creon can be seen as a tragic hero because he suffers from hubris, which leads to his downfall. He is also a victim of circumstance, as he only becomes king because Oedipus’ sons kill each other in a fight over the throne. While Antigone does suffer from hubris herself, she is not as directly responsible for her own downfall as Creon is.
It can be argued that Antigone is more of a victim than a tragic hero. She goes up against Creon knowing that she will likely die, and does so because she believes it is the right thing to do. Antigone’s tragic flaw is her stubbornness, which leads her to her death. However, some could argue that this is what makes her heroic, as she stands up for her beliefs even in the face of death.
Antigone meets all of the four qualifications, while Creon only meets three. The first trait that Antigone meets is peripeteia, which is “a sudden reversal of fortune brought about by an error in judgment” (Aristotle). Antigone’s peripeteia comes when she is caught trying to bury her brother Polyneices. She is sentenced to death, even though she believes that what she did was right. The second trait is hamartia, which is “an error or frailty in the hero’s character” (Aristotle). Antigone’s hamartia is her stubbornness and pride.
She does not want to listen to anyone, and she is too proud to back down from what she believes in. The third trait that Antigone meets is anagnorisis, which is “a moment of sudden recognition or realization” (Aristotle). Antigone’s anagnorisis comes when she realizes that she is going to die. She knows that she will not be able to change the king’s mind, and she accepts her fate. The fourth and final trait that Antigone meets is catharsis, which is “a purification or purging of the emotions” (Aristotle).
Antigone’s catharsis comes at the end of the play, when she kills herself. She knows that she cannot live without her brother, and she does not want to live in a world that does not accept her. Antigone meets all of the four traits that are required for a tragic character, while Creon only meets three. This is why Antigone is the tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone.
The protagonist must be a decent and upright individual. The character must concentrate on improving himself, be realistic, and stick to his or her principles. Antigone may very well be defined as the tragic hero due to the fact that she represents these four character standards as well as a number of other protagonist qualities. To be the tragic figure, Antigone must first be a good and respectable person. Antigone is an honest person who has not committed any wrongdoing up until her decision to give her brother Polynieces’ body a roper burial.
Antigone’s focus on becoming a better person is also evident. Antigone feels great remorse for her decision to bury her brother and this convinces her that she needs to take action in order to become a better person. Antigone’s behavior is also believable and consistent throughout the play.
Antigone remains committed to her convictions even when faced with death, which makes her a very admirable character. Overall, Antigone definitely meets the criteria for being considered the tragic hero of Sophocles’ play.
There is no doubt that Antigone is a model citizen and a vital figure in Thebes. She was set to marry Haemon, the son of Creon, and was considered a princess. When developing a tragic character, Aristotle stated that the quality of a good person was first and most essential.
The fact that Antigone is a woman has no influence, since Aristotle goes on to say, “Even a female may be excellent. The woman, however, can be regarded as an inferior creature.” According to Aristotle’s second rule for identifying a tragic character, the individual must strive for propriety. The actor must try to improve himself or herself.
Antigone does this when she stands up for her brother, Polynices. Even though it results in her getting put to death, Antigone feels that what she did was right and just. The last criterion for a tragic character is hamartia. This is also known as the “tragic flaw.” Antigone’s tragic flaw is her stubbornness and inflexibility.
Antigone’s determination to give her brother a proper burial leads to her own downfall. In conclusion, Antigone is the tragic hero of Sophocles’ play Antigone because she meets all three of Aristotle’s criteria for a tragic character.
The second rule follows from this: Antigone strives to clear her mind and repay her family for their loss by burying Polynieces decently. Antigone’s efforts to bury the children demonstrate that she has gained a greater inner fortitude than before. Creon does not follow Aristotle’s second suggestion.
In addition, when Antigone hangs herself and Haemon kills himself, Creon finally realizes the error of his ways, but it is too late. Oedipus Rex also deviates from this guideline. Oedipus does not try to rationalize his actions or take responsibility for them. Instead, he tries to place the blame on others and refuses to believe that he could have committed such horrible crimes. As a result, he brings about his own downfall and suffers greatly.
Aristotle’s third guideline for a tragic hero is that the character must undergo a change in fortune, from good to bad. This is called peripeteia. Antigone does experience a change in fortune, but it is not as drastic as that of Oedipus or Creon. She begins the play as a prisoner, condemned to death. However, she ends the play by taking her own life, which could be seen as a form of release from her suffering. Oedipus’s change in fortune is much more dramatic.
He goes from being a king and a successful man to a blind beggar, exiled from his kingdom. This is a drastic change in his circumstances and highlights his tragic fall from grace. Similarly, Creon also experiences a change in fortune. He starts off as the king, with all the power and authority that come with that position. However, by the end of the play, he has lost his son, his wife has committed suicide, and he is left alone. This change in fortune makes him a tragic figure.
The final two aims of a tragic character are inextricably linked. According to Aristotle, the character must be true to life and maintain consistent behavior and actions. He claims that these two areas are “distinct from goodness and propriety.” Antigone is a likeable individual with genuine ideas and emotions who follows these two standards. She is also very constant in her actions, showing no range of personality. Antigone maintains her convictions and stays calm throughout the play.
The last tragic character expectation is that the hero must make some sort of mistake, or commit a Tragic Flaw. Antigone’s flaw is her excessive pride, or hubris. She demonstrates this quality several times throughout the play, and it eventually leads to her downfall. Antigone feels that she knows what is best, and she does not listen to anyone else’s opinion. She also has a problem with authority figures, and does not respect them. Antigone’s fatal flaw ultimately causes her death, because she does not listen to Creon when he tells her to stop burying Polynices.
In conclusion, Antigone is the tragic hero of Sophocles’ play Antigone because she meets all of the expectations that Aristotle laid out in his Poetics. She is a believable person with realistic thoughts and emotions, she is consistent in her behavior, and she makes a tragic mistake that leads to her downfall. Antigone’s excessive pride is her fatal flaw, and it causes her to bury her brother against Creon’s orders. Even though Antigone knows that disobeying Creon will result in death, she still goes through with it because she believes that what she is doing is right. Antigone’s heroic qualities are evident throughout the play, and she ultimately dies because of them.