Antigone is a Tragic Hero Essay -- essays papers

Antigone is a Tragic HeroA subject of grapple in Sophocles play Antigone is which character complies with the characteristics of a tragic hero. The qualities that constitute a tragic hero are, in no particular order, having a high loving position, not being overly sizeable or bad, isolation, being tenacious in their actions, arousing pity in the au grumblence, a revelatory manifestation, and having a single reproach that brings about their own demise and the demise of some others around 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 bye 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 stature she is capable of suffering more and losing the fame and study she holds. Some may argue that because she had no poli tical power she does not qualify to be a tragic hero but, she is still a fibrous 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 tone 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 positive side is that he has let Antigone and Ismene live with him and raise them after their yield passed on. Antigone expresses her positive side when she insists on burying her 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 stubbornness and lack of compassion do not win pity. When Creons wife and son die the pity is shifted to them not Creon. All o f 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, muttering 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 when the chorus sympathized with Creon at times. Not having pity disqualifies Creon as being the tragic hero.From her tenacity and personal strength in defying the law to her tragic death, Antigone captures the audiences pity and sympathy. She is the tragic hero.