Antigone

            The ignorance which became punishment.
             In an attempt to make clear whether Kreon or Antigone is the tragic hero of this drama, one should take a great deal of things into consideration. In other words, one should bear in mind and be aware of a tragic hero's traits, a person of high status and respect that throughout the dramatic flow of events "moves" from ignorance to recognition. In Sophocles "Antigone" the reader comes across a fearless and determined woman, full of love for her dead brothers, who faces the King of Thebes, Kreon. Even though Kreon has already allowed for Eteocles- Antigone's brother- to be buried with all the honors that a brave soldier demands, he is not willing to do the same for her other brother, Polyneices.
             Throughout this play, Antigone is presented as a woman with tremendous will and determination as if nothing can stop her. As she says: "Kreon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (1078). We become viewers of an extremely strong character as she is depicted, that prefers to risk even her own life to burry her beloved brother. "I am not afraid of death; it will not be the worst of deaths, - death without honor" (1079). Indeed, her internal strength seems rather unique if we take into consideration that she stands alone fighting; not even Ismene, her sister is willing to support her task. Even though Antigone seems to be facing her personal drama, in real terms she is not the only one who struggles between laws and internal ethical conflicts.
             Kreon, from the very first scene of the play, seems rather absolute as far as his decision is concerned. He does not accept to conciliate with any one having a different opinion on the matter. He even threats to punish anyone who will do otherwise. "Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least pray for him: As long as I am a King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man" (1082).