In Sophocles" play, Antigone, there are two possible protagonists. According to Aristotle's criteria, Creon is the main protagonist in the play.
Some people would argue that Antigone is the key character of the story, but she doesn't have a hamartia. Aristotle professes this to be the beginning element of a tragedy. Creon's mistake is overstepping the boundaries of a mortal. He deems himself to be above the gods. He decides when someone's life will end. Antigone only does what is right; there isn't a mistake on her part.
Secondly, Antigone is not at all concerned with her pride or her well-being. Everything she does is in honor of her departed brother, Polyneices. Creon is very prideful. He says, "My voice is the one voice giving orders in this City!" He also says that he wouldn't change his mind about carrying out his death sentence or about allowing Antigone to bury her brother even "if the great eagles of God should carry him stinking bit by bit to heaven." This is extreme hubris. He thinks his laws are above those of the gods.
Antigone starts out the play in despair. She doesn't gain or lose anything during the course of the play except her life. Her death is of no surprise to her because she already knows the penalty for breaking Creon's law. Creon, on the other hand, starts off with a family and the respect of his constituents. In the end, his wife and son both commit suicide. Everyone around him tells him how wrong his edict is. All of this happens because he is inflexible and is trying to maintain a rigid spine. The reversal of his situation is undeniable.
Antigone only recognizes that she won't have the life that she has planned with Haimon. Creon has a greater epiphany. After Teiresias, the prophet, tells him of his vision, Creon realizes he is wrong and tries to make things right. He is too late. He says that, "I was the fool, not you; and you died for me." His recognition of his errors comes at a great cost to him.
