A tragic hero is described in literature as a highly renowned person who is neither virtuous or villainous, makes choices for which there is no escape, makes an error in judgement, and evokes pity and suspense from the audience by their actions. In the classic Greek drama, Antigone by Sophocles, Creon meets all the characteristics of the tragic hero.
The play begins with Antigone trying to convince her sister Ismene that a proper burial is needed for their brother Polyneices, despite Creons decree that no one is to bury Polyneices. Ismene is committed to yielding to authority thus abides by the decree of Creon however, Antigone is committed to going against the King, " But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he is to me."(55)Antigone Prologue. Antigone has made her choice, stands firm due to her pride and chooses to go against authority. The fate of Antigone is predicted in the first scene and does not change throughout the play. Thus Antigone does not totally fulfill the definition of a tragic hero. .
Creon on the other hand is a renowned character, known as the King of Thebes. He makes an error in judgement for which there is no escape and has a dramatic effect upon the audience. "The only crime is pride.(35) states Teriesis in Antigone Scene 5. This statement is directed toward Creon and demonstrates the supreme error in judgement which leads to the death of his son Haimon and wife Eurydices. Creon was a very intelligent leader who endeavored to due what was right for society, however due to his pride or "hubris" is the tragic hero. He became so fixated on denying the burial rites to Polyneices and not yielding to the wishes of a woman that he was unable to see the reprocusion of his pride. Creon states, "This girl is guilty of a double insolence, Breaking the given laws and boasting of it.
