There seems to be some confusion in determining who the protagonist is in the Greek drama, Antigone. It may seem that just because the play is named Antigone, she should be considered the protagonist, however, Antigone's character lacks some of the crucial attributes necessary to comprise the protagonist of a Greek Tragedy. The fact that the play is a tragedy indicates that the protagonist should also be the tragic hero. Since Creon is the tragic hero of the play, he clearly plays a more vital role in the drama than Antigone. We can recognize Creon as the tragic hero rather than Antigone upon examining the definition of a tragic hero. A tragic hero must have a tragic flaw, a realization of his flaw, and a downfall. Creon goes through each of these stages in the play (while Antigone does not) making him both the tragic hero and protagonist.
It is clear that Creon's tragic flaw was his hubris, arrogance and common beliefs. He lived by the motto, "No woman shall rule me,"" and was too stubborn to listen to anyone's advice. When the blind prophet, Teiresias came to warn Creon of his doomed future, Creon dismissed his words and accused him of disloyalty and taking bribes, "it is a sorry thing when a wise man sells his wisdom .You have a certain skill; but you have sold out.""(429) He rejected his son, Haimon, in a similar manner when Haimon confronted him about his ridiculous and rash actions. He ignored his sons' advice and insulted him, "Fool, adolescent fool! Taken in by a woman!-(422) Creon's hubris isolated him from everyone he came into contact with, making him withdrawn and insane. By the time he realized what he had done (sentenced his sister to die) it was too late. .
It is also customary for the tragic hero to have lost everything and to be reduced to nothing by the end of the story. This is known as the downfall. In the end of Antigone, Creon had lost his kingdom, his son, his wife, and his will to live, but was doomed to live on and languish.
This type of conflict is shown in Antigone an helps present the character traits of the antagonist, Antigone. ... Antigone was also very strong minded. ... Antigone was also very strong willed. ... Antigone chooses to defy this law. ... Antigone believes that Ismene is a coward while Ismene believes that Antigone is foolish. ...
Antigone stands poised at the river separating herself from civil disobedience. ... Antigone's unrepressed emotions give voice to her dissatisfaction with Creon's dictum. ... Antigone's morals render her unable to see her tragic flaw. ... Antigone impels Creon by defying his order, and seals the fate of her life. ... Antigone's convictions bear a burden on her that she is not strong enough to lift. ...
In the play, "Antigone," the main character Antigone goes against all authority in an effort to give her brother, Polynices, a proper burial. ... Antigone has no respect for authority. ... Antigone also claims, "What Creon says is quite irrelevant" ( ln 4). Thus, Antigone does not respect government or Creon as a sovereign. ... "We can't live by Antigone's alone, but if we have no Antigones within us we are spiritually barren" (Cornell). ...
Later in the act, the Sentry enters again, this time with Antigone. ... Creon asks Antigone if this is true. ... Creon aims to justify his decision to let Antigone's dead brother rot. He also wishes to validate his choice to punish Antigone. ... I believe Antigone's act was morally correct. ...
Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. ... This is between Antigone and Polyneices. ... Antigone doesn't mind doing anything on her own. ... Antigone has no problem working by her self either. ... I think Creon feels he must defeat Antigone because she is a woman. ...
In Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone is the tragic hero of the play, rather than Creon. ... Sophocles wants us to see Antigone as the tragic figure. ... He can either kill Antigone, or spare her life. ... Antigone is in a different position. ... Antigone chooses wisely in defying the law. ...
However, in the play Antigone, Antigone goes against the beliefs and defies the powerful tradition of male domination. In the play, Antigone's life was filled with pain and sorrow. ... Even after all of this, Antigone had even more pain to deal with. ... Antigone didn't fear death, but instead faced it with great bravery and strength. ... That is why Antigone is such an influential character in the play. ...
The Antigone Essay Through "Antigone", the play, Sophocles lets it be known that family is more important than authority. ... Antigone felt awful that Creon was doing such a wrong thing. ... Antigone took a moral stand and buried Polyneices. ... Antigone was Haemon's true love. Haemon committed suicide once he lost Antigone. ...
Antigone is not from a normal family. Her family feels very strong in what they believe in. Especially Antigone and Creon. Antigone did things that other people wouldn't normally do. Some people wouldn't defy authority to do what they believe is right. Creon did things that people wouldn't do. I thi...
Bigger than her body Antigone was right, yet so was Creon. ... However Antigone defied the king. ... The gods sided with Antigone. ... Creon is protagonist against Antigone, who is the antagonist; at the same time, Antigone is the protagonist with Creon as her antagonist. Antigone's actions were justified by divine law. ...
