In Antigone by Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than or contemporary with those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides. Sophocles wrote over 120 plays during the course of his life, but only seven …
Why can Antigone be considered a tragic figure?
Why is Antigone the Tragic Hero? The play Antigone is unusual because it contains two tragic heros. The more obvious one is Creon, whose stubborn pride costs him nearly everything. Having already lost his two nephews to war, he loses his niece and his own son. The tragic losses of Antigone and Creon’s son could have been avoided.
Why is Antigone considered a Greek tragedy hero?
Why is Antigone a tragic hero with quotes? The tragic hero, Antigone, is the tragic hero because she displays both good and bad throughout the greek tragedy Antigone. A quote that reveals she is good is “ This death of mine is of no importance; but If I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered” ( 2. 69-71).
Why is Antigone more of a hero than Creon?
Antigone's reasoning is more justified than Creon's because Antigone seeks to obey and honor the laws of the gods, while Creon instead seeks to maintain his public honor and authority over his state.
Why is 'Antigone' called a tragedy?
Antigone, written by Sophocles, is an extreme Greek tragedy, because all the protagonists have a rise and fall throughout the play, ultimately ending in death. Creon, the ruler of the state at the time, sits in the middle of the chaotic rise and fall, trying to control the fate
Is Antigone considered a tragic hero?
Antigone's last act of defiance was to join her father and brothers in death. At this moment, she becomes a truly tragic hero. Pride and fear drove her to hang herself just before she would have been rescued and released from her fate.
What is the tragic flaw of Antigone?
What tragic flaw does Antigone have? Antigone's tragic flaw is stubborn loyalty. She believes she has a sacred duty to bury her brother, even though she knows she will be killed for doing so. However, she fails to consider how her actions will affect her sister Ismene or her fiance Haemon.
Why is Creon a better tragic hero than Antigone?
He is very misleading character tries to lead others to crime. Creon faces dishonesty from others and sees the true character of people he thought he could trust. Creon as the protagonist with his stubborn personality makes him a true tragic hero. Aristotle made Creon the tragic hero in the book Antigone.
Who is the true tragic hero of Antigone?
The tragic hero of Sophocles Antigone, was Creon. Creon was a very headstrong and arrogant man who would never take advice from anyone and would always rely on his own beliefs no matter what. This makes him the tragic hero because his hubris character leads him to a downfall circumstance.
What is Antigone's fatal flaw What is Creon's how do these flaws lead to the tragic resolution of the play?
Creon's tragic flaw is pride. He refused to agree that Antigone did the right thing in burying her brother. Creon wanted only that she obey his decree (and ignore the gods and social law).
Why is Antigone a tragic hero essay?
The tragic hero causes a sense of pity through the tragic downfall that weakens the character. In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone follows her own beliefs by giving her brother a proper burial, even if she has to break the law of King Creon. Because of her innocent actions, Antigone is punished unjustly and unfairly.
What does Antigone say about gender roles?
Antigone's defiance of Creon gets him right where it hurts - in the manhood. He tells us, ''I'm no man - she is a man, she's the king - if she gets away with this. '' He believes that men should be the ones to rule while women should submit and obey.
Was Creon a tragic hero?
In the story Antigone the King of Thebes Creon is a tragic hero. He stoned his niece even though everyone tells him that they disagree with him which is hubris. He was the son of Menoikeus, he affected the audience by fear and/or pity, and he has realize he has made an irreversible mistake.
What makes a tragic hero?
A tragic hero is a character in a dramatic tragedy who has virtuous and sympathetic traits but ultimately meets with suffering or defeat. Something tragic is sadly disastrous, such as the untimely death of a loved one.
What is the dramatic irony in Antigone?
Our Greek writer makes use of irony as a murder weapon in Antigone. Creon, who had lost his entire family to suicide because of his arrogance, and Antigone, whose bravery cost her her life. The irony is what killed both our protagonist and our antagonist, ironically.
Who suffers the most in Antigone?
CreonThe most cited flaw is hubris or self-destructive pride. "Antigone" can be classified as a Greek tragedy because we find the general conception of Greek tragedy, a tragic hero, the cause of his downfall and thematic significance. In "Antigone" the tragic hero is Creon. He suffers because of his flaw: pride.
Who is the tragic hero in Romeo and Juliet?
In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is "a tragic hero.” This is according to Aristotle's definition, a tragic hero is a character “who is neither completely good nor completely bad, but also a member of royalty.” Romeo is a tragic hero because he does many good things, but many bad things, as well.
What is the definition of a tragic flaw?
: a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy.
What is hubris in Antigone?
Excessive pride, or hubris, is portrayed by the key characters of the play: Antigone, Creon, Eteocles, and Polyneices. The hubris of these characters shape their fates as well as the destiny of those around them.
What is Creon's tragic flaw and what happens as a result?
Creon's tragic flaws were his stubbornness, the abuse of power and the actions he took to cause the downfall of the Thebes. Creon showed his stubbornness by not wanting to be proved wrong because of pride.
What is the moral of the play Antigone?
In Antigone, the moral of the story is that of fate. This moral is incorporated through the actions of both Creon and Antigone. The moral also corresponds with a recurring theme of the abuse of power, something that Creon is more than guilty of.
Who is the hero of Antigone?
However, Sophocles makes the hero of his Antigone, the third and last play in the theme of Oedipus’ life, a woman. And though this is out of context for a Greek play, it is still considered one of the greatest Greek tragedies ever to have been written. The tragic hero of this drama is Antigone, the character from which the play derives its title.
What is Antigone's flaw?
Antigone¹s flaw lies within the same scope as her father¹s. Antigone is a brutally honest person who sees no honor in backing down from what she knows is right , and this will serve as her undoing. At no point does Antigone hold back her feelings.
What does Ismene tell Creon about Creon?
She tells Ismene that she is a coward for not doing what is right, and she reminds Creon of his sins while she faces death at his hands. And as she is led off to her prison, she refuses to cry for the love of Haemon, which she will not have, for it would make her seem weak.
What does Creon accuse the sentry of doing?
For example, when a sentry comes to tell Creon that someone has tried to bury Polyneices, he immediately accuses the sentry of doing these actions himself, for money, without even considering why a man would report on himself for a crime that carries the punishment of death.
What are the characteristics of a tragic hero?
What are most important are the three major characteristics concerning the make up of a tragic hero. First, it is important that the hero must be of noble descent. Second, the hero must be judged by the audience (whose opinion generally rests on the opinion of the Chorus) to be a good and just person. And third, the hero must have ...
What would have happened if he had not left Corinth?
Therefore, if he had not left Corinth, his line still would have been considered of noble birth. Thereby, being of noble birth, she also must prove to be a good person, and by the standards of the Chorus, she does seem to do so.
Did Oedipus kill his father?
Certain points, such as: “that it was predicted that Oedipus would kill his father and sleep with his mother; that unwittingly he did both;” are told in Aeschylus’ play, and are assumed as general knowledge in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King.
Who is the tragic hero in Antigone?
In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles there are two people that could be considered a tragic hero. It has been up for debate who the actual hero of this play is, but many people believe that Creon and Antigone could both be a hero. A tragic hero is considered a character who’s known for being worthy of something and doing something right for someone. There are many qualities out there that you have to follow for you to be able to become the official tragic hero. Also in this play there is only aloud to be one tragic character.
What is the play Antigone about?
What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is a person who has a flawed characteristic which makes him fall; he must try to resolve a conflict but ends up failing. The play Antigone by Sophocles makes it hard for the readers to decide who is the tragic hero. Creon best fits in with the definition of a tragic hero.
What makes a tragic character?
What makes a tragic character? “According to Aristotle, hamartia, a tragic flaw; hubris, excessive pride; peripeteia, the reversal of luck; anagnorisis, the realization; nemesis, bad luck that the hero cannot avoid; and catharsis, the relinquishment of vigorous emotions from the readers, are attributes of a tragic character .” (Johnston). In Sophocles ' play, Antigone, there are opposing views about who the real tragic character was. While Antigone is considered the tragic character in this play by some people, Creon should be awarded the denomination of the tragic character; he has more qualities of a tragic hero than Antigone. Although one can argue that since Antigone is of a noble status, she is the tragic hero. Antecedently mentioned, there are several traits a tragic hero must possess; Antigone does not meet as many traits as Creon.
What is the meaning of tragedy in Aristotle's theory?
He described a tragedy as “an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude: in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties…by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions” (qtd. in Kennedy & Gioia 856). This description completely embodies the representation of Shakespeare’s protagonist and play Othello. Aristotle’s recipe for a perfect tragic drama included three main ideas: hamartia, or a tragic flaw in the tragic hero’s character that brings about his downfall; katharsis, or a purgation of the audience’s emotions so that they feel that they have learned something from the play; and anagnorisis, or
What does Machiavelli say about fear?
However, Machiavelli warns that “a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate.” (Machiavelli 44). His ruination of the reputation of the King of Thebes and the father of his household begins when he accuses his subjects and becomes stubborn to make a compromise. For example, Creon accuses the soldier of taking bribe and not following his order. Creon even threatens the guard to execute for the “treasonous gain” if he does not find the real culprit.
What are the similarities between Oedipus and Othello?
The plays Othello and Oedipus the King contain some differences and similarities. In the beginning, the set up of the plot depicts truth to the type of tragedy in the play. The tragedy is mainly shown by the drama whereby the main character is made to bear the excess sorrow as a result of moral weakness or flaw. Othello is the central character in the play Othello while the King is the main character in Oedipus the King. In both contexts, they suffer sorrow as the main consequence of tragic flaws or weakness (Yeats, Clark, & McGuire, 1989).
What does Cleon say about democracy?
As seen with the Mytilene debate where Athens decides whether to slaughter the Mytilene’s for their rebellion, Cleon, a demagogue, explicitly states “I have often seen a democracy is incapable of ruling an empire (67) .” He goes on to argue “you relent out of compassion, your softness puts you in danger and does not win the affection of your allies (67).” To him, qualities such as sentiment and indulgence hurt an empire. The Athenian empire must be unyielding and forceful to control its subjugated people for the subjects only follow the Athenians because they “exceed them in strength (67).” This goes against the tenants of democracy where the people supposedly discus their issues and not rule each other with force. Indeed, as the Athenian empire continues, people choose love of empire over love of democracy, and the Athenian are swept up by militarism and excessive patriotism, which ultimately leads to their downfall with the Sicilian expedition. Athens in effect becomes a tyranny of the empire as the people seek to strengthen the empire rather than their city. Thus as a democratic state grows in power, the government will be swamped by excessive pride in