All tragic heroes have a purpose; Creon always tries to help his people, but he starts to stray away from the idea. Moreover, people say Antigone has no purpose at all but to contradict Creon. Once Creon discovers he enrages the god’s and he causes sickness in the city, he tries to repair the mistake, however he is not convinced until the leader explaines, “There’s fire and slaughter for you, King” (240). Once Creon’s life is on the line, he finally decides what to do, which is not heroic; it is selfish. On the other point, Antigone claims she buries Polyneices for the family, but in truth she is also doing so for the gods. She states, “He is my brother still, and yours . . . I shall not abandon him” (193). Antigone cares for her, family but shortly after she tells her sister, “And please your fantasy and call it wicked what the gods call good” (194) So Antigone’s purpose is for the gods too. However her persistence of following the god’s design, stubbornness towards Creon, and ignorance is her tragic …show more content…
She informs Creon that, “ Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgated such a law, Nor will you find that Justice” (210). When Creon claimes Polyneices came ravaging their land, Antigone answered, “ Hades makes no distinction in its rites and honors” (213). Some may ask, how is pleasing the gods a purpose they are never victims? Everyone knows though, if someone angers the gods, they rain down fire on everyone. The leader of the people in Thebes acknowledges it and warns Creon, “The gods, provoked, never wait to mow men down” (241). So even if Antigone does not directly say she is helping the people, she actually is. She knows if someone defies the gods, then they will punish the people. She does want to contradict Creon, but she also saves Thebes from the gods, and she protects Creon. As it has been mentioned, Creon does have some heroic traits, he tries to restore the mistake he had made, but it is a selfish reason, which is to save himself. The actions Creon committed, causes Creon’s whole family to die, and he has to live with the mistake, however knowing all characters in Greek stories, they all kill themselves, which predicting so, Creon most likely will do. Antigone lost her family too, she was humiliated in front of everyone doing what she considers is equitable; she stands up for herself no matter