The story of Oedipus, as presented in Oedipus the King, was the original outline for Aristotle’s criteria of a tragic hero. While Oedipus meets the criteria to become the tragic hero of his own story, in the play Antigone the hero is not so clearly defined. The two contenders for tragic hero in Antigone are Creon, king of Thebes, and Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, former king of Thebes. While both of these characters meet several of the characteristics of the tragic hero, neither completely fulfills all of the requirements and the reader must look further into the play to discover who is the real tragic hero. Initially, many readers may view Creon as the protagonist of the play, since his demise is based on his hubris, but Antigone is the actual
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Antigone is aware that her actions will cause her downfall, but she continues to do what she believes is right. Later, she is caught after having buried her brother and reveals that she was fully aware of the consequences of her actions and is prepared to die. “You chose to live, I chose to die/… Courage! Live your life. I gave myself to death,/ long ago, so I might serve the dead” (626-631). By continuing to follow her morals and stand up to the laws of Thebes, she solidifies a terrible punishment for herself and accepts it. Even later, she admits that she has accepted the certain death that would accompany her …show more content…
Not a man on earth./ Your doom is clear: you’ll wither away to nothing,/ single, without a child. (1627-1644)
Antigone’s punishment was foreshadowed from the time she was born. She would suffer through life and end it alone, in this case for a transgression that was only meant to honor the very gods that damned her to a grim life. Throughout her journey, Antigone remains a character that seems realistic and relatable to many readers. She is a teenage girl, sometimes rash in her actions, whom stands firm in her beliefs and does not waver in her decision to honor her brother and the gods. Even after she is captured, she continues to stand behind her morals, defending her brother’s burial. “But it was his brother, not some slave that died--/… No matter—Death longs for the same rites for all” (581-584). Antigone truly believes she has done what the gods want, even though she has committed an act of
Antigone is aware that her actions will cause her downfall, but she continues to do what she believes is right. Later, she is caught after having buried her brother and reveals that she was fully aware of the consequences of her actions and is prepared to die. “You chose to live, I chose to die/… Courage! Live your life. I gave myself to death,/ long ago, so I might serve the dead” (626-631). By continuing to follow her morals and stand up to the laws of Thebes, she solidifies a terrible punishment for herself and accepts it. Even later, she admits that she has accepted the certain death that would accompany her …show more content…
Not a man on earth./ Your doom is clear: you’ll wither away to nothing,/ single, without a child. (1627-1644)
Antigone’s punishment was foreshadowed from the time she was born. She would suffer through life and end it alone, in this case for a transgression that was only meant to honor the very gods that damned her to a grim life. Throughout her journey, Antigone remains a character that seems realistic and relatable to many readers. She is a teenage girl, sometimes rash in her actions, whom stands firm in her beliefs and does not waver in her decision to honor her brother and the gods. Even after she is captured, she continues to stand behind her morals, defending her brother’s burial. “But it was his brother, not some slave that died--/… No matter—Death longs for the same rites for all” (581-584). Antigone truly believes she has done what the gods want, even though she has committed an act of