by Annette

Created on: July 07, 2009   Last Updated: July 08, 2009

In Greek tragedies the tragic hero had very distinct characteristics that sets him or her apart from the other characters. The play Antigone by Sophocles, however, seems to have two tragic heroes with Antigone and Creon as possibilities.

A tragic hero is always from noble birth. Creon is the King of Thebes and Antigone is a princess, as the daughter of Oedipus, the late king of Thebes. Therefore both Antigone and Creon fit the profile of the tragic hero in this instance.

An error of judgment is normally what leads to the downfall of a tragic hero. Again can it be argued that both Creon and Antigone made an error of judgment.

Antigone was prepared to go against Creon's will to bury her brother Polyneices. To her it was more important to obey the laws of the gods. She believed that Polyneices would not be able to rest unless he had a proper burial with the appropriate burial rites. As burials were very much the responsibility of the women, Antigone knew it was up to her and Ismene to ensure Polyneices got buried. She stood alone in this as her sister Ismene was too afraid of Creon to stand up to him.

Creon on the other hand appeared to be the villain that refused Polyneices this right. It is true that he was a typical Greek male of the times and had no regard for a woman's views. He believed, as all males of the time, that woman should be out of sight and not interfere in the matters of the country and definitely not go against any decree from the king. What cannot be ignored here is that, as a Greek man and the king, his main task was to protect his kingdom from the enemy. To him Polyneices was the enemy as he attacked Thebes. For enemies there are no burial rights.

Both Antigone and Creon were very stubborn in their views. Being Antigone and Polyneices' uncle, the audience expects more empathy from Creon; but he was adamant in punishing whoever went against his decree. Not even Haemon, his own son, who was engaged to Antigone, could soften his hart.

Antigone was prepared to die for burying her brother and stayed stubborn until the end when Creon had her locked up and she eventually committed suicide.

Creon didn't at first want to listen to the prophet Tiresias and it was only after his conversation with the elders, who formed the Chorus, that he started doubting his decision. Strangely enough he insisted on burying Polyneices first before he went to free Antigone. One has to wonder if it was still his pride that stopped him from going to Antigone first.

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