Antigone Vs Creon A Tragic Hero

Throughout many of Shakespeare’s plays and tragedies, a tragic hero shines though the story and is identified as the character who possesses a flaw that eventually leads to their defeat or death. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, there has been much debate about who is the tragic hero in this play. Many people agree that Marcus Brutus is the tragic hero; however, others argue it is Caius Cassius. After examining these two specific characters, a conclusion is more easily drawn. Marcus Brutus can be identified as the tragic hero of this play because he is a person that has heroic qualities such as nobility and affection; however, it is his strong love for his country and people that lead to his disastrous demise.

He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.” There are many reasons why John Proctor was considered a tragic hero in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. He was a tragic hero because he had a tragic flaw like the rest of the tragic heros. Aristotle states a tragic hero is a noble birth. Although, John Proctor wasn’t in a noble family, in the Salem community he was a respected man.

His fatal flaw of lust for Abigail triggered a series of events, which eventually led to his downfall. Proctor’s fatal flaw not only led to his own downfall but also the downfall of others. As previously stated, a tragedy is defined as “a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.” The Crucible is a tragedy because of the number of tragic events- namely, the executions of so many people- that take place during the play. For a play to be a tragedy, it must also have a tragic hero- the main character of the story whose fatal flaw causes their own downfall. The tragic hero of The Crucible is John Proctor.

The term tragic hero results from the Greek term hero which means a character who not only faces hardship and misfortune but one who also demonstrates and exhibits bravery in the face of danger. Unfortunately, in the end, the tragic hero also faces a bitter downfall. Sometimes, if not always, the tragic hero is a character that can conjure sad emotions like pity, anxiety, or distress. William Shakespeare chooses his lead character, Macbeth, to represent the tragic hero in his play Macbeth. Macbeth suffers from being the tragic hero of the play where he has numerous flaws but most noticeably his uncontrolled ambition and desire for power which leads to his tragic defeat.

Antigone's tragic flaw made her refuse to stop what she planned to do, even if death was the consequence. The Choragos states that Antigone is, “...headstrong, deaf to reason,” and that, “She has never learned to yield.” When she buried her brother, even when it was outlawed, her pride ultimately caused her to be buried alive in a dark stone cave. This great downfall was caused by her flaw, so she fits these requirements of a tragic hero. A tragic hero must relize their flaw, and in the end there is no significant evidence that shows Antigone realized her flaw. Due to this lack of evidence, she can not be a

When asked, “Who is the tragic hero in Antigone?,” you might automatically think of the character Antigone. The character’s name is the title of the play like in “Hamlet”. The only difference is that Hamlet was the tragic hero in “Hamlet” moreover Creon is the tragic hero in “Antigone”. It all comes down to the definition of Aristotle’s tragic hero. Aristotle states that a tragic hero is, “a person who must evoke a sense of pity and fear in the audience.

Neither he nor his wife would admit to his lechery in the aforementioned questioning, their reputation would be destroyed, even if it meant that the truth was shown. In Act Two, John has an outburst at his wife’s arrest, seeing as it would deface his family name saying to the court officials, “God will not let you wash your hands of this!”(204). Proctor blamed the court for his family legacy being ruined. In the last scene of the play, Proctor perfectly sums up the importance of the legacy behind the name. Proctor cries out, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (240).

Romeo is a complex character for many reasons, the last reason being that he helps to create and advance the theme of the story. The theme of the play, “Romeo and Juliet” is that love conquers all. Romeo helps prove the theme by doing whatever it takes to be with his one true love, Juliet. When Romeo learns about Juliet’s rival family, this doesn't stop him from seeking her out. He is led by his love for her and believes this will protect him from the wrath of their feuding families.

At the news of his nephew 's deaths, Creon makes a sudden decision on behalf of the men stating that "Polyneices... is to have no burial. No man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him" to which the crowd reacted ultimately stunned at his severity and irrationality (Sophocles 3). Though the citizens agree that Polyneices ' acts against his brother were heinous, they are shocked at Creon 's law, but follow along in fear of their new king. Upon receiving intel of Antigone 's crimes against Creon 's law, he speaks to his son, Haimon about her sentencing. Creon feels the need to stick by his formerly said punishment, overlooking the family connections he has to the perpetrator.

The most significant examples are towards the climax and the end of the play. Proctor is a perfect example of a tragic hero. Aristotle’s second point states that although the tragic hero is great he or she is not perfect. The hero is human just like the rest of us, but has a higher position in society. John Proctor is looked highly upon in the community and when he is accused of witchcraft, many are against it and irate.