Character Foils In Antigone
Embedded Assessment: The Foil of Tragic Hero Creon
Foils are characters that contrast with one another to highlight particular qualities of those specific characters. Tiresias, the blind prophet of Thebes, functions as a foil throughout Sophocles’s Antigone, by telling Creon he is doomed and will not be able to escape fate. In the Oedipus the King along with Antigone , Tiresias reveals unwanted truths about Creon and Oedipus. Although he is the blind prophet, his ability to “see” beyond the present, Tiresias first accuses Oedipus of killing his father in Oedipus Rex and proceeds to tell Creon in Antigone that his laws will cause more harm to his land and death to his family. However, instead of learning from Oedipus’s mistakes, Creon rejects
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Creon cares extremely about his country of Thebes and creates his own laws. He mentions that, “There's been a group of grumblers in this town: men who can hardly abide by my rule, who nod and whisper, chafing beneath my law, who are not in love with it at all,” (Sophocles, 203). He speaks these words with anger towards whoever disobeys him. His extreme love for his country shows his noble stature which causes him to punish those who do not love Thebes as passionately as he does. Creon has the appearance of good, but when he chooses to not bury Polyneices, which goes against the beliefs of the Gods by not honoring him, he shows his tragic flaw. He says, “But Polyneices, killed as piteously, an interdict forbids that anyone should bury him or even mourn.” (192). Through disobeying the Gods, Creon implies that his laws are more important than the Gods. Creon’s disregard towards the Gods, explains why he dismisses Tiresias’s power. Creon’s overall power grants him his free will. He says, “I know. You point the horns of my dilemma. It's hard to eat my words, but harder still to court catastrophe through overriding pride.” (240). Creon tells the Leader that even though Tiresias has shown the truth of his actions, he cannot admit them or change them because he has no power left, no free will. The amount of chaos that Creon has caused forces such a harsh punishment upon him. Tiresias warns him to
Examples Of Foil In Antigone
929 Words | 4 PagesThe utilization of a foil in a novel or play is a very substantial tool for writers. A foil serves as a reflection of a character’s actions. It is useful in developing character traits and discovering traits for that character in an interesting and plot advancing way. Characters like Haemon acts as this foil to bring out Creon’s particular qualities. Tensions, including the contrasts of law and justice and the conflict of loyalty within families are present themes in Antigone, written by Sophocles, that express many great examples of foils.
Examples Of Dual Nature In Antigone
583 Words | 3 PagesIn Sophocles' play "Antigone," Creon, the King of Thebes, is depicted as having a dual nature. On one hand, he is a strong and just leader who is determined to maintain order and stability in his kingdom. He is a man of conviction, who firmly believes in the laws of the state and the need to uphold them, even in the face of opposition. He is a leader who is not afraid to take decisive action, and his determination to enforce the laws of the state is evident in his decision to punish Antigone for her actions.
Is Creon Justified In Antigone
740 Words | 3 PagesHe is trying to be just but his vision and actions are clouded. Creon explains that he will not allow the burial of Polyneices because of what he did to his people which was betrayal. In Sophocles, Antigone it says “whose one idea was to spill the blood of his blood and sell his own people into slavery—Polyneices”. This shows that Creon is doing this for his people and to respect the fact that they deserve justice. Creon is just trying to help his empire and he believes it is fair for Polyneices to not get buried because of his actions against his people.
Creon Trial Statement Speech
869 Words | 4 PagesHe had ruled that Eteocles would receive a decorated military funeral, while Polyneices would not be buried at all. It is true to say that his law violated our custom of honoring the deceased, especially during wartime. However, he considered Polyneices a traitor for attacking Thebes and putting the kingdom at unnecessary risk. His actions threatened the safety of the kingdom, which Creon must protect, seeing it is his duty as king. When Sentry went to Creon with concerns about the law, Creon stated, “Is it your senile opinion that the gods love to honor bad men?”
Why Is Creon Foolish
511 Words | 3 PagesIn the play, Antigone by Sophocles when a new man Creon becomes king he forbids a traitor's body to be buried so that he would be an example, this man being Polyneices, Antigone’s brother. Antigone, fearless in her actions, will not let her brother's body rot in the street even if it's against Creon's rules, but Creon due to his pride will not listen to anyone including Antigone. This will lead to pain and suffering for Creon later in the story. The main character Creon is foolish, for killing Antigone for trying to give her brother a burial. Because he would not hear out Tiresias or others.
Antigone Research Paper
953 Words | 4 PagesAs the king of Thebes, and the uncle and father-in-law-to-be of Antigone, it would be an understatement to say that he has a conflict of interest. Because of these confusing relationships as a family member, Creon does not truly want to kill his niece, as evident by his hands-off approach to her attempted murder. This presents the argument that Creon’s family obligations muddle his duties as the king. Creon, faced with doing what is best for his family or what is best for himself, contributes to his internal conflict of following the rules that he enacted in contrast with justice. This gives purpose to Antigone by expressing one of Sophocles’s overarching ideas prevalent in his works.
Creon's Flaws In Antigone
195 Words | 1 PagesIn the short story titled “Antigone,” the author portrays Creon as a tragic hero by displaying flaws in Creon's character shown throughout the story. Creon’s character contains many flaws which lead to many problems. His decisions end up deciding the fates of his son, his wife, and Antigone. Creon finally realizes that what he has done is sinful to the gods. He has put his own pride over the appreciation of the gods.
To What Extent Is Creon Responsible For The Downfall Of Antigone
625 Words | 3 PagesHis pride keeps him from admitting that his actions against Antigone and her brother went against the customs of the gods and were wrong. Upon hearing about the death of his son and wife, he mourns by taking responsibility for their deaths, explaining himself as “the frantic man who killed my son, against my meaning, and you too, my wife”(Ant.1340-1). Through all of his grief and suffering, not once does he acknowledge or make it known that this was all brought about because of his refusal to lay aside his pride and follow the laws of the gods. Creon is in denial about the underlying consequences of his prideful
Creon Speech In Antigone
703 Words | 3 PagesHe expresses this by stating,”Unfortunately... the prince Eteocles and Polyneices, have killed each other... I, as next blood, have… full power of… throne... no traitor is honored...whoever shows by word or deed...shall have...my reverence when he is dead.” Creon is informing the people of Thebes not only that he has been crown king fairly but also that whoever goes against the law that was enforced will suffer the consequences.
Antigone Quotes About Creon's Downfall
882 Words | 4 PagesCountless times, Creon was implored to change his mind to preserve the safety of others. However, due to his uncompromising and egocentric nature, he repeatedly denied this aid, and therefore caused the tragedies of the deaths of his niece and his son. The events that occurred in the play Antigone accurately represent the characteristics of a tragic flaw and subsequent suffering that define a
Examples Of Antigone As A Foil To Creon
979 Words | 4 PagesCharacter Assumption When we watch a performance, we try our best to associate with one of the many characters on stage. At least that’s what I do. If we cannot find any resemblance within a character we judge them quickly on what we do know. For example, we judge people on appearance by how they dress, how they walk or talk, and how they act around others.
Antigone: Creon As A Tragic Hero
1234 Words | 5 Pages“Not so self-centered that you never listen to other people” (Hugh Hefner). In the story of Antigone, Creon shows the characteristics of a tragic hero, as he is the king he shows his self-confident and he does not recognize his flaws until the end of the story. All of this leads into his downfall in the tragedy and causes him to realized what he had done. Creon is a tragic hero because of his self-righteousness, his excessive pride, and he does not listen to the opinion of others.
Creon: A Tragic Hero In Antigone By Sophocles
1092 Words | 5 PagesIn Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon, the king of Thebes, best represents a tragic hero. Creon demonstrates goodness in his intentions for Thebes as well as his fragile state due to the fact that he recently lost several family members. Creon, newly named king, finds himself as highest ranking official around, showing superiority. Creon often acts stubborn and prideful, his tragic flaw. And lastly, he must come to terms with the fact that he caused the death of his wife, son, and niece.
Antigone Vs Creon Tragic Hero
850 Words | 4 PagesCreon has many admirable qualities but within them a tragic flaw that causes great misfortune. Creon as a newly instated king of Thebes, makes a decree that Eteocles will
Literary Analysis Of Antigone
967 Words | 4 PagesJaanvi Shah Mr. Eyre English 9 March, 2015 Literary Analysis of Antigone John Foster says, “pride comes before fall.” As the action of the Sophocles 's Antigone unfolds, it is clear that the protagonist Creon has all the six characteristics of a tragic hero. Teiresias interactions with Creon help to demonstrate three of those typical traits: Creon’s noble stature, his tragic flaw of having pride and arrogance, and his free choice that makes his downfall his own fault. Creon, the King of Thebes, accords with Aristotle’s theory of a tragic hero beginning as powerful distinguished and important person.
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