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Creon Antigone Analysis

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A tragic hero denotes a noble and influential person who meets their destruction because of a personal flaw and the opposition of others. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Creon has influence over the people of Thebes, falls because of too much pride, and Haemon and the people of Thebes disagree with his decisions. While some may argue Antigone portrays the tragic hero of the play, she has no influence over the people of Thebes. Creon represents the tragic hero of Antigone because he follows the criteria to be one.
The first reason Creon illustrates the tragic hero of Antigone is because he has influence over the people of Thebes. He rules as king and most people trust and obey him. The Leader, who speaks for the city of Thebes, claims that all the power belongs to Creon and that he has the right “to enforce it with the laws both for the dead and for … the living” (Pg. 69). Creon also has influence in that he ultimately decides what happens …show more content…

He will not allow anyone’s opinion other than his be official. He has hubris when it comes to his rule. In the argument between Creon and Haemon, Creon wonders “is Thebes about to tell [him] how to rule” (Pg. 97). The chorus even realizes “the mighty words of the proud are paid in full with the almighty blows of fate and at long last these blows will reach us wisdom” in reference to Creon’s excessive pride (Pg. 128).
The third reason Creon illustrates the tragic hero of Antigone is because his son Haemon and the citizens of Thebes disagree with him. Haemon thinks Creon should not “be so single minded, self-involved or assume the world is wrong and [he is] right. By stating this, Haemon shows he believes Creon should take others opinion into account (Pg.95). The people of Thebes “mourn for this young girl,’No woman,’ they say, ‘has ever deserved death less,” however, Creon does not listen to what the city believes

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