Literary Analysis Of Antigone

Jaanvi 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. Creon’s noble stature sanctions him to make his laws, and he is called “Nobles of Thebes,” (1135. P59) by Teiresias, who also mentions that “ you’ve been a good captain for the state,” (1143. P59). In terms of decision-making, Creon thinks that he is right and decisive when he says:

Eteokles, who fought in defense of the nation and fell in action, will be given holy burial, a funeral suited to greatness and nobility.

But his brother, Polyneices, the exile, who descended with fire to destroy his fatherland and family gods,

_________________________________________________

will be left unburied so men may see him ripped for food by dogs and vultures. (233-43. P28)

His power as a king allows him to make his own laws, and even give sentence to those who can defy him. Because of his law, Creon has so much arrogance that when Teiresias informs Creon of his doom-laden prophecy,