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Antigone Tragic Hero Essay

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Antigone is a tragedy written by an ancient Greek playwright Sophocles in 441 BC. The play revolves around Antigone’s will of burying her brother Polyneices in defiance of the laws of Creon and the tragic consequences of all her acts during the play. In literature, a tragic hero can be defined as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy that is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. Heroes come in different forms with characteristics that could tend to make people follow them and turn on their side. In Sophocles’ play Antigone, the tragic hero itself is Antigone who is a woman that believes in her desires and will than that of the king’s rules and laws. Antigone is an ideal example to demonstrate the characteristics of a tragic …show more content…

Certainly, Antigone is a kind-hearted and considerate person; however she had gone against Creon’s laws to bury her beloved brother Polyneices. Antigone had approached her sister Ismene seeking help in buying their brother Polyneices. Ismene had denied to help and in fact tried preventing Antigone from defying Creon’s law. Here, Antigone’s hubris was expressed as she considered the significance of divine law rather than human law in her heart. Using this, she expresses her affection for her family. This was the time Antigone entered into conflict between Creon’s law and the law of gods. Her strong contemplation of her brother’s spirit is also demonstrated; not even receiving a punishment such as an early death would stop her. Antigone says “And if I have to die for this pure crime, / I am content, for I shall rest beside him; / His love will answer mine” This reveals one of Antigone’s tragic flaw, as it conveys her persistence and refusal to obey Creon’s law which tends to put the people around her in danger. Here, she is unsuccessful in considering all the outlooks of this situation. During this time, Antigone does not think about how this would affect her sister Ismene or Haemon. She only thinks about herself at that

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