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his body remains untouched. His physical state is untouched while his emotional state is in grave remorse. Unlike Prometheus, Creon is not suffering from torn flesh, or burning lightning. His soul is suffering not his body. Therefore, as a result of the ruthless punishment inflicted upon him, Prometheus, the god, is considered a more tragic character than Creon.
Prometheus can be said of as a more tragic character than Creon because of his highly renowned and prosperous rank. Prometheus is ultimately a God, a Titan. “Prometheus…is a god, a creature of immortal status” (Warner 4). Being a god, means immortality, and immortality means no death at all. Prometheus, being a god, has suffered at the hands of another god, which is a tragedy of another height. Being immortal, Prometheus has suffered the harsh punishment without it ever ending. Even though, he is being profoundly punished, he cannot die due to his immortality. Prometheus has his prosperity because he is a god and he has helped Zeus in the past defeating the Titans. He has the strength and power to give man-kind the gift of fire, teach them knowledge and the ability to tame animals. In contrast, Creon is the King of Thebes. “How could you dare when Creon has expressly forbidden it…defy our king” (Watling 11). Creon has taken over the ruling of Thebes from his nephews. Even though he has the wealth and land of Thebes, it is unfeasible to compare him with a god, In Greek mythology, gods are considered superior of them all. Whether it is kings or noble men, Gods are considered defiant over anybody and anything. Unlike Prometheus, if Creon ever experiences misery or torture, he can end it instantly because of his mortal status. Prometheus is considered a far more tragic character than Creon as a result of his highly renowned and prosperous life.
Prometheus is a far more tragic character than Creon because of the pathos the audience senses throughout his punishment. Prometheus arouses the feelings of pity and fear during his punishment. “You have said to me… nothing I did not know already…my mind remains
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immortal and unsubdued” (Warner 7). Pathos is felt here because the audience feels pity for this man that he has to undergo all this torture for defying Zeus. The audience feels compassion for Prometheus because the audience knows that Prometheus is doing the right thing. They know he is teaching Zeus that he cannot have the power over everybody. Prometheus remains untouched and his mind has not changed throughout his punishment. This makes the audience feel sympathy for Prometheus because he knowingly takes in this punishment without giving up. Similarly, Creon’s remorse creates Pathos for the audience. “Insatiable Death wilt thou destroy me yet?” (Watling 16). Creon has just discovered that his wife has committed suicide like his son. The audience feels pity and compassion for Creon’s remorse; however, they do not feel pathos of the same magnitude. The pathos experienced by Prometheus is more dynamic in the fact that he knowingly takes in his punishment. Creon did not know the outcome of his deed until it actually happened. Therefore, due to the Pathos felt by the audience during his punishment, Prometheus is considered a far more tragic character than Creon.
As a result of the cruel punishment he endures, the highly prominent and flourishing status he has, and the pathos arouse by his punishment, Prometheus is a far more tragic character than Creon. In Rex Warner’s Prometheus and E.F. Watling’s Antigone, it is obvious that a hero from one play is more tragic than a hero from the other play. Aristotle has procured six different elements of tragedy that a character posses. Based on these traits, a hero can be considered a more tragic character than other heroes.
