Who is the Tragic Hero and Why? (Antigone)

king of Thebes. “Listen, Ismene: Creon buried our brother Eteocles with military honors, gave him a soldier’s funeral. And it was right that he should: but Polynices, who fought as bravely and died as miserably.—They say that Creon has sworn no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him, but his body must lie in the fields a, a sweet treasure for carrion birds to find as they search for food. That is what they say, and our good Creon is coming here to announce It publicly: and the penalty—stoning to death in the public square!”  (Prologue, Line 14).  This quote is a conversation between the two sisters Antigone and Ismene.  Antigone informs Ismene a burial for her brother Polynices, who fought bravely but died miserably.  Furthermore, Antigone also explains Creon’s law and consequence of burying their beloved brother Polynices.  From the beginning of the play, it is apparent that Creon is depicted as the antagonist, but it is not until the climax and conclusion of the play where he is portrayed as the tragic hero. Creon flawlessly fits all requirements of characteristics and experiences of a tragic hero. Creon holds the highest position in authority in Thebes. After the fall of Oedipus, Creon gained absolute control.  At this point of time Creon is an authoritative and dominant king where he strikes apprehension and discipline into not only citizens but royalty of Thebes.  “But think of the danger! Think of what Creon will do!”(Prologue, Line 34).  This quotation is a warning for Antigone from Ismene, reminding the dangers of a severe consequence if Polynices receives a proper burial.  This reveals to the readers and the audience the strength of Creon, showing his renown. "The law is strong, we must give in to the law [I]n this thing and in worse…I must yield to those in authority" (Prologue, Line 48). In this quote, Ismene shows how Creon is a substantial threat, and how apprehension and discipline is drawn from a person of such power.  Creon as king receives much recognition from the country as a person of prominence.  With his distinguished power, Creon is enabled to enforce strict actions.  His strict actions of law and government, allows his name to live in infamy.  Although ruthless in decisions, and unjustly strict in law and government, Creon is still fair.  "[N]o Ruler can expect complete loyalty from his subjects until he has been tested in office... I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid... as for the man who puts private friendship above the public welfare - I have no use for him, either" (Scene 1 24 - 34). This quotation explains that Creon expects persistence from governors and has no faith in governors whom are weak and fearful for reforms.  His principles show that he holds character, and is in fact not completely bad or completely good.  Creon wills to preserve law and order, and values this more than what is right.  His unscrupulous views leads him to punish even family if necessary.  “No one values friendship more highly than I; but we must remember that friends made at the risk of wrecking our ship are not real friends at all. These are my principles, at any rate, and that is why I have made the following decision concerning the sons of Oedipus: Eteocles, who died as a man should die, fighting for his country, is to be buried with full military honors, with all the ceremony that is usual when the greatest heroes die; but his brother Polynices how broke his exile to come back with fire and word against his native city and the shrines of his fathers’ gods, whose one idea was to spill the blood of his blood and sell his own people into slaver-Polynices, I say, is to have no burial” (Scene 1, Line 39)  Despite, the cruelty and ruthlessness of decisions made by Creon in the eyes of Antigone, Creon, in his defense, still has a rationalization, as described in the quotation.  His justification shows that Creon is reasonable, and only simply working for Thebes’ law be ruled fairly and orderly.         Much like other tragic heroes found in other literary works, each tragic hero holds the characteristic of excessive pride or otherwise known as hubris.  The flaw clouds his mind in justification at certain occasions.  Because of this hubris manner, another flaw is recognized, where his unyielding pride affects his beliefs.  “If I permit my own family to rebel, how shall I earn the world's obedience? Show me the man who keeps his house in hand. He's fit for public authority"(Scene 3, Line 30) Creon’s unyielding pride leads him to have strong beliefs.  Creon prioritizes the order of law in Thebes before his family, because civil obedience of citizens is necessary, where laws are made, and enforced, without any exception to family.  A government where laws are not enforced is a weak government. Creon as the head of the state, wishes to hold Thebes with great excellence, where government runs properly, meaning where laws are upheld.  Although this manner or upholding law appears to be proper, his approach to order and law brings him closer to being a tragic hero, where Creon faces a reversal of fortune head on.         Left alone on the throne of Thebes, Creon loses everything that is dear to him, his family.  In Creon’s unfortunate downfall, he has to face the death of his family after his decision to uphold the law and punish his niece for the proper burial of Polynices.  In relation to Creon’s unyielding pride, he is forewarned by his son, Haimon, as he states, “Then she must die – but her death will lead to another” (Scene 3, Line 124).  Little did Creon know, after Antigen’s death, would lead to his son’s death, as well as his wife’s death.  “The Queen is dead" (Exodus, Line 102). After all unfortunate incidents occur; Creon finally reaches the final trait of being a tragic hero, taking responsibility to his flaws which led to his faults.  "It is right that is should be. I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it. Lead me in...Lead me away.  I have been rash and foolish.  I have killed my son and my wife" (Exodus, Line 121). At this point, the King of Thebes, Creon, finally realizes and accepts the fact that his pride caused his unfortunate downfall, the death of his family, and loved ones.  Due to the recognition of his flaw, Creon then fulfils the role of tragic hero in Aristotle’s definition.          The tragic hero holds a great significance in works of literature.  The tragic hero suffers from problems, which brings pain, as well as an unfortunate downfall.  The tragic hero often depicted as the perfect character, is truly more earthly, with flaws.  Creon is portrayed as the tragic hero in this work of literature.  Behavior, pride, decisions, ruling, traits, downfall, flaws, and acceptance of mistakes, are all key factors which allow Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone, to fit perfectly in the category of tragic hero.