Sophocles' Antigone
Sophocles' AntigoneThe debate over who is the tragic hero in Antigone continue on to this day. The belief that Antigone is the
hero is a strong one. There are many critics who believe,
however, that Creon, the Ruler of Thebes, is the true
protagonist. I have made my own judgments also, based on
what I have researched of this work by Sophocles.
Antigone is widely thought of as the tragic hero of
the play bearing her name. She would seem to fit the part
in light of the fact that she dies in doing what is right.
She buries her brother without worrying what might happen to
her. She "Takes into consideration death and the reality
that may be beyond death" (Hathorn 59). Those who do
believe that Antigone was meant to be the true tragic hero
argue against others who believe that Creon deserves that
honor. They say that the Gods were against Creon, and that
he did not truly love his country. "His patriotism is to
narrow and negative and his conception of justice is too
exclusive... to be dignified by the name of love for the
state" (Hathorn 59). These arguments, and many others, make
many people believe the Antigone is the rightful
protagonist.
Many critics argue that Creon is the tragic hero of
Antigone. They say that his noble quality is his caring for
Antigone and Ismene when thier father was persecuted. Those
who stand behind Creon also argue that Antigone never had a
true epiphany, a key element in being a tragic hero. Creon,
on the other hand, realized his mistake when Teiresias made
his prophecy. He is forced to live, knowing that three
people are dead because of his ignorance, which is a
punishment worse than death.
My opinion on this debate is that Antigone is the
tragic hero. She tries...
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