Antigone Tragic Hero

Sophocles’ play Antigone continues the calamitous story of the Theban royal family, recounting the conflict between Creon’s authority as king and Antigone’s sense of justice. While many of the events of the play are certainly tragic, whether or not Antigone and its characters should be considered tragic is less definite. Aristotle’s theory of a tragic hero calls for a basically good character who experiences a fall due to some flaw or error, experiencing a transformative realization and catharsis as a result. When considered together, the traits of both Antigone and Creon come together to fulfill all of the requirements for the play to be a tragedy, but neither character can be considered an Aristotelian tragic hero standing alone.

Sophocles, a great tragedian, was the one who gave Greek tragedies their traditional form. An important part of traditional Greek tragedies is the presence of a tragic hero. All tragic heroes should have the characteristics of rank, a tragic flaw, a downfall, and a recognition of mistakes. The seemingly tragic hero is Antigone. She wants to bury her brother Polyneices even though this would be going against Creon, who is her uncle and the king. When Antigone buries Polyneices Creon sentences her to death because of it. In Antigone by Sophocles the tragic hero is not Antigone because she only meets the characteristic of a tragic flaw, hers being pride, but doesn 't meet the other three characteristics of a

While Antigone represents a full devotion to humanism, her sister, Ismene, represents not only the rejection of it, but also passivity towards the notion of morality which, in a sense, is equivalent to Creon’s treachery towards what we hold morally sacred. Ismene has long been used as a symbol of both anti-politics and anti-humanism, which creates a dynamic plot by contrasting the cowardly fear to stand up for one’s concept of what is right with a brazen display of self-fulfilled justice. (2) What’s worse may be Ismene’s knowledge of her cowardliness and complete complacency, as seen when talking to Antigone about her plan to bury their slain brother when sharing her fear of punishment, " Think how we’ll die far worse than all the rest, if we defy the law and move against the

For in the play, at the beginning, Antigone and Ismene were talking of how Antigone wants revenge for the death of their brothers. While, Ismene is expressing sorrow she is pleading that Antigone doesn’t do something so drastic. As said in the story by Ismene “I, for one, I'll beg the dead to forgive me— I'm forced, I have no choice—I must obey the ones who stand in power. Why rush to extremes? 80 It's madness, madness.” Even with saying this, she does help Antigone, and if she were not in the story then Antigone would have had to do this on her own, most definitely failing ruining the introduction of the story.

Furthermore, Antigone condemns Ismene for not participating alongside her in the burial of their brother by exclaiming, “Are you true to your birth? Or a coward?” (Ant. 38). Antigone makes it evident that she regards her own actions to be brave, and her

Antigone, a Greek a tragedy, is the third of the Three Theban Plays by Sophocles. Throughout the play, readers are introduced to few, but intriguing characters, one being the protagonist of the play, Antigone. Antigone is the tragic hero of Antigone; she presents recognition of the gods, exemplifies good virtues, and possess a fatal flaw, or hamartia. A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.

Most people encounter heroes on a daily basis. Some of these heroes can be real life heroes such as the firemen who saved the cat, or the teacher helping with a struggling student while others can be found in forms of media or literary works. A specific type of hero that is often found in many Greek tragedies is called a tragic hero. A tragic hero often possesses a tragic flaw, experiences a sudden reversal of fortune, and finally come to a realization that the reversal of misfortune is resulted from his or her own actions. In Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, written in 5th century BCE, the protagonist Creon is an excellent example of a tragic hero.

When she finds out that Antigone is disobeying Creon, she becomes very worried. Ismene says she cannot act against the law and that the consequences of acting against the laws put fears in her. Ismene being righteous interferes with her decision of whether she is to help her sister or not. Eventually Ismene recants and wants to help Antigone with the illegal burial of their brother Polyneices but Antigone rejects. Ismene recanting angers her sister; She feels that Ismene should of chose her in the first place but it is now too late because Antigone does not want the hep. Without the help of Ismene, Antigone gets caught by the guard for trying to bury her brother Polynices for a second time. If Ismene did please her sister and decide to help in the first place would Antigone of got

The story “Antigone” has a epic and tragic hero like every other story does; and what this will be about is, who represents a epic hero and why they do. In the story, the person who best represents a epic hero is Antigone; and the reason for that is, she shows exceptional amounts of compassion. Through the story, she wants for her brother to get the burial he deserves and goes through many obstacles and suffering the consequences for helping him.

Antigone is an ancient Greek play, originally written by tragedian Sophocles, that has been adapted by the French playwright and dramatist, Jean Anouilh. This well-regarded interpretation of the play retains its classical plotline but explores theories of tragedy and how tragedy has moulded this classical play. During this theatrical piece, the protagonist, Antigone, ignites disastrous events that gravely impact not only her family, but the city of Thebes. Furthermore, A World Enclosed is an archetype of tragedy that perfectly represents Antigone. This archetype of tragedy is demonstrated in a plethora of ways throughout the play: Antigone’s stubbornness and determination, her over willingness and persistence to obey the gods, and how the chorus, essential and solitary figures in Greek plays, comment on how tragedy functions within the play.

As the play transpires Ismene’s courage is revealed through her standing by Antigone’s side while she receives her punishment of execution. Although Ismene wasn’t opposed to honoring her brother she tried to convince Antigone not to go against the law “We are ruled by more powerful people and must obey them… I yield to those who walk with authority.” (Page 15), this shows the people of Thebes fear to disobey the king.

Additionally, Ismene also gets punished due to Antigone’s actions even after obeying her superior’s orders. As a result, Creon states that “[he will] execute them” (43). Moreover, Ismene is punished with the shame of the actions she has caused. She stood up to Antigone and partially blamed herself for their brother’s burial as she didn’t want to be left alone. Ismene therefore “bear(s) [her] share of blame” (45) and suffers from Antigone’s actions. Ismene wasn’t the only character who embodied a traditional attitude as Sophocles introduces a similar male character.

Universal themes that are outside of time and space, but are rather applicable to human nature itself, are a key element in Greek tragedy. Antigone has a clearly defined theme of family versus state. In Sophocles's tragedy, he depicts the conflict of Antigone wanting to save her family from dishonor against Creon's obsession with law and civil order. Antigone is portrayed as a headstrong and close-minded woman who is determined on following the rituals Greek gods expect upon death by burying her brother, Polynices. Her sister, Ismene, warns her multiple times to pay her loyalty to the state, especially since they are women and cannot strive against men. However, Antigone wishes to create and live by her own rules. She buries her brother without feeling she owes any obligation to the law. On the contrary, Creon is shown as a very prideful man who eventually brings his own destruction upon himself. He believes his word is the law for he was appointed by the city.

In contrary Ismene is docile and someone who follow the laws at all costs. She said, “we are women” stating a woman’s position in society and obligated to obey by the law. She doesn’t agree with her sister Antigone, since is prohibiting for women to have a voice during those times. Ismene believe that women should never violate the laws of man who were guide by the gods. Antigone will carry out the forbidden burial alone, nevertheless she seeks futilely the complicity of her sister Ismene. Ismene without endorsing the established power by King Creon, discreetly folds to it, became a passive collaborator of the system implemented by him.

Her actions in this case were slightly irrational, but showed her dedication to family. She also shows her family focus when she shows Creon the damage that he would do to his family with his actions. Ismene speaks of how Creon would be robbing his son of a wife and destroying his family (Sophocles, 90). Even during a time of chaos and sadness (after losing her brothers and the arrest of Antigone) Ismene stays with the values she believes in which is respected by many individuals.