Tragic Hero in Antigone

The characters Creon and Antigone both fit in to a few of Aristotle's criteria of a tragic hero, In Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, they are both choices of tragic heroes.   Neither good nor evil, but just a man like any of us, both having a tragic flaw in their characters, and they are both born of a better social status than most of us.   Even though the story is titled Antigone, it is not necessary that Antigone be the tragic hero.   The misfortune Creon gets should be greater than what he deserves, and he should have all recognition of all truth about himself.   In most of Aristotle's criteria, by many of Creon 's actions, he shows all of the characteristics of a tragic hero and fits in these descriptions perfectly.

  Creon is neither good nor bad, he is not completely bad because he didn't really want to kill Antigone, instead he just wanted to keep his laws straight in order to make his men follow his orders.   Aristotle said "The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness. This should be readily evident in the play. The character must occupy a "high" status position but must also embody nobility and virtue as part of his/her innate character".   Creon is the king in the play, and he is definitely in a higher status than all of us, and his judgment on Antigone at first did reveal his nobility and also virtue as a part of his character.   In scene 3, line 105, Creon shows his self pride by saying, " My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city". This shows his self pride, and is the main weakness in Creon that allows the whole tragic to come about.   Creon is the one who insisted on punishing Antigone and would not change his mind, he is responsible for his own downfall, and even though Creon sentenced Antigone, the misfortune he receives is greater than what he deserves.

  Creon 's ruling is both offensive and unreasonable, all could have been prevented if Creon learned to put aside his pride and listen to reason as well as...