Creon

Creon is an ideal tragic hero in this story. He has every characteristic that is observed by Aristotle in The Poetics. Creon's hybris, or his pride, causes him to violate the laws of the gods, which is reason for several tragic things that happen. Creon is of high station by being the head of his class, the King. Being a new King, he will not let anyone prove him wrong nor change his mind. Although King, he does not have all perfect traits. He has traits that allow him to make mistakes but he also has the ones which can allow him to succeed. According to Aristotle's observations, the tragic hero is to be brought down because of fate or an error in judgement. This error is sentencing Antigone to death for disobeying his decree. The most important part of a tragic hero is his tragic flaw. Creon's tragic flaw is his pride and arrogance. One event that shows his pride is this: "...Are you(Haemon) here, maddened against your father, or are we friends, whatever I may do". Haemon says, "...I am yours..." Haemon still asks his father though if he will not execute Antigone. But, because of Creon's excessive pride, he is angered by the remark and makes the situation worse than it already is. So he says, "...You shall not revile me with these tauntings and go free. Bring out the hateful creature; she shall die full in his sight, close at her bridegroom's side". Finally, Teiresias comes and tells Creon that the gods are angered by Creon's decisions and that he should release Antigone and bury Polyneices. Creon disregards this due to his pride. Teiresias says, "...You'll feel the wound..." Creon pays no attention to this remark. Being a tragic hero, Creon must suffer. Creon has a realization. He realizes that Teiresias must have been right. Creon tries to remedy things, but it is too late for that. In the reversal, Haemon commits suicide after Antigone commits suicide. Eurydice then kills herself. Creon suffers g...