The Greek play, Antigone, was written by Sophocles in 441 B.C. In the play, the two main characters show traits of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who is honorable, but has a certain flaw that forms a downfall. I believe Antigone acts as more of a tragic hero than Creon due to her level of determination. She is an extremely straightforward and good-hearted person with a positive attitude. I also believe that her behavior remains persistent throughout the play.
Antigone was a great person who never did anything wrong. Until she decided she wanted to bury her brother, Polyniecies, against Creons laws; she could not let Creon get in her way of what she wanted, Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way. (Prologue. 35.). She was going to do what she thought was right. She did it for herself, her brother, and the gods. Creon stood as just an obstacle that she could go around.
Antigone was also willing to change into a better person. She tried to get the idea of her cursed family out of her head, and attempted to stand up for her family by burying her brother. Even though her sister, Ismene, refused to help Antigone, Antigone still kept her mind on the goal. You (Ismene) have made your choice; you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say this crime is holy (Prologue. 55-56). Antigone did bury her brother, even if her own flesh and blood wouldnt help her.
Antigones behavior also remained persistent, which kept her focused and to not back out of burying her brother at the last minute. During the whole play, Antigone stood by what she believed in and kept a positive attitude. I knew I must die, even without your decree: I am only mortal. And if I must die now, before it is my time to die, surely this is no hardship (1.2.65-67). She didnt mind if she died because she knew that might end up as one of the risks in burying Polynieces.
Antigone was good-hearted, persistent, straightforward, and determined, but she did carry a flaw that brought her to a downfall. Her flaw was her stubbornness and her bullheaded attitude. Her flaw brought her to her death. Her stubbornness makes her bury her brother alone. She did not realize her hardheaded attitude until the guards put her into the tomb to die. To me, since it was my hand that washed him (Polyneices) clean and poured the ritual wine: and my reward is death before my time! (1. 4. 64-65). Antigone realized what she had done, but did not regret any of it. Like Antigone, Creon was also stubborn which caused his son, Haemon, to commit suicide.
Obviously, Antigone is more of a tragic hero because Creon did not show all of the traits that Antigone represented. Creon does show some examples of what a tragic hero consists of, but does not show evidence of being a good-hearted person. Antigone did possess all of the essential elements in being a tragic hero. She stood up for what she believed in, and didnt back down. Even if it did mean her death, she would still go through anything to let her brother rest in peace. All she needed was her brother to be peaceful, and then she could suffer the consequences of her decisions. Antigone should inspire people who want to make anything in life happen.
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