Tragic Hero

Tragic Hero

A tragedy is a drama that recounts the downfall of a dignified, superior character that is involved in historical or social events. The protagonist, or tragic hero, of the work is in conflict with an opposing character or force (the antagonist,). The action builds from one event to the next and finally to a catastrophe that leads to a disastrous conclusion. In the classical drama Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon plays the tragic hero.

The protagonist is the central character in the play, also known as the tragic hero. They are always involved in the central conflict of the plot, and often change during the course of the work. In the tragedy Antigone, Creon is the tragic hero. Creon is the main character, and is at conflict with Antigone. Although Antigone has broken the law, and covered Polyneices’ corpse, everyone is telling Creon not to punish her. The Gods consider what Antigone has done as a noble act, but Creon, as king, feels he should still give her the death penalty for disobeying his orders. Creon feels that if he does not punish Antigone, he will not be fulfilling his role to the people as king.

Antigone is the antagonist in the play. The antagonist is the character or force against which the protagonist is pitted. She has covered her brother Polyneices’ corpse against Creon’s orders, but does not care if she shall face the death penalty. She feels that it was more important to obey the God’s, then the king. She also plays the role as the future wife of Creon’s son, Haemon.

If king Creon does not listen of advice from the Messenger, Haemon, and the Choragus, he could lose his son to suicide. Creon decides to punish Antigone by burying her alive. At the last part of the play, he has a change of heart, and decides to let Antigone free. By the time he gets to her, it’s too late, she has already hung herself. His son, Haemon, stabs himself and also dies. His wife, Queen Eurydice cannot stand what her husband has let happen to her son, and also kills...