Browse Login Join Donate Help Newest Papers Newest Members Recent Papers Saved Papers

Antigone Tragic Hero

Below is one of our free research papers on Antigone Tragic Hero. If the term paper below is not exactly what you're looking for, you can search our essay database for other topics.
Antigone Tragic Hero

The debate over who is the tragic hero in Antigone continues on to this day. The belief that Antigone is the hero is a strong one. There are many critics who believe, however, that Creon, the Ruler of Thebes, is the true protagonist. Many have argued with no conclusion of who the real tragic hero of the play is. Sophocles might’ve done this purposely in the play to keep the audience on their toes. I have made my own judgments also, based on what I have researched of this work by Sophocles.
Antigone is widely thought of as the tragic hero of the play bearing her name. She would seem to fit the part in light of the fact that she dies in doing what is right. She buries her brother without worrying what might happen to her. She "Takes into consideration death and the reality that may be beyond death" (Hathorn 59). Those who do believe that Antigone was meant to be the true tragic hero argue against others who believe that Creon deserves that honor. They say that the Gods were against Creon, and that he did not truly love his country. "His patriotism is to narrow and negative and his conception of justice is too exclusive... to be dignified by the name of love for the state" (Hathorn 59). These arguments, and many others, make many people believe the Antigone is the rightful protagonist.
Many critics argue that Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone. They say that his noble quality is his caring for Antigone and Ismene when thei...

Login

Join

It's completely free!
Get instant access to all our essays.

Join Now!

Submitted by: 123student
Date Submitted: 08-14-02 9:17am
Category: English
Words: 693
Pages: 2.77