Tragic Figures in Antigone
Tragic Figures in Antigone
(Tragic Figures in Antigone)
1. What are the three main criteria for what Aristotle says makes a “tragic figure,” or “tragic hero” in drama?
Both Creon and Antigone are both victims of great tragedy. Who is the “tragic figure” in this play: Antigone or Creon? If you do a quick google search, many sources will tell you that Creon is the tragic hero. But is there a case for Antigone?
2. What examples from the play prove that Antigone also arguably meets the criteria of a tragic Hero?
- Aristotle’s Criteria for a Tragic Hero:
In The Poetics, Aristotle outlines three main criteria for a tragic hero:
- Hamartia (Flaw or Error): The tragic hero has a flaw or makes an error in judgment that leads to their downfall.
- Peripeteia (Reversal of Fortune): The hero experiences a dramatic reversal of fortune, moving from a state of happiness or power to one of suffering or destruction due to their own actions.
- Anagnorisis (Recognition or Discovery): The hero comes to a moment of recognition, where they understand their flaw or mistake, often too late to prevent their tragic end.
According to Aristotle, these elements create the emotional response of catharsis in the audience—pity and fear—which makes tragedy a powerful form of drama.
- Who is the Tragic Figure in Antigone—Creon or Antigone?
While many sources claim Creon as the tragic hero of Antigone, there is also a strong case to be made for Antigone herself fitting the criteria of a tragic hero.
Antigone as a Tragic Hero:
- Hamartia (Flaw or Error): Antigone’s tragic flaw could be seen as her unyielding loyalty to her family and the gods. Her determination to bury her brother Polynices, despite the king’s decree, leads to her arrest and eventual death. She is unwavering in her belief that divine law supersedes human law.
- Peripeteia (Reversal of Fortune): Antigone begins the play determined and confident, ready to fulfill what she sees as her duty to her brother and to the gods. However, this confidence leads to her arrest by Creon and a slow, painful death by entombment. The reversal occurs when her commitment to what she believes is right directly leads to her destruction.
- Anagnorisis (Recognition): Antigone doesn’t experience a typical recognition moment like Creon, but she does show a certain acceptance of her fate. Her tragic recognition comes when she understands that her actions, though justified in her eyes, have condemned her to death, yet she accepts this willingly as part of fulfilling her moral duty.
Thus, while Creon may seem to fulfill these criteria as the ruler whose decisions lead to the destruction of his family and his downfall, Antigone’s tragic flaw, the reversal of her fortune, and her eventual acceptance of her fate make her a strong contender for the tragic hero role.
Conclusion:
Both Creon and Antigone can be seen as tragic figures in Sophocles’ Antigone, but Antigone arguably fulfills the criteria of a tragic hero as laid out by Aristotle. Her steadfast determination to honor divine law over earthly decrees leads to her downfall, making her a classic example of a tragic figure who suffers due to her commitment to a principle.
