Antigone: The Tragic Hero

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how Antigone emerges as the tragic hero in Sophocles' play, "Antigone", because she dies with dignity and demonstrates incredible commitment to her beliefs. The paper further relates that Antigone is also a tragic hero because the gods favor her at the end of the play.

From the Paper:

"Antigone emerges as the tragic hero in Sophocles' play, Antigone, because she dies with dignity. She is the primary character and focus of the play. Her fatal flaw is her stubborn personality and her pride, which force her to sacrifice her life for that which she believes. Regardless of what the law declares or what anyone tells her, she is determined that Polynices receive a decent burial. When she puts this at the forefront of her mind and lives the rest of her days fulfilling her goal she becomes a hero. Antigone is also a tragic hero because the gods favor her at the end of the play - a sign that she possessed more wisdom that Creon. Because of her beliefs and actions, Antigone can be nothing but the hero of this drama."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hadas, Moses. The Complete Plays of Socrates: Introduction. New York: Bantam Books, Inc. 1967.
• Sophocles. Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus and Colonus. Robert Fagles, trans. New York: Penguin Books. 1980.

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• Analytical Essay # 64604 : "Creon as the Tragic Hero"
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• Book Review # 101138 : "Creon: The Tragic Hero"

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