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Antigone was a tragic figure, because of the way her life ended. She was in the unenviable position of having to choose between obedience to her conscience and obedience to her King. She had to make a difficult choice. Would she leave her brother Polyneices' body to be desecrated by the elements, dogs, and birds? Or would she give his corpse the proper burial that her cultural traditions demanded but that her government denied? Either way, she saw punishment. If she denied the corpse proper burial, then she was punishable for having violated the enduring laws by which the gods asked the Thebans to lead their lives and prepare for their deaths. If she buried the corpse, then she was punishable for having violated the manmade law of her uncle and future father-in-law, Theban King Creon. She chose to respect her brother and her gods. So she was sentenced to death behind a walled-up cave in a remote area. She ended up committing suicide by hanging herself with her own halter.

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Q: Why was Antigone a tragic figure?
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Why is Creon the tragic hero in 'Antigone'?

Creon is not the tragic hero in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a hero is the main character, the holder of great powers, and the doer of great deeds. That hero is tragic when his life takes an unfortunate turn. The description of the hero does not fit Theban King Creon, who is capable of no great deed or power. But the description of tragic does fit Creon, as a tragic figure in a tragic play about the tragedy of the tragic heroine Antigone.


Who is a tragic hero in Antigone?

cindy!


Is Antigone or Creon more tragic?

Antigone is more tragic than Theban King Creon. The adjective 'tragic' refers to an unhappy ending or outcome. So Antigone is more tragic, because she ends up dead. Except for his life, Creon loses everything that means something to him.


Is it Antigone or Creon who meets a tragic end in 'Antigone?

Both Antigone and Creon meet tragic ends, but Antigone's is more tragic in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, an end is tragic when the outcome of a human life leads to suffering or takes an unfortunate turn. The description fits both Theban Princess Antigone and King Creon. Antigone's end is tragic because she loses her life and therefore forfeits the opportunity to marry her beloved first cousin, Prince Haemon and to have children with him. Creon's end is a bit less tragic since he still lives at the play's end even though he loses everyone and everything that gives his life meaning.


What is an example of tragic flaw in 'Antigone'?

Her rashness, and loyalty

Related questions

Why is Creon the tragic hero in 'Antigone'?

Creon is not the tragic hero in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a hero is the main character, the holder of great powers, and the doer of great deeds. That hero is tragic when his life takes an unfortunate turn. The description of the hero does not fit Theban King Creon, who is capable of no great deed or power. But the description of tragic does fit Creon, as a tragic figure in a tragic play about the tragedy of the tragic heroine Antigone.


Who is a tragic hero in Antigone?

cindy!


Is Antigone or Creon more tragic?

Antigone is more tragic than Theban King Creon. The adjective 'tragic' refers to an unhappy ending or outcome. So Antigone is more tragic, because she ends up dead. Except for his life, Creon loses everything that means something to him.


Is it Antigone or Creon who meets a tragic end in 'Antigone?

Both Antigone and Creon meet tragic ends, but Antigone's is more tragic in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, an end is tragic when the outcome of a human life leads to suffering or takes an unfortunate turn. The description fits both Theban Princess Antigone and King Creon. Antigone's end is tragic because she loses her life and therefore forfeits the opportunity to marry her beloved first cousin, Prince Haemon and to have children with him. Creon's end is a bit less tragic since he still lives at the play's end even though he loses everyone and everything that gives his life meaning.


What is an example of tragic flaw in 'Antigone'?

Her rashness, and loyalty


Why is Antigone a tragic character in 'Antigone'?

That she numbers among the play's cast of characters and that her life comes to an unfortunate end is the reason why Antigone can be considered a tragic character in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Antigone is a main character who influences and is affected by the interactions among the other main characters. Great changes can be expected of her as Princess of Thebes, and yet her life is cut short, suddenly and cruelly. What she does therefore defines her as a main character and what happens to her therefore defines Antigone as tragic.


Why is Antigone not the tragic hero in the play 'Oedipus Rex'?

That she is a child who suffers but who is not known to do great things is the reason why Antigone is not the tragic hero of the play "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, a person who is tragic meets with a bad end. A person who is heroic is capable of doing great deeds. The job description matches Antigone's father, Theban King Oedipus, in the play "Oedipus Rex" and herself in the play "Antigone".


How is Antigone a tragic hero?

Antigone herself is not the tragic hero of Antigone. The tragic hero of Antigone is Creon. Creon is a well-intentioned king, that comes from royal blood, but he brings his death upon himself with his tragic flaw. His flaw was that he paid more attention to the laws of man and easily forgot about the power of the gods. After everyone that he loves dies, Antigone (his niece), Haimon (his son), and Eurydice (his wife), he becomes a better person and changes his views. However, it is too late for Creon by the end of the tragedy, and he is too weighed-down by his own guilt. He chooses to die.


Is Creon a tragic figure?

Creon could certainly be a tragic figure as he is in possession of hubris, his pride and arrogance, and high estate, he is the king of Thebes, that he loses due to an error caused by hubris. Creon's error was his refusal of burial to Polyneices, thus breaking one of the 'unwritten laws' of the gods that require the burial of all those who die. In the end his pride and arrogance block him from excepting the wise counsel of those around him to allow the burial and pardon Antigone for burying her brother. This mistake leads to his downfall, the suicides of his son and wife. Creon clearly demonstrates all the aspects of the tragic figure, as defined by Aristotle. This does not exclude Antigone from also being a tragic hero, as she also possessed many of the traits which define the Greek tragic hero.


What purposes are served by the appearance of Antigone at the beginning of 'Antigone'?

To show that is Antigone is both the main female character and the protagonist and to foreshadow her suffering as the tragic hero are the purposes served by her appearance at the beginning of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone's being the first character to be seen and to be heard in this case is symbolic of her role as the main character and as the tragic hero. That Ismene is second to be seen and to be heard is symbolic of her status as a supporting character. That the two discuss how they will respond, or not, to a challenge foreshadows the heroic Antigone's tragic fate.


Is Antigone a tragic hero in 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Antigone is not a tragic hero in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.). Specifically, the term hero describes the main character who does great deeds or holds great power. That hero does not stay at the top of his game once the unfortunate consequences of his flawed act or character begin to be felt. The two descriptions fit Theban Princess Antigone only in the sense that her life tragically takes an unfortunate turn. But Antigone is a tragic character, not the tragic hero.


Why was burying Polyneices a tragic flaw for Antigone?

Burying her brother Polyneices was a tragic flaw for Antigone. The burial was a flaw, because it disobeyed the recent decree by Theban King Creon about the non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. The flaw was tragic, because it resulted in Antigone's death. Violation of the law was punishable by a capital sentence. Antigone was walled up in a dark, remote cave. Soon afterwards, she committed suicide by hanging herself with her halter.