Creon's Tragic Flaw
When a flaw overcomes a person with dignity, honor, and leadership, it becomes tragic. This tragic flaw conquers a man who has great leadership skills, and eventually causes death once it has taken over completely. This man, by definition a Tragic Hero, experiences a downfall from such a flaw. Creon, the Tragic Hero of Antigone, by Sophocles, possesses such a flaw. Of royalty and filled with pride, one of his nephews fought a war with his country. The other fought against it. He decides to not give burial rights to Polynecies, the state's traitor. With a burial, the soul of Polynecies will live on. Without it, it will certainly decay with the body. Creon's tragic flaw ultimately displays itself when he sentences Antigone, ignores Haemon, and rejects the prophet. The sentencing of Antigone brings the first appearance of Creon's Tragic Flaw. Although against the common law of government but with the moral law of the gods, Antigone decides to bury Polynecies anyway. "I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me" (p. 941), said
Creon's pride, the ultimate tragic flaw that leads to his downfall, exposes itself when he sentences Antigone, ignores Haemon, and rejects the prophet. Although he eventually comes to the realization of his error, it has ultimately become too late and the consequences are indefinitely reaped. Creon's pride has so possessed and conquered him, that he realizes he may no longer revert the outcome, and states, "The laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them to the last day of his life!" (p. 973). The absolute consumption of Creon in his tragic flaw of pride becomes complete when Creon rejects the advice of the prophet Teiresias. As the prophet warns Creon of the gods' aversion to his ruling, Creon depicts his unconquerable pride by saying, "...if the great eagles of God himself---should carry him stinky bit by bit to heaven, I would not yield" (p. 971). Creon leaves all reason behind and challenges the very authority of the gods. Yet as Teiresias foreshadows great death, Choragus warns, "...I cannot remember that [Teiresias] was ever false" (p. 973). This statement brings
Some common words found in the essay are:
Antigone Polynecies, Creon Antigone, Queen Creon's, Antigone Sophocles, Tragic Flaw, tragic flaw, Tragic Hero, creon's pride, creon's tragic flaw, creon's tragic, ignores haemon rejects, antigone ignores haemon, Creon's Tragic, flaw creon's pride, sentences antigone ignores, ignores haemon, haemon rejects, rejects prophet, moral law, sentences antigone, antigone ignores, creon tragic,
Approximate Word count = 733
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
