Creon fits Aristotle's tragic hero traits as a significant person who is faced with difficult decisions. Creon is significant because he is king. This makes him both renowned and prosperous. Creon is not completely good nor completely bad; he is somewhere in-between, as humans are. The audience can relate to this and they admire his qualities of intelligence in political affairs. They can also relate to his ability to make hard decisions with apparent ease. These hard decisions are what lead Creon to fit Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero. Creon faces decisions that lead to a no-win situation, with confidence, and he makes the best decision he can, based on his beliefs. He believes that Polyneices should not be buried because he was a traitor to his family. This decision affected Antigone greatly, and Creon knew that the decision would be hard on some people. Family and burials are very important in society, and Creon is asking Antigone to not consider them, to only consider that Polyneices was a traitor to his home city. C

Throughout the story Creon is given several chances to change his foolish disposition. The fist of which was his decision in how to deal with the death of Polyneices. He failed to do what was right because he was too obsessed and bound to the laws that he valued entirely too much. His opportunities become increasingly easier and blatant as well. While the lines were still gray on what to do with Polyneices' deceit, it seemed much more obvious about what action to take after discovering how Antigone had disobeyed him. He had advice from several people that were trusted and close to him telling him that he should not punish her for following her heart.

Unfortunately, Creon does not always make the correct decision because of personality traits that he possesses. When Creon sentences Antigone to death, he is wrong. This decision is based on Creon's downfalls. He has hamartia and he judges wrong, and he also suffers from hubris. He is excessively prideful and believes that his choice is the only correct one. Creon also has an inaccurate view of his place in relation to the Gods. He believes he is in a position to know what They want and know what They feel is best. No mortal truly knows what the Gods want, but Creon believes he does because he cannot imagine that what he believes is wrong, even to the Gods. Antigone's death is a bad decision that Creon makes based on his beliefs that the Gods view Polyneices as a traitor and would not want him honored in death.

Through the three roughly related conflicts we are given a picture of why and for what causes Creon and Antigone combat. Creon represents the laws of the world, while Antigone represents the laws of the soul. This creates obvious conflicts in the course of life. There are certain human laws that are for one reason or another unfair under certain circumstances. One such circumstance presented itself after Polyneices Eteocles, brothers to Antigone, are killed in the Thebes' civil war. In the eyes of Creon Eteocles chose the noble and correct side in the war while Polyneices fought against Creon's cause. As a result of Polyneices' actions, which clearly defied the state and its laws, Creon decides that he will not be given a proper burial. Naturally, as his sister Antigone want to see her brother buried properly, and was especially important in this time period because of the various polytheistic beliefs. Because of her morals, ideals and the fact that what she felt was more important than any law, Antigone gave her brother a proper burial despite Creon's demands.

Creon's bad decision leads to his eventual downfall and demise. Creon realizes his hubris and his wrong decision a little too late. Antigone is already dead, and he cannot correct his wrong-doing. This makes the audience feel pity for him, for he does try to correct his mistake. As more deaths are realized, the audience feels more deeply for Creon. In the process of going from ignorance to knowledge, he loses Antigone, his wife, and his son. All of his suffering humbles Creon, and he begins to change and view the world differently. He realizes that he was wrong in punishing Antigone for honoring her brother's death and that it is okay for him to admit when he is wrong, and show his weakness, because, in the end, it makes him stronger. All of the suffering that he endures serves for the reason for his death. Creon's decisions and their consequences show the audience that he is the tragic hero of the play.

Creon receives his advice from several sources. The most important advice comes from his son, Haemon, and Teiresias, a blind prophet who speaks directly with the gods. Haemon, who is engaged to marry Antigone, tells his father how the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone and her actions, and that he will never forgive him if he executes her. Creon again decides to abide by his laws and not by those of the gods and immortals, despite learning the fact that Antigone, who disregarded his laws and follow

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Approximate Word count = 2667
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)