Who Is The Tragic Hero In Antigone Essay Example For Students

Who Is The Tragic Hero In Antigone Essay AntigoneAntigone did the right thing by defileingCreons strict orders on burying Polynices because the unalterable lawsof the gods and our morals are higher than the blasphemous laws of man. Creon gave strict orders not to bury Polynices because he lead a rebellion,which turned to rout, in Thebes against Creon, their omnipotent king. Antigonecould not bare to watch her brother become consumed by vultures talonsand dogs. Creon finds out that somebody buried Polynices body and sentpeople out to get the person who preformed the burial. Antigone is guiltyand although she is to be wed to Creons son, Haemon. He sentences herto be put in a cave with food and water and let the gods decide what todo with her. He was warned by a blind profit not to do this, but he choosesto anyway, leaving him with a dead son, a dead wife, and self-imposed exile. We will write a custom essay on Who Is The Tragic Hero In Antigone specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Antigone had good reasons for her actions. She did obey the rules of her gods, which were that any dead body mustbe given a proper burial, with libatations. This would prevent the soulfrom being lost between worlds forever, along with wine as an offeringto the gods (page 518- side note). Nor could Antigone let Creons edictsgo against her morals (lines 392-394). She chooses to share her love, nother hate (line 443). She couldnt bare to see one family member be chosenover the other because of what a king had decided was right, which shecontravened. Why condemn somebody who stood up for what they believed inand is now dead for it anyway? Bringing homage to the family was very importantto Antigone (line 422-423). The gods laws come before mortal lawsin Antigones point-of-view, which is how I believe also. In death, youwill answer to your god and no man will have control of your fate in theworld that lies hereafter. Therefore by obeying the gods, hopefully, willresult in a happy afterlife, which are what most people strive for in ancienttimes and now. If man does not honor you for noble efforts, your godswill. Antigones act was honorable. She stood up to the highest of powersso she could honor her brother, knowing the consequence would be death. Most likely she figured there is only a certain amount man can do to you,so she might as well stand up for not only her family and beliefs, buther gods as well (lines 377-389).Creon could have easily changed his mind,and there were fair amounts of warning. But his decisions lead him intoan empty life that could have been adverted if only he would have put hispride aside for a while. Simply because he was too egotistical and tootempermental, his son died (line 986) along with his wife (lines 1080-1081),which left him hapless and with a deep sense of deplorable sorrow leadingto self-imposed exile (lines 1119-1126). Antigone, Heamon, and Creons wife allcould have been saved if only one man could have put aside his pride. Itis clear that Antigone is not the one who did the wrong in this story,but Creon.