Antigone Literary Analysis

601 Words3 Pages
The Greek play, Antigone, was written by Sophocles in 441 B.C. In the play, the two main characters show traits of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who is honorable, but has a certain flaw that forms a downfall. I believe Antigone acts as more of a tragic hero than Creon due to her level of determination. She is an extremely straightforward and good-hearted person with a positive attitude. I also believe that her behavior remains persistent throughout the play. Antigone was a great person who never did anything wrong. Until she decided she wanted to bury her brother, Polyniecies, against Creon’s laws; she could not let Creon get in her way of what she wanted, “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.” (Prologue. 35.). She was going to do what she thought was right. She did it for herself, her brother, and the gods. Creon stood as just an obstacle that she could go around. Antigone was also willing to change into a better person. She tried to get the idea of her “cursed” family out of her head, and attempted to stand up for her family by burying her brother. Even though her sister, Ismene, refused to help Antigone, Antigone still kept her mind on the goal. “You (Ismene) have made your choice; you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say this crime is holy…” (Prologue. 55-56). Antigone did bury her brother, even if her own flesh and blood wouldn’t help her. Antigone’s behavior also remained persistent, which kept her focused and to not back out of burying her brother at the last minute. During the whole play, Antigone stood by what she believed in and kept a positive attitude. “I knew I must die, even without your decree: I am only mortal. And if I must die now, before it is my time to die, surely this is no hardship…” (1.2.65-67). She didn’t mind if she died because she knew that might end up as one of the

More about Antigone Literary Analysis

Open Document