Antigone is ultimately the protagonist of this play for struggling against Creon and his unjust ruling and instead doing what she believes is morally right despite it being against a law. Creon is the antagonist for being an unsuitable leader who judges, is full of pride, and ignorant. He has more evil qualities as many Thebens disagreed with him and saw Antigone as more just. It is Antigone’s tragedy in the play because of her determination to honor her dead brother and leading herself to being in a tomb alive by Creon and ends her life by suicide. Antigone’s whole life was very tragic as the audience knew she was heading to death after one unfortunate after
Creon is not a heroic character despite his excess on many aspects. Antigone is one of the most famous characters Sophocles created for the strength she brought in a time that was unjust. She wanted too burry her dead brother but his uncle, Creon; king of Thebes at that time forbad it. Antigone desired nothing else than justice. She was not capable of accepting the fact that laws did not depend on her.
King Creon shows that he cares about Antigone. He tries to save her life but she is stubborn and makes a sacrifice to bury her brother which was against the law. King Creon seemed like he was impressed by Antigone since she chose a plan and did not back down from it. Antigone knew the punishment that would follow after burying her brother, her death. Creon may think she is just as stubborn as her father Oedipus once was.
Although Antigone and Creon both exemplify the characteristics of a tragic hero, Antigone is heroic for standing up for what she believes in while Creon is cowardly. Antigone, being the tragic hero of the play, has to make the decision of giving her other brother a proper burial or not, which puts her sister, Ismene, and her life on the line. Even though Ismene says.... which means she doesn’t want to be involved with the whole situation. Antigone is careless over the whole situation even if that means burying him may kill her. She was not afraid to admit to the burial.
Many problems start happening after Antigone dies because everyone though that it was tragic to lose her. Everyone though it was tragic because they thought she was innocent, that she just wanted to burry her brother.
Because of the hubris, or hurtful, over bearing pride, of each of the characters, destruction descends upon them. Antigone’s destruction comes from her being to stubborn to back down, but Creon’s downfall comes from attempting to be just and right by enforcing the law. Since Creon acted as he thought right and just, then suffered tragedy because of an error he made, he displays the image of a tragic hero. Antigone is the law of the gods in her beliefs. She also holds her family above the laws of man.
This is demonstrated from the opening scene where out of nowhere a fight breaks out, just out of one perceived disrespectful utterance. If both sides hadn’t despised each other so much Romeo and Juliet’s affection would not have been sneered upon and, indeed may never have happened at all. In a classic forbidden fruit statement Juliet whispers “My only love sprung from my only hate!” when she realises who her love is. The conflict carries on even with the death of Mercutio and Tybalt. Instead of mourning their loss, each family incessantly blames the other for its cause.
She knows well that she has violated the state’s law by burying her brother. However, Antigone understands that by doing so, she is “guilty of the holiest crime”. Though, we can realize that Antigone places her conscience and ethical values upon divine laws. Creon unsuccessfully convinces Antigone to admit her act as wrong and condemn her to death as a result. The consistency of Antigone’s act in accordance with her own conscience and values which are determined by divine laws coupling with Creon’s totalitarianism make her civil disobedience justified.
Appearing to be very angry that a woman dared to defy his wishes, Creon boldly declares that “When I am alive no woman shall rule.” The issue of Antigone being condemned to die becomes more than just a person who disobeys Creon; instead, the punishment is given even more eagerly because it is a woman who disobeys a man. Creon does not respect Antigone because she is a woman. Haimon, Creon’s last son hated his father for killing his future bride. After failing to convince his father to forgive Antigone, Haimon visited the cell where she was poisoned. Since Haimon could not stand dealing with his lover’s death he “drew his sword” and killed himself.
Her stubbornness of course, is what forces Antigone to rashly take matters in to her own hands, and take the body of Polyneices. She did not realize until she was about to die, that she had possibly acted foolishly. Antigone shared her flaw with Creon, who seemed to have an even more obstinate personality. Her downfall began with her proud soul and neglecting the King’s law. She goes against Creon to stay true to herself and her own family, and by that decision, her fate was sealed.