Sophocles Antigone Essay Example for Free

Sophocles Antigone Essay In the Sophocle’s play, Antigone, there are a many tragic characters in which some face death, and others watch as their loves ones die all around them. There is nothing more tragic than to be surrounded by the dead, especially when it may be one’s own fault. Therefore, Creon is the most tragic character of this play. Aristotle would agree that Creon is the main tragic character, as he makes many decisions which could have led him either towards his tragedy or away from it, but ultimately he led himself to his tragedy. This keeps the audience guessing and heightens catharsis, while Antigone’s fate was quite obvious from the beginning where she says, â€Å"As for me, I will bury him; And if I die for that, I am content† (60-61). Creon’s fatal flaw is his stubbornness and reluctance to see anyone else’s view. He begins, like Opideus, as a character that is easily admired and portrayed as an open, caring king, â€Å"Zeus, who sees all things, be my witness that I will not be silent when danger threatens the people; nor will I ever call my country’s foe my friend† (147-149). This shows that Creon is willing to go far and beyond for his country. However, these words also foreshadow his tragedy since he puts the State too far before his family, and as a result, he loses his wife and son. Creon is left alive to watch the death of many: the death of Antigone, of his wife, and of his son. He wanted to look after the state rather than his family and so the consequences came tumbling down and turned his once happy and wondrous life into that of a chaotic one. Creon did not realize the importance of his family until they vanished into the darkness of death all because he was a fool, â€Å"nor have I any regard for him who puts friendship above the common welfare† (145-146). Therefore, Aristotle would agree that because it is Creons fault that all these events took play it makes him a greater tragic character. Antigone is dead, his son falls on his own sword before his eyes and the discovery of his wife’s death is reported by a messenger. All this shows that Creon is a greater tragic character than the rest for most have taking the easy way out while he lived to see it all happen before his eyes. Creon form Sophocle’s play, Antigone, is by far the greatest tragic character, and Aristotle would have to agree. Creon is left alive to watch the death of many: the death of Antigone, of his wife, and of his son. All these death happened because he cared far more about his country than his family. He overlooked their value, and therefore, it led to their deaths. This further shows that he is the most tragic character than the rest since he had to endure the deaths of hi loved ones.