Demise of a Hero Essay

The act upon Antigone is one of the known classic tragedies. indite by Sophocles and performed in 441 BC, the round is considered, up to the present time one of the most(prenominal) recognized tragedies ever written. except then, what is a tragedy and what differentiates it from former(a) forms?Aristotle, in his Poetics, specify tragedy as the imitation of an follow up that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself.(Aristotle, VI.2) by from such, tragedies also bewilder the strength to instigate a feeling of shame and fear for the caseful. However, these feelings will be mudd lead due to a catharsis or purging of such emotions caused by the sad hero.There has been much line as to who is the tragic hero in the play. In Aristetolian definition , the tragic hero is goddamn to fail and posseses a tragic flaw, or fatal flaw. In the case of Antigone, her tragic flaw, or misjudgement, that is hamartia is her blueer laws of trading to the gods and ones fa mily. She is willing to do exclusively things for the laws she strongly abides by and tug for the family whom she is devoted to. Creon , on the other hand, is quite the opposite. He disregards the directives from the gods.The characters tragic flaw takes the character down as the tragedy progresses. I quote from Antigones line lief will I meet close in my sacred duty to the dead. interminable time have I to strike down with them than with those who live upon the earth. Seek not to represent with me nothing so terrible go off come to me hardly that an honored destruction remains.(Sophocles) Truly, Antigone is ready to face final stage to go through her duties.In Creons case, I quote, honor the good and punishing the vile, as easily beseems a pattern, I have appoint due funeral rites to Eteocles, who died fighting for the fatherland exclusively Polynices, who sought to make desolate with kick up his native city and its gods, and who sought to shove himself with kin dred blood and lead our citizens to thraldomto him sh ein truth last(predicate) no man give a tomb. Let the body lie mutilated, as a feast to dogs and birds. Therefore have I appointed watchers over his corpse, and do ye watch yourselves that no one disobey. voraciousness has often led men to their death.(Sophocles)Aside from having a tragic flaw, Aristotle defines a tragic hero as having several other characteristics that invoke the emotions of the audience who ar watch the tragedy. The tragic hero is characterized by quadruple major attributes. The first, tragic flaw, or hubris has already been discussed in the earlier part. Another trait is that the character must be all natural of dread blood, must posses nobility or is born with a high degree of wisdom. In the case of Antigone, she is born of nobility. Antigone is Oedipus and Jocatas daughter. Then again, Creon is also of noble origin since he is the current ruler at.that time.After such follows perepetia or a reversa l of fortune which is caused by the same flaw. Antigone is emprisoned and starved to death, while Creon eventually loses all that he has. Creons anagorisris or acknowledgement of his slews came too late. When he consulted the prophet Teiresias, all of his family were dead and Antigone had already commited suicide.Antigone was written by Sophocles a known tragedian, it was written for Greek audience and was meant to be performed on a Greek stage. Antigone is One of the 3 Theban plays or Oedipus cycle. This settle contains Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and the same play, Antigone. The characters in the play ar individuals who are part of Greek mythology.The play is set in the demesne of Thebes at a time after the outbreak of a war in between armies led by the deuce sons of Oedipus. The main encroach of the play was presented in the informant of the play. Since the beginning of the play, the conflict lies on the death of the two brothers who had apparently killed each other. Creon suggested that Polynices would not be given straitlaced burial.He argues that since Polynices fought against the kingdom of Thebes, he cannot be buried with proper rights while Eteocles received full array honors in his burial. Having appoint out what had start out of his brothers, Antigone defies Creons decree and molds to bury his brother. When Creon found out about this, he logical for Polynices remains to be dug out. At this point, Antigone accepts to be punished by death for the action she has done. Ismene claims to be part of this accompanying but Antigone does not allow her to submit to such act.The Main characters in the play are Antigone , Ismene, Antigones sisterCreon, Eurydice, Haemon and Teiresias. Antigone is a woman who adheres unswervingly to the law of the gods as well as the protection of her family. In the course of the play, we see that Antigone holds onto what she believes in up until her death. Ismene, as she goes into a dispute with her sister, showed her resilience and how Antigones ideas had greatly influenced her. Creon is Antigones uncle.But un corresponding Antigone, he is a firm believer of the laws of man. He is constrained by the ideas of simplicity and goos sense. Eurydice is Creons wife. She is silent but very significant since her suicide attach the total fall of Creon. Haemon is Antigones fianc and Creons son. He tries to convince his father to spare Antigones life. He was also responsible for language of the opinion of the people that Antigones finis was right. Teiresias is the blind prophet who spoke to classify Creon of his wrongdoings. Teriesias blindness and Eurydices silence tells us how significant the windlessnessness can become. In our modern age, there is still debate on who should be followed. Although most laws that are created adhere to the known laws of our religion, there is still conflict between the man-made and master laws. At times, it is very difficult to decide which laws to put first , especially when there is no absolute right and wrong. However, as what had happened to Creon, it is very possible that we make a mistake and end up much like the tragedy that is in Antigone.Works CitedAristotle, Poetics.Gregory, Justina, ed.. A Companion to Greek Tragedy, 2005Segal, Charles, Tragedy and refinement An Interpretation of Sophocles (Norman University of Oklahoma Press, 1999, new edition).Sophocles. ternion Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York Penguin Books, 1986, p. 35