Tragic Hero’s Downfall

Tragic Hero’s Downfall

What traits and qualities are required to be a tragic hero? In the plays Antigone and Oedipus Rex By Sophocles, Creon is responsible for his own downfall by his actions and the way he tries to deal with problems. Throughout the play he has many comparisons to Oedipus as well, only here it is easier to sympathise toward Oedipus more.

To start, Creon is responsible for his own downfall because of what ha does. When Creon unearthed the fact he he is the one who shed blood he says “ I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it” (244). Like every fess up in human history, Creon can’t change the fact that he did it that is why he admitted it was him. Admitting that he was the reason, gives proof that he brought his own downfall. After a little thought Creon states that he wants his “death [to] come quickly, and be kind to [him]” (244). Creon is has come to the point of no return, the way Sophocles makes Creon more of a hero type the “it's all my fault type”. The more we can really see how Creon is corrupted. The horrible thoughts that come through Creon's head make “[him] sick with fear [...] [he] killed [his] son and [his] wife” (244). Maybe this the fact that he killed someone so close to him, really killed some parts of him inside. He was given this prophecy that he nor anyone could escape.

The next thing to think about is, Is Creon the tragic hero of this tale? King, the all powerful Creon States that “The State is the King” (221). Creon is the noble person just like Oedipus. He starts out as this high figure, nobody can touch him. Then when Creon and Haimon were arguing which turn into fighting “and suddenly drew his sword [...] Creon shrank back [...] [Haimon] drove half the blade[...] Into his own side,[and died]” (241). Creon has fallen hard, he is literally killing himself, in his mind the fact of being alive is leaving him . This is an example of a Hamartia, bring a disaster to the hero. Creon has finally made it to the punishment part of the story, “big words are always punished” (245). A king falling from his high throne is what he is stating here. Creon is punished with the fact that he killed his son, then later killed his wife, and having to live with that is a horrible punishment all around, but the main punishment is the loss of Creon humanity.

Finally, it is easier to sympathize more to Oedipus because he didn’t have a chance to escape his fate while Creon did but was to arrogant to see it.