Demise of a Hero Essay

The picnic Antigone is one of the known classical tragedies. Written by Sophocles and performed in 441 BC, the impart is considered, up to the present magazine one of the most recognized tragedies always written. But then, what is a cataclysm and what differentiates it from other forms?Aristotle, in his Poetics, defined disaster as the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself.(Aristotle, VI.2) Aside from such, tragedies also have the ability to instigate a touch modality of pity and fear for the character. However, these feelings will be lost due to a catharsis or purging of such emotions caused by the tragicalal hero. on that point has been much debate as to who is the tragic hero in the sportswoman.  In Aristetolian definition , the tragic hero is doomed to fail and posseses a  tragic flaw, or fatal flaw. In the case of  Antigone, her tragic flaw, or misjudge workforcet, that is tragic flaw is her higher laws of d uty to the gods and ones family. She is willing to do both things for the laws she strongly abides by and fight for the family whom she is devoted to. Creon ,  on the other hand, is kind of 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 Gladly will I meet death in my sacred duty to the exsanguinous. Longer time have I to spend with them than with those who live upon the earth. Seek not to deliberate with me nothing so terrible can come to me yet that an honor death re importants.(Sophocles) Truly, Antigone is ready to face death to fulfill her duties.In Creons case, I quote, Honoring the good and punishing the vile, as well beseems a pattern, I have assigned due funeral rites to Eteocles, who died fighting for the fatherland but Polynices, who sought-after(a) to make desolate with fire his native city and its gods, and who sought to glut himself with kindre d blood and lead our citizens to slaveryto him shall no valet 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. Greed 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 argon watching the tragedy. The tragic hero is characterized by four major attributes. The first, tragic flaw, or hubris has already been discussed in the earlier part. Another trait is that the character must be either innate(p) of noble 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 reversal of fortune which is caused by the aforementioned flaw. Antigone is emprisoned and starved to death, while Creon eventually loses all that he has. Creons anagorisris or realization of his mistakes 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 set contains Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and the aforementioned play, Antigone. The characters in the play are individuals who are part of Greek mythology.The play is set in the kingdom of Thebes at a time after the divulgebreak of a war in between armies led by the two sons of Oedipus. The main conflict of the play was presented in the beginning 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 Pol ynices would not be minded(p) beseeming burial.He argues that since Polynices fought against the kingdom of Thebes, he cannot be buried with proper rights while Eteocles received full military honors in his burial. Having found out what had become of his brothers, Antigone defies Creons decree and decides to bury his brother. When Creon found out more or less this, he ordered 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 hazard but Antigone does not allow her to admit to such act.The Main characters in the play are Antigone , Ismene, Antigones sister Creon, Eurydice, Haemon and Teiresias. Antigone is a woman who adheres firm to the law of the gods as well as the protection of her family. In the play 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 A ntigones ideas had greatly influenced her. Creon is Antigones uncle.But un equivalent 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 marked the broad(a) 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 speaking of the opinion of the people that Antigones decision was right. Teiresias is the blind prophet who spoke to tell Creon of his wrongdoings. Teriesias blindness and Eurydices silence tells us how significant the stillness can become.            In our modern font 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 synthetic and divine laws. At times, it is very difficult to decide which laws to put first, oddly 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 Civilization An Interpretation of Sophocles (Norman University of Oklahoma Press, 1999, new edition).Sophocles. Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. modernistic York Penguin Books, 1986,           p. 35