Creon the Tragic Hero in the Creon - Coursework Example

Creon the Tragic Hero in the Creon Affiliation Creon the tragic hero in the Antigone Introduction A tragic hero refers to a figure whose actions and inaction causes an inevitable downfall. Usually, they often cause fear and agony to the subjects. Aristotle demystifies a tragic hero as a man that comes navigate through the prosperity to adversity because of his misfortunes. In addition, he described the change of fortunes not necessarily implying bad to good, but mostly a reverse (Kennedy 2013). Furthermore, they are born from loyalty families and suffer from self-destructive and overt disobedience to the existing social customs and order. In light of this definition Creon in Antigone befits a good example of a tragic character. As Northrop describes, Creon represents the highest leadership figure in Themes leadership structure and has a tendency of high-handedness in his leadership. Creon As Tragic Hero in Antigone Play Firstly, Creon takes a rebellious approach in leadership against the people and gods. The people of Themes feel betrayed by the actions of their leader. One of the excruciating experience is when he stamps authority and deny some families the rights to bury their beloved ones who are killed during the war. Notably, he denies Antigone a noble duty to offer her brother a decent burial; instead he orders the body to be eaten by dogs. The decree causes rebellion within the community. Besides, it becomes overt that residents were unhappy. Secondly, Creon displays a ruthless character that creates fear and agony among the people of Thebes. By executing Antigone for forcefully disobeying his decree, he displays a ruthless leader whose action stirs trouble across the community. In scene two, Creons leadership begins to dawdle as people raise doubts about his commitment to uphold the tradition. Notably, "Your people are beginning to question your judgment." It is a sentiment that his close aide gives him in realizing that there was growing public concern on his reckless decisions (Kennedy 2013). By killing Antigone, his leadership is brought to test, just like Aristotle description of the tragic hero, this action is a flaw that hungers his subjects. The incident provokes hatred even within his family, as a character with ruthless and self-gratifying ideas; he willingly ordered the killing of Antigone despite being a close member of his family. Unlike may leaders who would acquire powers to defend and protect lives and property of his people, his leadership is driven by ambitious negative deeds. The eventuality would narrow his survival, and his legacy would be forgotten or kept for bad memory. Additionally, the actions of his leadership bring the acrimony among the community and set a turning point that would bring his leadership down. His ruthless leadership certainly disgust and creates great resentment among his former followers. Although he appears to uphold the authority and territory of Themes through expanding territory using military conquest, he successfully establishes himself as a real tragic character as described by Aristotle. His actions are both bad and good, but his negative actions appear to shape his reign. The suffering of people is overt, he goes against traditions and custom that has been fundamental guidance of so many generations. Furthermore, his deviance on the social norms is an act of a negative heroic character that defines him as a betrayer. As a leader, his role is that of custodian of societal moral and cultural fabric. People of Themes places high dignity to the death, as an instrumental figure-head who people bestowed the leadership due to loyalty nobility; his open betrayal of the cultural obedience confirms the worst fears. While disowning Hades for dishonoring the death, he terms the act harshly with disregard to the death "Let the eagles carry his carcass up to the throne of Zeus." In a community that places respect on their beloved ones, his insensible verbal statement encapsulates him as a true tragic character. Besides, no leader in the history of this region had such harsh words towards the death. As an ad example, his actions and words build a character whose self-gratifying decrees causes pain and tribulation among the citizen of this great nation. Moreover, he upholds the stature of loyalty irrespective of the consequences. In regard to imprisonment of Antigone, he upholds the law as a king and the Polis penalty code. Any tragic character has a trait for standing firm irrespective of the laws in place. They believe in execution of existing statutes and local policies without compromising on the morality. In addition, he forgot about the public court of opinion and embarked on self-destruction habit of high-handedness leadership (Kennedy 2013). According to the play, when Antigone goes against his decree, his conviction to uphold it angers him and embark on cruel punitive punishment in total disregard to the existing familial ties. Like many tragic characters, he is caught in a dilemma, but he chooses to uphold his decree. Besides, in the entire play Creon is constantly in a tragic state of mind as he has to watch his back constantly. As a leader, he is realized the discontentment from people, he recognizes the power of money. His greatest fear is loss of power and control. In fact, he doubts his close aides as possible agents that could be paid to kill him. Notably, those who offer advice to this tragic leader are sent by people and even promised money to guide the leader along the communal belief. Kennedy (2013) states that on recognizing looming manipulation of his aids through money, he terms money as "money demolish cities, rot men from their homes and twist good minds towards most atrocious schemes." It shows a tragic leader character whose life is uncertainty and constant fear, and suspicion gives them constant nightmare. Certainly, his actions of pursuing the cruelest punishment for his closest allies and enemies alike makes people disengage with his leadership although in a gradual manner. In addition, like most tragic leader described by Aristotle, they often end up reaping the repercussion of their actions and mostly, become subjects of own men revenge. Basing on this theoretical provision, it affirms his leadership as an ideal tragic leader discourse. The last scene of the play, everything falls apart, everyone he loved dissociates with him gradually and his cruel and ruthless leadership taunts his soul. In a dramatic turn of events, his son commits suicide in unclear circumstances. Agony starts hitting this once powerful leader. Surprisingly, he mourns the son despite killing the son’s bride; it is certainly ridiculing reality of these tragic characters. He cursed death for the bad occurrence; he considers his agony greater than those of others. In his leadership, he killed and maimed for deviance, now the nature turns against him. Tragic characters have described by Aristotle often evokes a sense of fear and pity. As the play culminates, everything appears to work against Creon and his efforts to exert decrees appears loosened (Kennedy 2013). In addition, fears cripple him as the action to execute Antigone reminds him of imaginary enemies paid to avenge her death. It is a common trait among tragic leaders whose actions cause acrimony and public hatred. As a new leader he was certainly loved and admired, however, after the betrayal of the tradition and merciless executions, his reign grows worse after every incidence. Despite the courageous and bold decisions, majority of these leaders live with regrets and societal guilt though they prefer to suffer inwardly (Kennedy 2013). Similarly, he later learns increasing dissenting voice among his subjects, but chose to ignore. It affirms Aristotle description of tragic heroes as royal leaders who rather die with "royal guilt", but remain remembered for such bad deeds. Kennedy (2013) states that furthermore, there is a systematic downfall that serves not only to humble this loyal leader, but also humiliate. As soon as the son is buried, his wife commits suicide in what appeared as a beginning of undesirable eventuality in his leadership. While still contemplating on the burial of his wife, his mother died when she realizes that she had married her son, who happens to be Creons brother. Notably, a series of misfortune befall a once heroic, brave and ruthless figure. The magnitude of the sequential losses appears to overwhelm. His once courageous and daring eyes are filled with sorrow and eventuality of his dawn fall appears in the oven. Conclusion A tragic hero role in a play builds a character with royalty and mostly leader figures whose actions and inactions cause him misfortune and depravity. In the light of Creons ruthlessness and his conviction to ensure the people from Thebes uphold his decrees causes him great rejection and counter fights from his people. Being morally right in upholding decrees, he becomes a virtuous man whose cruelty knows not boundary. He subjects a relative to tormenting punishment due to defiance but later suffered a tragic loss of his son, wife and mother. He is left more miserable because of curses he received from those he excruciated through painful tribulations. References Kennedy, X. J. (2013). Literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing (12th ed.). Boston: Pearson. Read More

Additionally, the actions of his leadership bring the acrimony among the community and set a turning point that would bring his leadership down. His ruthless leadership certainly disgust and creates great resentment among his former followers. Although he appears to uphold the authority and territory of Themes through expanding territory using military conquest, he successfully establishes himself as a real tragic character as described by Aristotle. His actions are both bad and good, but his negative actions appear to shape his reign.

The suffering of people is overt, he goes against traditions and custom that has been fundamental guidance of so many generations. Furthermore, his deviance on the social norms is an act of a negative heroic character that defines him as a betrayer. As a leader, his role is that of custodian of societal moral and cultural fabric. People of Themes places high dignity to the death, as an instrumental figure-head who people bestowed the leadership due to loyalty nobility; his open betrayal of the cultural obedience confirms the worst fears.

While disowning Hades for dishonoring the death, he terms the act harshly with disregard to the death "Let the eagles carry his carcass up to the throne of Zeus." In a community that places respect on their beloved ones, his insensible verbal statement encapsulates him as a true tragic character. Besides, no leader in the history of this region had such harsh words towards the death. As an ad example, his actions and words build a character whose self-gratifying decrees causes pain and tribulation among the citizen of this great nation.

Moreover, he upholds the stature of loyalty irrespective of the consequences. In regard to imprisonment of Antigone, he upholds the law as a king and the Polis penalty code. Any tragic character has a trait for standing firm irrespective of the laws in place. They believe in execution of existing statutes and local policies without compromising on the morality. In addition, he forgot about the public court of opinion and embarked on self-destruction habit of high-handedness leadership (Kennedy 2013).

According to the play, when Antigone goes against his decree, his conviction to uphold it angers him and embark on cruel punitive punishment in total disregard to the existing familial ties. Like many tragic characters, he is caught in a dilemma, but he chooses to uphold his decree. Besides, in the entire play Creon is constantly in a tragic state of mind as he has to watch his back constantly. As a leader, he is realized the discontentment from people, he recognizes the power of money. His greatest fear is loss of power and control.

In fact, he doubts his close aides as possible agents that could be paid to kill him. Notably, those who offer advice to this tragic leader are sent by people and even promised money to guide the leader along the communal belief. Kennedy (2013) states that on recognizing looming manipulation of his aids through money, he terms money as "money demolish cities, rot men from their homes and twist good minds towards most atrocious schemes." It shows a tragic leader character whose life is uncertainty and constant fear, and suspicion gives them constant nightmare.

Certainly, his actions of pursuing the cruelest punishment for his closest allies and enemies alike makes people disengage with his leadership although in a gradual manner. In addition, like most tragic leader described by Aristotle, they often end up reaping the repercussion of their actions and mostly, become subjects of own men revenge. Basing on this theoretical provision, it affirms his leadership as an ideal tragic leader discourse. The last scene of the play, everything falls apart, everyone he loved dissociates with him gradually and his cruel and ruthless leadership taunts his soul.

In a dramatic turn of events, his son commits suicide in unclear circumstances. Agony starts hitting this once powerful leader. Surprisingly, he mourns the son despite killing the son’s bride; it is certainly ridiculing reality of these tragic characters.

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