When Antigone is sentenced to death and Ismene asks how she will live without her presence, Creon states: "Do not speak of her 'presence' she lives no more" (94). Creon's flaw comes in the form of an excessive amount of pride, as is seen in the manner in which he speaks to Ismene. However, despite his inherently good nature, Creon possesses a tragic character flaw that leads to his downfall. Creon is a wise leader, and thus his son vows to follow the rules that he sees fit to set. Haemon puts such faith in his father that in Creon's "wisdom trace the rules which shall follow" (96). Furthermore, his subjects, including his son, Haemon, view him as a good leader. The fact that he refuses to show Polyneices the same respect further testifies to his virtue, for he values the state above all else and thus would never "deem the country's foes a friend to self" (86).īy refusing Polyneices an honorable burial, Creon is justly retaliating against the man who attacked his country.
Creon's good nature is also seen in the manner in which he buries Eteocles, who "with due observance of right and custom he has laid in the earth, for his honor among the dead below" (82). (86)Ĭreon believes that the state is of the utmost importance, and thus the fact that he would stop at nothing to protect his subjects shows that despite his actions, he has the best of intentions. remembering this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only while she prospers in our voyage can we make true friends. For I would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, coming to the citizens. If any makes a friend of more account than his fatherland, that man has no place in my regard. When speaking to the chorus, Creon states: In addition, Creon's high moral character, as seen through his love for the state, the just decision to punish Polyneices, and his good leadership, further makes him worthy to possess the label of tragic hero. A noble and relatively virtuous man who loses everything he has as a result of his excessive pride, Creon experiences a revelatory manifestation moments too late to undo his wrongdoing, thus making him the Aristotelian tragic hero of the drama.Īs is required of an Aristotelian tragic hero, Creon is of high social status, for at the beginning of the play it is made known that he is the King of Thebes.