Antigone Tragic Hero

“O look upon me,/ The last that remain of a line of kings!/ How savagely impious men use me,/ For keeping a law that is holy,” (Sophocles, Antigone E3. 940-943.42). This quote spoken by the character of Antigone at the end of Sophocles’ classical Greek tragedy Antigone truly shows that Antigone is the tragic hero of this famous play. Antigone perfectly portrays the Ancient Greek philosopher, writer, and scientist Aristotle’s four characteristics of a tragic hero. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is a noble person who is neither wholly good nor evil, faces a difficult decision, learns from their mistakes, and has a flawed character whose flaw ultimately leads to their downfall. Due to these facts, Antigone is the tragic hero of the classical Greek tragedy Antigone.

Antigone acts quite nobly in deciding to bury her brother, Polyneices, and in obeying the Gods rather than Creon. “And if I have to die for this pure crime,/ I am content, for I shall rest beside him;/ His love will answer mine.” (Sophocles, Antigone E2 72-74.18) This declaration spoken by Antigone shows her true feelings towards her actions. The use of the word “pure” allows the reader to infer that Antigone truly believes she has done
The difficult decision the character of Antigone has to make is whether or not she should bury her brother and please the Gods, or remain obedient towards Creon and the ruling powers of Thebes. The question arises of who Antigone respects and honors more: her mortal or immortal ruling powers. Antigone believes that any punishment she will receive in her mortal life the gods will prevent and intervene due to the fact that she has decided to please the almighty powers, the ancient Greek gods. For this reason, Antigone defies Creon and buries Polyneices, believing she is invincible because she is pleasing the gods and therefore has the gods on her