Sam Buli

MYP English 9A, Period 3

September 22nd 2011

Tragic Hero
In ancient Greek tragedies, there is always a tragic hero. The tragic hero is usually the
main character, who is not all good or all evil, and is doomed to downfall by some weakness or a
flaw in their character. In the tragedy, Antigone, the tragic hero is Antigone. In this tragedy,
Antigones good intention is that she wants to honor her brother, Polynices, by burying him even
though Creon has made it illegal to do so because he believes Polynices was a traitor to Thebes.
Antigone doesnt care about the rules Creon has made because she is stubborn and will do
whatever it takes to honor Polynices and she loves her brother and believes that the laws of the
gods are more important than Creons laws because she knows that she will be living with the
gods longer than she will be living with the humans. Antigones downfall is brought about by her
tragic flaw. After breaking Creons law she is unapologetic. When she is speaking to Creon she
tells him that she does not care about his rules or threats to kill her and Antigone continues to
defy him. The actual downfall of Antigone is when she hangs herself while being trapped in the
tomb because she would rather die than submit to Creons law, and even defies him in her death.
Antigone wants to bury her brother, Polynices, because of her deep love for him and her
belief in upholding the laws of the gods. Antigone and Ismene argue over whether they should or
should not bury their brother, Polynices. Ismene does not want to bury him because she knows
that they will be stoned to death if they do so, but Antigone doesnt care about what happens
because she wants to honor her brother and the laws of the gods. Antigone declares, I will raise
a mound for him, my dear brother. (95) Antigone shows her love for her brother because Creon
made it illegal to bury Polynices after he betrayed his country but Antigone will still bury him no

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matter what the consequences are. Another example of Antigone and Ismene arguing about
burying Polynices is when Antigone says to Ismene, Why not, our own brothers burial,(25)
Antigone thinks that it would be crazy not to bury Polynices because he is their dear brother and
it would be unfair to bury Eteocles and not Polynices. While in Creons palace Ismene asks to be
killed with her sister, but Antigone tells Ismene to Save [herself]. [she does not] grudge [her
her] survival.(624) Antigone wants Ismene to live because even though she is angry with her,
she doesnt want her to die because she is still her sister and they love each other and Antigone
does not want Ismene to take the credit for something she did. Antigones stubbornness allows
her to bury Polynices but it also gets her into trouble.
Antigone is extremely stubborn and is unapologetic to Creon about what she did. After
Antigone buried Polynices, the sentry took her to Creons castle. Antigone tells him that [his]
edict [did not have] such force that [he], a mere mortal, could override the gods. (503504)Antigone was being rude to Creon and shows no respect to him. Antigone tells Creon that
she is, Not ashamed for a moment (573)She is being unapologetic because she tells him that
she is not ashamed of what she did. In addition, Antigone tells Creon that he has, Ruthless
power to do and say whatever pleases [him]. (567)Antigone is insulting Creon by saying that he
thinks he can do or say whatever he wants and only cares about himself. Antigones stubbornness
brings about her downfall.
Antigones stubbornness leads to her downfall, she realizes this while being trapped in
the tower, and she hangs herself. The sentry tells Creon that they interrogated her, charging her
with offenses past and present- she stood up to it all, denied nothing. (482-484)They now know
that Antigone is the one that buried Polynices. Antigone says to her dead brother, Polynices,
because I laid your body out as well, this is my reward. (991-993)She has realized that she is

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being punished because she was too stubborn and buried Polynices. The messenger, found
her [Antigone] hanged by the neck in a fine linen noose (1346-1347)Instead of staying
locked up, Antigone decides to take her own life rather than follow Creons laws continuing, to
defy Creon, in her death. She would rather live with the gods and be free than live on earth.
Antigones stubbornness is what gets her trapped in the tomb, where she hangs herself.
In the Ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone, the tragic hero is Antigone. Antigone has her
mind set on burying her brother, Polynices, in spite of Creons threats because she wants to
honor him. Ismene, her sister, tries to stop her but Antigone is too stubborn and refuses to listen
to her. After Antigone is caught burying Polynices Creon send her to be locked away in a tomb.
Antigone kills herself in this tomb because she would rather die than submit to Creons laws.
Antigone increases the sense of tragedy in this play.