Which character, Antigonê or Creon, best fits the idea of a tragic character?
As we saw in reading "Oedipus the King," "Antigonê" does not have a character that is unique in his or her tragic-ness. Indeed, all of the characters whom we see in Antigonê are somehow affected by the indisputably tragic events that transpire over the course of the play, Antigonê takes her own life by hanging, Haimon by stabbing himself after losing her, Ismenê loses her sister, and Creon both his son, his son's intended, and his sense of his own decency. So, as I see it, the question is not so much whether Antigonê or Creon fits the ideal of the tragic character better (since both of them do so quite well), as it is which of the two is the more tragic character.
While it is my firm belief that only the author of the work has the authority to state with any certainty the proper interpretation of his or her work, I see Creon as the more tragic character for two outstanding reasons. First, of all of the characters who sustain significant loss over the course of the play, Creon has lost the most. His son is dead by suicide due to the death of his beloved Antigonê, he has lost faith in his own ability to perceive right and wrong, and most importantly, he must now go on living with the knowledge that everything that has transpired is the direct result of his own actions and that he has nobody to blame but himself. Having to live with such paralyzing guilt is equally as, if not even more tragic than winding up dead at the play’s conclusion. Antigonê has done what she knew in her heart was the right thing to do, and dies as somewhat of a martyr for righteousness and honor. Haimon took his life in a moment of passion and grief, and suffered only for a very short time. Ismenê comes closer to Creon in her tragic-ness level by sustaining the loss of her sister, though we are not made aware of how this affects her so much as we are of how it does Creon. Therefore, with the combined bearing of three traumatizing events, along with having to continue living with his guilt, and the author’s choice to showcase Creon’s sorrow so conspicuously, I feel there is ample reason to conclude that Creon is the most tragic of the characters in “Antigonê.”
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Zach,
ReplyDeleteThe question of who is the most tragic character in the play is one I had also been wrestling with while reading. Before reading the play, I assumed Antigone would be the most tragic character or possibly the only since the play has her name and such was true in Oedipus the King. But after reading, I came to the same conclusion as you--that Creon is, in fact, the most tragic character. His pride, selfishness, severe loss, and eternal grief and guilt all add up to be greater than the tragedy of the other characters. You also said "Ismene comes closer to Creon in her tragic-ness level," which I found interesting, although I'm not sure if I agree. From that idea, I was wondering...do you think that the characters still living at the end of the play (the characters who aren't killed or didn't take their own lives) are more tragic because they have to live with the tragedy?
Great response. I apologize for the lengthy comment!
I think you're very convincing when you explain why Creon is the more tragic character. Your explanation of Creon's perception of right and wrong was particularly compelling, since that topic has not been broached in any of our class discussions and does not come to mind immediately. And you are right, I think, that the guilt that Creon has to live with is the saddest thing of all. At least Antigone died thinking that she made the right decision.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great interpretation! The title is a red herring of sorts and I can totally see that. I was so disgusted by Creon's negligence on his own word I failed to see the tragedy in his situation!
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy that Creon suffers is truly great and depressing but at the end of your blog I found myself wishing to know more about Ismene's fate.
Nice work!
Dear Zach,
ReplyDeleteI like the way you look at this play! It is interesting to compare the two plays. Unlike Oedipus, Anitgone does not have a defined "victim" as Oedipus Rex does; there are a slew of victims. Creon surely suffers the most in this situation... then who is the center of the play? Does it revolve around the plot according to Creon or around Antigone? I am not so sure. Today, we started to talk about whether Antigone's suicide was as noble as she would have us believe. I believe you touch on this slightly by mentioning how both Creon and Ismene suffer more in life than Antigone does in death. Great blog and interesting ideas!