Creon's Tragedy in Antigone
Introduction
In literature the term tragedy is dealt with sad event or situation. This term is conventionally reserved for a type of drama in which the protagonists is defeated. Besides sad even or situation, tragedy is also imitation. According to Aristotle's poetic "tragedy is the imitation of and action with incidents arousing pity and fear, and to accomplish its catharsis of such emotion" (Locke and Gibson, 1962). The result which is expected from tragedy is that the audience should be purged of both pity and fear by the time the tragedy comes to an end. By suffering vicariously with the tragic hero, the audience has a greater moral awareness and keener self-knowledge.
"Antigone" is one of trilogy Thebes presenting a chronicle of traditions centering on the house of Thebes. Oedipus, King of Thebes has died at Colonus, but his two daughters and his son, Eteocles, continue to live in the palace of their father. However, when a second son, Polynices, makes war against Thebes to regain the kingdom both Eteocles and Polynices kill each other. Creon, their uncle becomes a kind and announces his law hat Eteocles who has died in defending his country will be given an honored burial, whereas Polynices who is regarded as an enemy will be left unburied. Whoever breaks the laa will be stoned to death.
Antigone, one of the daughters of Oedipus flouts at the order of Creon and gives Polynices the hurried burial; and act which affords the play in a tragic theme. Antigone buries Polynices because she is sure that her act is innocent and will be blessed by God. Creon's decision to execute Antigone is opposed by Ismene, Haimon and Teirresias.
Ismene is Antigone's sister. At first she refuses to help Antigone because she is afraid of Creon's law. But when Antigone is going to be stoned to death, she decides to follow her against Creon.
Haimon is a son of Creon and betrothed to Antigone. He tries to change Crean's decision with regard to Polynice's burial by telling that public, indeed, do not want to see Antigone being punished. He reminds Creon, if Antigone dies, her death will be followed by another. Haimon believes Antigone's action is honorable.
Teiresias is a blind soothsayer. He reminds Creon about his mistake. Creon rejects Teiresias's advice to set Antigone free. At last Teiresias warns his prediction about calamity which will happen.
Eurides is Creon's wife and Haimon's mother. When she knows that her son, Haimon, has died by being stoned, she decides to follow him.
Besides these characters, there are several minor characters in this play: the guard assigned to watch the unburied corpse of Polynices, the first messenger, the second messenger and the chorus of Theban. The chorus is considered as society, and the narrator in this play comments of the former and later acts.
The setting of the play is before the royal palace of Thebes at dawn of the day, after the repulse of the Argive Army, the enemy, from the assault on Thebes.
The General Conception of Greek Tragedy
The general conception of Greek tragedy is described and defined as follows (quoted by Potter from Aritstotle's "Poetic"):
In "Antigone" there are two main characters who suffer: Creon and Antigone. The suffering of Creon is more complex than Antigone's. Creon's struggle to rule his country according to the absolute power is opposed not only by Antigone, but also by Haimon and Teiresias. He is also the central character of the play. He appears from the beginning till the end of the play, whereas Antigone appeared up to the middle of the play.
After reading the whole story, the writer suggests that the tragic hero is Creon, because he has a flaw, self-destructive pride.
Creon: My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city! The state is the king. That much is sure!
As a King of Thebes, Creon thinks that his decision is right and is unable to understand that anyone else can be right. Because of his pride and his wish to be a good King, Creon does not realize that his decision is contrary to both custom and divine low. His struggle to rule the country according to the human law is opposed by Antigone.
Creon's pride leads him onto suffering. He is failed from his power and happiness. He is failed to acknowledge a higher good than that of his decision. The cause of Creon's downfall is his flaw, so he is directly responsible for his fate.
Thematic Significance in Antigone
As mentioned above, thematic significance is a positive element in the tragedy. In "Antigone" the thematic significance lies in the fact Creon realize his mistake, after which he has greater understanding of both himself and the world. The experience of his suffering leds him onto a new and enlarged awareness of both himself and his existence.
Creon: How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong.
Conclusion
In literature tragedy means a story with sad event or situation, in which the protagonist or tragic hero is defeated because of his flaw. The most cited flaw is hubris or self-destructive pride.
"Antigone" can be classified as a Greek tragedy because we find the general conception of Greek tragedy, a tragic hero, the cause of his downfall and thematic significance.
In "Antigone" the tragic hero is Creon. He suffers because of his flaw: pride. He cannot imagine that anyone else can be right. He is too inflexible and narrow in outlook to heed criticism or admit a mistake. At the close of the play, Creon recognizes and accepts his guilt, but the consequences of his acts can no longer be changed.
"Antigone" suggests the conflict between the requirements of human and divine law. This problem is crystallized in the dispute about the burial of Polynices, in which Creon's understanding of the public welfare is opposed to Antigone's conception of her religious study.
The positions of Antigone and Creon are opposed, but both posses the same stubborn belief in their own righteousness. On the issue of the burial one is right, and one is wrong, but both share the blame for the tragic end of the play.
As a Greek tragedy, "Antigone" has a basic idea: man learns through suffering. Through his suffering Creon learns his mistake. He has greater understanding about himself and the world.
Bibliography
Gassner, John. 1963. Introducing the Drama. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.
Levin, Richard. 1960. Tragedy Plays, Theory and Criticism. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World.
Lock, Gibson and Arms (Eds.). 1962. The Reader's Encyclopedia of the Drama. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.
MacGowan, Kenneth and Melnitz, William. 1959. The Living Stage a History of the World Theater. New York: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Potter, James L. 1967. Element to Literature. New York: The Odyssey Press.
Reaske, C.R. 1966. How to Analyse Drama. New York: Monarch Press.
Roche, Paul. 1968. The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles. New York: Mentor Books.
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Creon as a Tragic Hero
Tri Pramesti, lecturer at the Faculty of Letters, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya.