As a literature expert with a focus on classical works, I can provide an analysis of why Creon from Sophocles' "Antigone" is often considered a tragic hero.

Creon, the king of Thebes in the play, initially appears as a strong and decisive leader who is determined to maintain order and uphold the laws of the state. However, his tragic flaw, which is hubris, or excessive pride, leads him to make decisions that ultimately result in his downfall. Creon's refusal to allow the burial of Polynices, despite the pleas of his niece Antigone and the warnings of the blind prophet Tiresias, demonstrates his overconfidence in his own judgment and his disregard for the unwritten laws of the gods.

The tragic hero's journey typically involves a recognition or anagnorisis, where the hero realizes the error of their ways, and for Creon, this comes too late. His realization that he has caused the deaths of his own nephew Haemon (Antigone's fiancé) and his wife Eurydice (who commits suicide upon hearing of Haemon's death) is a poignant moment of recognition. However, this insight does not lead to a redemptive action but rather to a tragic end, as he is left to bear the consequences of his actions.

Creon's story is a classic example of a tragic hero's arc: a noble character with a significant flaw who experiences a downfall brought about by their own mistakes. His pride blinds him to the consequences of his actions, and it is this flaw, along with the suffering it causes, that makes him a tragic figure.

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Creon is the tragic character in the play ��Antigone��. Creon's tragic flaw, hubris, causes his downfall. Creon will not listen to anyone. He is stubborn and his pride is so great, he can not bring himself to acknowledge that he could ever wrong.read more >>