Creon is the brother of Jocasta, the wife/mother of Oedipus, who transformed from a respected man into a tyrant.

The tragic Greek heroic personality contains characteristics such as arte, hubris, ate, and nemesis. With Creon having the Greek Heroic personality one can feel more connected to the play while reading.

Arte is defined as a character having a particular type of excellence. Creon, Antigones Uncle, became King of Thebes after Eteocles and Polyneices, the sons of Oedipus, killed one another in battle. Creon was a man of great power and excellence and showed it in the way he ruled Thebes. Creons portrayal of excellence is shown in the fear that his people has towards him, because no one dared to disobey or to speak out against him. Which is proven in this quote said by Antigone, who dared not to speak ill of the King in public. I know that. Thats why I brought you here, outside the gates, so only you can hear. (Line 21) In this quote, by Ismene, she shows her fear of disobeying Creon; Im not disrespecting them. But I cant act against the state. Thats not in my nature. (Line97) This particular excellence about Creon is shown throughout the play.

Hubris is defined as having an excessive degree of pride. After the death of Eteocles and Polyneices Creon addressed the elders of Thebes and declared him king:

And so I have the throne, all royal power, for Im the one most closely linked by blood to those who have been killed. Its impossible to really know a man, to know his soul, his mind and will, before one witnesses his skill in governing and making laws. (Line196) Power is expected to come with a title of a king, but also with power comes pride. Creonss pride is shown when he chooses to give Eteocles an honorable burial and to leave Polyneices body unburied. In every decision Creon made he stood firmly behind it, and his pride was too strong for anyone to sway him from his decision as shown in this quote As for his brother that Polyneices, who returned from exile, eager to wipe out in allconsuming fire his ancestral city and its native gods, keen to seize upon his familys blood and lead men into slaveryfor him, the proclamation in the state declares hell have no burial mound, no funeral rites, and no lament. Hell be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate. Thats my decision. For Ill never act to respect an evil man with honors in preference to a man who s acted well. Anyone whos well disposed towards our state, alive or dead, that man I will respect. (Line 226) Creon didnt believe the blind prophet Teiresias when the seer predicts that the course of his actions will result in the death of his whole family, the paranoid king accuses the seer of having been bribed. His pride prevented him from listening to the advice of the same prophet whom predicted the fate of Oedipus. Ate is defined as which one acts with blind recklessness. Creon shows this when he orders Antigone to be put to death for burying her bother. When Ismene tries to plea for her sisters life, begging Creon to spare the life of the bride of his son. Creon states, Why not? There are other fields for him to plough.(Line 651) Nemesis is defined as a disastrous retribution. What he does not know is that his selfish actions can cause him more pain than pleasure in life. This can be seen in his son Haemon's plea,

Then shell dieand in her death kill someone else.(Line 859)

Not realizing the seriousness of his son's words, Creon disregards the situation, only later to be ever tortured with the suicidal deaths of Antigone, Haemon, and also his beloved wife Eurydice. As a King of Thebes, Creon thinks that his decision is right and believes that anyone else cant be right. As a human being Creon is in conflict with himself because of his pride and his wish to be a good King, Creon does not realize that his decision is opposing to both custom and divine low. In conclusion Creon possess the personality of a Tragic Greek Heroic that includes, arte, hubris, ate, and nemesis.

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