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  • Essay / A comparison of the plays Macbeth and Antigone

    “Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.” » F. Scott Fitzgerald is not the only novelist to use tragedy, particularly tragic heroes, in his plots to promote disastrous events brought about by fate. Shakespeare and Sophocles incorporate tragic heroes in their plays Macbeth and Antigone. A tragic hero, by definition, is often someone who finds themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, but at the same time reveals their strength, courage and independence, no matter what fate has in store for them. Although both Creon and Macbeth share common aspects of tragedy; Ultimately, Macbeth is more of a tragic hero than Creon because Macbeth was portrayed as a more respectable person than Creon. However, unlike Creon, Macbeth never learned from his mistakes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Although Macbeth and Creon both start out as good characters, Macbeth is portrayed more heroically because his actions are more eloquent as Creon's dark words, and he is influenced by his wife, Lady Macbeth, while Creon chooses his own path. By possessing supreme pride, a capacity for suffering, and a belief in their own freedom, Creon and Macbeth are defined as tragic heroes. Although Creon was portrayed as a very rich and feared king, he was nonetheless an imperfect human. In Greek religion, kings did not have the power to question the law of the gods, but that is exactly where Creon was testing the waters. In his soliloquy, Creon gives his command in the sense that “Polyneices... is to have no grave: no man must touch him or even pray for him; he will rest on the plain, without burial. (Line 29) However, Antigone still gives a proper burial to her brother, thus deliberately disobeying Creon. Creon explicitly states: “Oh but I hate even more when a traitor, caught in the act, tries to glorify his crimes” (lines 552-554). By not ordering a burial, Creon defies the "great unwritten and unshakable traditions" (Lines 502-503), known as the ancient law of the gods, for he is ordained that which, after death, requires burial appropriate. In doing so, he goes against not only the gods and the choir, but also his own family by breaking up his son's marriage to a "traitor", just to prove his own supremacy and pride. In the same sense, Macbeth also refuses to give in to his environment. At the very beginning, Macbeth is described as a “brave Macbeth” (act 1, scene 2, line 18) and a “worthy gentleman” (act 1, scene 2, line 26). When Ross spoke about the battle, he said, "Until Bellona's husband was the proof." Confronted him with comparisons with himself” (Act 1, scene 3, lines 61-62). This quote shows how Macbeth was a loyal and worthy warrior because "Bellona" alludes to the Roman goddess of war, and the phrase "Bellona's husband" implies that the individual is the fiercest warrior , because the goddess of war would only marry the bravest and most powerful warrior. "The Proof...Self-Comparisons" indicates one must be clad in dignified armor while facing attacks from the enemy, which further highlights how Macbeth proved his bravery and loyalty to the king during this battle and was one of Norway's best warriors. Even King Duncan called him worthy, as Ross describes him as brave, pointing out that Macbeth is a war hero at the very beginning. This reinforces the fact that Macbeth was a loyal citizen and willing to die for his »..