Tragic Hero of AntigoneThe debate over the identity of the tragic hero of Antigone continues to this day. The belief that Antigone is the hero is strong. Many critics, however, believe that Creon, the ruler of Thebes, is the real protagonist. I have also made my own judgments, based on my research into this work of Sophocles. Antigone is widely considered the tragic hero of the play that bears her name. She would seem to fit the role given that she dies for doing what she believes is right. She buries her brother without worrying about what might happen to him. It “takes into consideration death and the reality that can be beyond death” (Hathorn 59). Those who believe that Antigone was meant to be the true tragic hero oppose those who believe that Creon deserves this honor. It is said that the gods were against Creon and that he did not really love his country. “His patriotism is too narrow and negative and his conception of justice too exclusive...to be worthy of the name of love for the State” (Hathorn 59). These arguments, and many others, make many people believe that Antigone is the legitimate protagonist. Other critics argue that Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone. It is said that his noble quality is to take care of Antigone and Ismene when their father was persecuted. Those who support Creon also argue that Antigone never had a true epiphany, a key element of being a tragic hero. Creon, for his part, realized his mistake when Tiresias made his prophecy. He is forced to live, knowing that three people have died because of his ignorance, which is a punishment worse than death. My opinion on this debate is that Antigone is the tragic hero. She tries to help her brother without worrying about what will happen to him. She said: “I plan to bury my brother. I will be happy to die in this attempt, if it is a crime, then it is a crime that God commands” (Sophocles 4). She was also punished for doing what was right. Her revelation came, hidden from the public, before she hanged herself. Creon's "nobility" in welcoming young Antigone and Ismene is overshadowed by his selfish nature..