Tragic Hero of AntigoneThe debate over who the tragic hero of Antigone is continues to this day. The belief that Antigone is the hero is strong. There are many critics who believe, however, that Creon, the ruler of Thebes, is the true protagonist. I also made my own judgments, based on what I researched about this work by Sophocles. Antigone is widely considered the tragic hero of the play that bears her name. She would seem right for the part in light of the fact that she dies for doing what she believes is right. She buries her brother without worrying about what might happen to her. She “takes into consideration death and the reality that may be beyond death” (Hathorn 59). Those who believe that Antigone should have been the true tragic hero argue against others who believe that Creon deserves that honor. They say that the Gods were against Creon and that he did not truly love his homeland. “His patriotism is narrow and negative, and his conception of justice is too exclusive… to be ennobled by the name of love of the state” (Hathorn 59). These arguments, and many others, make many people believe that Antigone is the rightful protagonist. Other critics argue that Creon is Antigone's tragic hero. They say that his noble quality is his caring for 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, on the other hand, realized his mistake when Tiresias made his prophecy. He is forced to live, knowing that three people died because of his ignorance, which is a worse punishment than death. My take on this debate is that Antigone is the tragic hero. She tries to help her brother without worrying about what will happen to her. He says: "I intend to bury my brother. I will be happy to die in the 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. His epiphany came, hidden from the public, before he hanged himself. Creon's "nobility" in welcoming young Antigone and Ismene is overshadowed by his selfish nature..