As is the nature of tragedy, the tragic hero Creon blames
himself for causing the deaths of his son, wife, and niece. He says to the Chorus
Leader:
Lead
me away, I pray you; a rash, foolish man; who have slain thee, ah my son,
unwittingly, and thee, too, my wife-unhappy that I am! I know not which way I
should bend my gaze, or where I should seek support; for all is amiss with
that which is in my hands,-and yonder, again, a crushing fate hath leapt upon
my head.
The Leader
(Choragos) adds, as a kind of exemplum:
Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness; and
reverence towards the gods must be inviolate. Great words of prideful men are
ever punished with great blows, and, in old age, teach the chastened to be
wise.
So, Creon achieves
wisdom through suffering. It takes the deaths of the three most important family
members in his life for him to realize his stubbornness and pride. Like Oedipus in
Oedipus Rex, he accepts the responsibility for his actions, citing
his moral blindness: "I know not which way I should bend my gaze." Like Oedipus, Creon
chooses to live with his suffering rather than commit suicide. In this way, Creon
serves as a model tragic hero.
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