As the title character he seems important, yet he is not the tragic hero of the play.

Relationship with Gods and Religion:

o Has an overriding duty to gods, e.g. he will not break his oath, even for his father or to save himself- "it is through you, Gods, whom my silence honour, that I am perishing"

o He is Artemis' favourite and hunts with her- "follow our guardian maid Artemis" / "you have no attendant now"

o But he rejects Aphrodite and romantic love- "your Aphrodite? No! To me she means nothing" / "I do not know this act" / "I have no liking for a god worshipped at night"

o He follows divine laws strictly (unlike Oedipus and Creon, but like Antigone)- "a she-devil inviting me to incest with my father's wife!"

o Yet he demonstrates hubris by scorning Aphrodite- "his insults and...