Creon is the tragic figure in Antigone who experiences a reversal of fortune as a result of fate or a flaw or weakness. Though Antigone altered lives due to her suicide, Creon altered lives because of his unwise decisions that show the tragic events to come. Creon's unwise decisions were because of his pride and that pride is his tragic flaw or harmartia. Harmartia is a flaw in a character of a tragedy that brings that character to ruin or sorrow. With the result of not listening to Teiresias' advice, Creon then is punished with the death of his niece, son and wife. Sophocles' use of literary devices, which is harmartia, anagnorisis, and irony, help shape and reveal Creon as a tragic figure.

Sophocles employs literary device such to reveal and elucidate Creon as a character and as a tragic figure. Of the literary devices, harmartia helps the...