Antigone and Ariel as Tragic Heroes

Antigone and Ariel as Tragic Heroes

A tragic hero includes someone who is of noble birth, has great qualities and flaws, has a fatal flaw, has a tragic downfall, gets physically or spiritually wounded, is more self aware in cause, and is felt pity from the audience. Antigone, by Sophocles, is about a character named Antigone, who has to make the ultimatum to go against the king’s wishes, which is to bury her brother, who has been named a traitor, or listen to the kingdom’s rules, and obey. Disney’s The Little Mermaid is about a character named Ariel, who dreams about going to the real world, as a opposed to living under the sea, and when given an opportunity to do so, has to make a decision that will change her life path. Antigone from Antigone and Ariel from The Little Mermaid are similar because they both deflect the opinions of others, they both face a man versus man conflict, and they both sacrifice themselves.

Primarily, Antigone and Ariel both deflect the opinions of others. Antigone does not listen to her uncle, King Creon, when he forbids her brother from being buried properly, because he betrayed the state in war. This is a similar case for Ariel, when she does not not follow her father, Triton’s, wishes to stop exploring the outside world, because he believes it is very dangerous. Both of them do not listen to what they have been told, and go with what they believe in.

In addition, Antigone and Ariel both face a man versus man conflict. Antigone is conflicting with Creon, over the burial of her brother, and Ariel, over her wanting to live in the outside world. Both of them oppose the opinions of powerful figures, and are both stubborn enough to fight it out.

Finally, Antigone and Ariel both sacrifice themselves. Antigone sacrifices her life and her future in order to give her brother a proper burial. And for Ariel, although much less heroic and selfless, Ariel sacrifices her voice for feet so she can live her life on the surface, instead of under the sea.

In sum, Antigone and Ariel are similar through both having a man versus man conflict, both deflecting the opinions of others, and both sacrificing themselves.