The plays Antigone, by Sophocles, and Richard III, by William Shakespeare, entail tragic characters played by the antagonists of these two dramas, Creon and Richard III. Creon and Richard are portrayed as villains, as they are tyrants who crave order and control. Richard, who uses manipulation tactics, murder, and deceit to receive the crown, and Creon, who remained in power through intimidation and fear due to his ego, both had their endings struck with grief and failure. Creon’s tragic story is about how he lost everyone he loved because of his pride and ego, while Richard’s is about how he believed his deformity was a reason to turn bitter and villainous. These characters had tragic lives in that they accomplished nothing yet lost everything. In the…show more content… Richard uses his wit to feed lies to his family, slowly manipulating them into unknowingly following his plan until it is too late. Richards's deceit soon turns into murder, as he murders almost every relative he has remaining. Unfortunately, for Richard, his victory was short-lived. At the end of both plays, Creon and Richards' power is not enough to prevent their tragic downfall. Although both are tyrants, Creon and Richard are not very alike. Some could say that Creon’s strong authority came from what he viewed as pure intentions. Creon cared for his kingdom, and as king, he felt it was his job to protect it. Even though he was a narcissist and did not always know what was best for his people, it was proven at the end of the play that he did care about his family. “I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it, Lead me in.” (Sophocles, line 121, Scene 5). He was a tough leader many feared, and because of his unfortunate choices, he made a very regretful decision. His pride clouded his judgment as he put his logic over his sentiment. Richard, on the other hand, loved no
