...Literary Analysis of Antigone Sandra Peppers South University Antigone is an epic Greek tragedy written, by Sophocles, around 442 B.C.E. The women of ancient Greek were considered to be less significant than were the males of the same time period. As with this tragedy, gender roles play a pivotal part in understanding why Antigone, the female heroine, did what she did and graciously accepted the punishment that she was dealt. During this particular epic, it will be evident that power, wisdom and experience lay with males, while females were subjected to the obedience and dominance of the males. The males of this era were more assertive and demanded respect from females, as well as other males. Antigone, in the play by the same name, is portrayed as a strong willed female who has strong family ties and will do whatever it takes to honor her family. Antigone is not one to stand aside and play the role of victim when, in her heart, she knows what is right. Antigone is the daughter of the late king of Thebes, Oedipus. After the death of Oedipus, Etecoles and Polyneices take turns in ruling Thebes, but ultimately die by each other’s sword. Antigone has just learned that Creon, the new king of Thebes (and her uncle), has just issued a law stating that Eteocles will have a proper burial whereas Polyneices, who was considered a traitor, will not be mourned or wept over. He will be left for the birds to feast upon; ‘ But the hapless corpse of Polyneices-as rumour saith, it...
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...In scene three of Sophocles Antigone, there is a conversation between Creon, the king, and his son, Haimon. Haimon comes to his father to talk to him in grief and concern over Antigone, his bride-to-be. Creon questions Haimon and is unsure if he agrees with him or not. Haimon tells his father that he, Creon, is his guide and that no marriage is as important as his fathers continuing wisdom. Creon being satisfied with his sons answer, he tells his son that he is subordinate, and that is the way to behave towards his fathers will. He continues to tell his son that he should be loyal, hate his enemies; in the end an obedient son will turn out to be good leader. Creon also views Antigone inferior, and does not want to be put down or given rule over by a women, even if it is just and the right thing to do. After Creons chat with Haimon, Haimon gets a chance to talk about how he feels. Haimon tells his father that he might be wrong and mistaken about his decision. He thinks his decision is too harsh and unjust, and the people of the city agree. Creon says it is not up to the people and he can not pardon her or it will make him look weak. Creon makes all the decisions; he is the state, not the people. At this point he has become a dictator and what he says is all just and true. Haimon threatens his father that if he takes Antigone life, then another will be taken, being he. His father does not like the threat and demands Antigone to be bought out and killed in front...
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...possess is their desire for power. Whether it’s power by wealth, power in a position at work, or even power in a relationship, humans strive to always be on top. Everyone wants it in one form or another, and they will sometimes resort to drastic measures to get it. In Antigone, power both corrupts and blinds some of the characters. The clearest example of power is by far King Creon of Thebes, who is arrogant, insensitive, and just plain cruel to the individuals around him. Another example of power, which is more of a struggle for power, is Antigone, the main character in the play. She is a young girl who rises up alone against the state power. In Sophocles great tragedy, Antigone, power is an eminent theme that fatally affects the lives of both Antigone and Creon, each with their own struggle to defy power. During the course of the play, Creon becomes so engulfed in his own power that he begins to rule with an iron fist. The central concern of the play is Antigone’s fateful struggle against Creon’s cruel edict. Creon holds absolute power in themes, which he abuses throughout the play. Creon made a decree that prohibited anyone from burying Polyneices’ body, and he was proud of it. When the decree was broken by Antigone, Creon felt a threat to his power, and therefore sentenced her to death. Creon’s son, Haimon, tried to persuade his father to take away Antigone’s death sentence, but Creon refused without saying why. Haimon replied to him with "It is not reason never to yield to...
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...In Antigone, by Sophocles, two sisters, Ismene and Antigone, have two different views on what it means to be human. Ismene understand “being human” or “life” in a biological sense. She believes in continuing, by being a female, in continuing the family bloodline. Antigone however, understands “being human” in a sense of family honor and reputation. Both are important, but neither is right nor wrong. Creon, the ruler, has his own views on how to rule the city. He believes that he is in charge and everyone is to do as said with no questions. Ismene’s view of life is biologically impacted. Although she loves her brother, Polyneices, it is against the law to bury him according to Creon. Creon having set law that anyone to touch the corpse to be stoned to death publically causes Ismene’s view of life to become a problem. With her and Antigone being the last two members alive within the family, they must stay alive to continue the family bloodline. Now there are only the two of us, left behind, And see how miserable our end shall be If in the teeth of law we shall transgress Against the sovereign’s decree and power. You ought to realize we are only women, Not meant in nature to fight against men. (Antigone. 57-62) Within this quote we realize not only is Ismene aware they are the only two left to fulfill the families obligation biologically to keep the bloodline alive, but we also see that she understands they both will be killed if going against...
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...You can see in Antigone that the role of a human is very important, in this case it means so much that she is willing to risk her life to honor what the Gods would want of her in fulfilling her role in the burial of her brother. Some major themes that are evident throughout the play is the law of the Gods and man-made law, the abuse of power, and furthermore even though the play is titled Antigone, who’s story is it really? The problem arises when both of Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polynices kill each other battling for the throne of Thebes. Creon who is Antigones uncle inherits power and the throne of Thebes, and declares proper burial for Eteocles, but demands that Polynices remains unburied who he thought was a traitor for fighting against Thebes. Since back in ancient Greece it was the womens’ role to give a proper burial so that there is a respect paid to the dead, Creon is pretty much making it impossible for Antigone to fulfil her role. Antigone neglects to listen to the rules of Creon and buries her brother, and is eventually captured by Creon’s guards. Antigone demonstrates no remorse when facing Creon over her crime “Because it wasn’t Zeus who pronounced these things to me, nor did Justice, companion of the gods below, establish saw laws for humanity” (Sophocles 29) although she knows that she’s most likely facing death for being caught disobeying the rules of the leader she feels that she has made the right decision by honoring the Gods because she will...
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...Analysis on Antigone Antigone is a play about a woman who defies her king. She does this because she feel her brother was unjustly disrespected. Because of her fight, she knew the consequences of her actions: death. She dies but dies for her cause; dignity for her brother. Sophocles’ play Antigone, depicts divine law pitted against the laws of man as a major theme because Antigone uses of divine laws as her defense for her actions against King Creon societal laws. It all begins when Antigone is aware that every one of the land is talking about her family. She discusses this with her sister Ismene. In conversation, she tells her sister about her plans for the burial of their brother. It is here that she decide to fight for her brother rights regardless of Creon laws. In lines 43-44, Antigone clearly understand her fate for her actions “anyone who acts against the order will be stoned” (Sophocles 3). She defends her actions in line 92-93 by stating “My honours for the dead must last longer than those up there” (4). Antigone believe that the gods will honor her good deed; her divine right to bury her brother. Despite the consequence, Antigone went against the laws of Creon and buried Polynices. Sophocles theme continued to echo when Creon summons Antigone for going against his written law. In dialogue, Creon questions Antigone unforgivable actions for defying the laws of the land. In rebuttal, she claims that there is no such laws in the eyes of God. Argued in lines...
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... March 11th, 09 English 112 Antigone: Divine Law vs. Human Law The play entitled Antigone was written by a man named Sophocles, a scholarly author of philosophy and logic. The play Antigone is probably one of the most prominent interpretations of a tragic drama. The two main characters of the play are Antigone and Creon. There is much conflict between Antigone and Creon throughout the play, both of them having their own ideas and opinions regarding divine law versus human law. The theme that I am going to analyze is the conflict of divine law vs. human law. The reason for this is because this theme seems to control the whole play. It is an issue of which law is the "right" law, and if Creon's and Antigone's acts were justifiable. The play Antigone can be summarized by the following: King Creon lets it be known that Polyneices the traitor is not to be buried, but his sister Antigone defies the order because of the values she holds. She is caught, and sentenced by Creon to be buried alive - even though she is to be married to his son Haemon. After the blind prophet Tiresias proves that the gods are on Antigone's side, Creon changes his mind - but too late. He goes first to bury Polyneices, but Antigone has already hanged herself. When Creon arrives at the tomb, Haemon attacks him and then kills himself. When the news of...
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...As the two stubborn protagonists, Antigone and Creon, demonstrate qualities of tragic heroes, the play is correctly named Antigone due to her heroin characteristics to overcome the law in order to obey the gods. Antigone buries her brother regardless of the consequences. She does this action alone and will not let anyone in her way. Creon is the tragic hero, but due to his rottenness, Antigone is seen more likable for putting her family before law. In this story, Creon is the tragic hero. The whole play revolves around him and his doings. Many events happened because of his hunger for domination. He has gotten brothers, Polynieces and Eteocles, to go against each other and start a war in which they both killed each other. When Creon became king, he set a law against burying Polynieces’s body since he viewed him as a traitor. Out of love, Antigone buried her beloved brother and was caught in the act defending herself saying, “I do. I deny nothing” (Sophocles 698). When she was presented to Creon for her wrongdoing, she did not deny her actions nor showed any regret. Creon could not believe his own blood relative would disobey him. Due to disbelief, he punishes Antigone by immediately imprisoning her in the cave. Antigone’s character is more controversial and admirable than Creon’s. Both of their actions were out of emotion. However, Antigone acts based upon love and tradition that every person has the right to be buried correctly and respectfully. Regardless of this tradition...
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...Thurman 1 Cara Thurman Mrs. Fleming Hendricks Composition II, Section 90 March 2, 2014 Antigone “Antigone”, is filled with betrayal, internal and external struggles, courage, loyalty to one’s family, and contempt towards gods and law. Antigone is a young woman, engaged to Haemon, son of King Creon. Antigone, devastated and grief stricken by the death of her brother Polyneices, has a moral responsibility to honor her brother’s death with a proper burial. Despite facing death herself as punishment, Antigone chooses family honor and commitment, above her own life. Sophocles’ use of Dramatic Terminology is extraordinary, by giving explicit detail of surroundings called Exposition, arising Conflict among characters, followed with Rising Action from beginning to end. When using the dramatic term Exposition, the writer introduces material creating the setting and tone, and presents characters and factors for the readers understanding of the story. The palace’s entrance is described in detail, “a central double door, and two lateral doors, a platform extends the length of the facade, and from this platform three steps lead down into the orchestra.” The reader can almost imagine hearing the violins and cellos playing. Antigone has lead her sister Ismene to the gates of King Creon’s palace during the burial ceremony of one of her brothers. Exposition was later used when describing the Chorus Leader’s observance of King Creon carrying Haemons dead body, “Here comes the king in person...
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...Antigone Antigone is a very interesting Greek tragedy, full of death, love, and betrayal. The tragedy, Antigone, starts with the death of Antigone’s brothers. Both brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, died fighting each other in combat. Creon, the king of Thebes, has granted permission for Eteocles to have a proper burial, but not for Polynices. The Greeks at this time believed that without burial the person’s spirit would not be able to rest and would be a ghost for eternity. Antigone decided that a burial for her brother Polynices was needed even though Creon ordered that it was forbidden. So when the guards weren’t looking, Antigone threw dirt onto her brothers’ dead body so he could have a proper burial so his body could rest. When Creon found out that someone had thrown dirt onto the body, he ordered that whoever had done it would be put to death. After Creon orders this the guards bring in Antigone, who they caught throwing more dirt on the body of Polynices. Creon condemns Antigone to death for the burial of her brother. Haemon, Creon’s son and also engaged to Antigone, tells his father that he will never see him again if he follows through with her death. Tiresias, the blind prophet, foresees the future and warns Creon of the outcome of his actions. In the end, Creon is left alone, with his son and wife dead all because of his decision to condemn Antigone to death. In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is not the tragic hero, instead she is a...
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...Antigone | Quote | Comments | Analysis | 1. "And now what is the proclamation that they tell of made lately by the commander, publicly,/to all people? Do you know it? Have you heard it?/Don't you notice when evils due to enemies/are headed towards those we love?"Line 8-12 | Antigone speak to Ismene about their brother Polyneices, that it is unfair to unbury him. Also she refers to the situation of the evil, cursed their father Oedipus who had been expelled outside from Thebes. | | 2. "Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses.../Then, mother...did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords [because she hung herself]/Third, our two brothers, on a single day.../Each killed the other, hand against brother'shand" Line 59-65. | Ismene explains to antigone that she’s afraid if they break the law they will suffering like the rest of their family, she remembers that her family filled with cursed. | | 3. "sought to taste the blood he shared with us,/and lead the rest of us to slavery--/You shall leave him without burial; you shall watch him/chewed up by birds and dogs and violated.../But he that is loyal to the state/in death, in life alike, shall have my honor" Line 220-229. | Creon ordered to leave Polyneices outside the Thebes unburied like a traitor and the animals would eat his body. He has no tolerance toward people who betray the Thebes. | | 4. "I did not believe/your proclamation had such power...
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...commitments to your city, family or divinity, it may not be what is righteous in regards to your own moral values. This theme of obligations vs. moral justice can be expressed in Sophocles’ Antigone, which can be seen through the main characters Antigone and Kreon, who have opposing views, but actions depict that if the law contradicts one’s moral duties, then one is justified to act in a manner of disobedience. The tragic Greek playwright Antigone is set in a more traditional era of time, where the city of Thebes is organized completely around religion and there are strict gender roles and expectations the citizens must abide by. Men are socially obliged to take care of the city, whilst women are to be taking care of the household, and more importantly are not to be seen wandering out in public. This distinction is important, as in all Greek plays, nothing is coincidence and the polarities between the gender roles plays a huge role in how the characters justify their actions. The play begins with Antigone and her sister Ismene sitting outside the palace the morning after the attack of the city of Thebes. The day prior, their brother Polyneices attacked their other brother Etyokles, and both committed acts of fratricide in pursuit of the title of King in the city of Thebes. Antigone is in distress as she has just heard news from the new King Kreon that he has made a proclamation that no one in the city of Thebes will mourn over the death of her brother Polyneices, and...
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...State control A well established theme in Antigone is the right of the individual to reject society's infringement on her freedom to perform a personal obligation,[14] obvious in Antigone's refusal to let Creon dictate what she is allowed to do with her family members. She says to Ismene about Creon's edict, "He has no right to keep me from my own."[15] Related to this theme is the question whether Antigone's will to bury her brother is based on rational thought or instinct, a debate whose contributors include greats like Goethe.[14] [edit] Natural law and contemporary legal institutions In Antigone, Sophocles asks the question, which law is greater: the gods' or man's. Sophocles votes for the law of the gods. He does this in order to save Athens from the moral destruction which seems imminent. Sophocles wants to warn his countrymen about hubris, or arrogance, because he knows this will be their downfall. In Antigone, the hubris of Creon is revealed. [edit] Civil disobedience The contrasting views of Creon and Antigone with regard to laws higher than those of state inform their different conclusions about civil disobedience. Creon demands obedience to the law above all else, right or wrong. He says that "there is nothing worse than disobedience to authority" (An. 671). Antigone responds with the idea that state law is not absolute, and that it can be broken in civil disobedience in extreme cases, such as honoring the gods, whose rule and authority outweigh Creon's. [edit]...
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...Antigone - Pride and Conflict of Law Sophocles' Antigone, in its later phases is no longer about the conflict of law; It is about stubbornness and self will, about the sin of refusing to listen; about a man who has never been told. Conflict of law, presents the initial disturbance within Thebes. Creon, King of Thebes, refuses to bury the body of Polynices, for in his eyes Polynices is 'his country's enemy' Antigone pg.131. Thus, despite breaking the laws of the gods, Creon holds his power higher than that of God and heavens and enforces his law. As the story follows, Sophocles expands on the ignorance presented by Creon and Antigone, and it is also found that it is impossible to defeat an ignorant man, or woman in argument. It is this ignorance, that establishes the notion of the sin and punishment that both Creon and Antigone face due to their stubbornness and self will. Antigone holds her love of family, and respect to the dead, elevated beyond the laws of Creon, whom she believes, has no righteous justification to close his eyes to the honor of the deceased. In her determination to fulfill Polynices' rights, she runs directly into Creon's attempts to re-establish order. This leads to encounters of severe conflict between the dissimilarities of the two, creating a situation whereby both Creon and Antigone expose their stubbornness and self will. It is Antigone's morals, which drive her to betray the laws of man, in order to honor the laws...
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...“blood is thicker than water;” but in “Antigone,” is it really so? The play “Antigone” is a Greek Tragedy that was written by Sophocles in 1961. The play is generically about the catastrophic fate of a young girl named Antigone, due to her disobedience in following the rulings made by the king named Creon. In the story, Antigone made the bold decision to bury her brother Polyneices, which was completely spoken against in the king’s decree. Polyneices had fought during the war on the side opposing that of the king and because of this, King Creon has made it illegal to bury Polynices who in his mind, committed treason; the actions of someone actually doing so, was punishable by death. King Creon though, gets a lot of negative...
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