...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]...
Words: 3266 - Pages: 14
...become a lack of trust because she will not help honor her brother. Even though Ismene does not believe that burying her brother is the right thing to do because the leader said not to, Antigone still sees Ismene as someone she cannot trust. This is because Ismene is defying what Antigone wants her to do. This is devastating to their relationship, especially with the previous events that happened to them. They should have been together and strong through these events, but are instead separated by this lack of trust. Once Antigone completed her mission, she was immediately caught and brought to Creon, who put her in jail. Antigone admitted that she was the one that defied the leader, Creon was furious. In front of a lot of the city of Thebes...
Words: 1085 - Pages: 5
...ANTIGONE Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 441 BC. Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays but was written first. The play expands on the Theban legend that predated it and picks up where Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes ends. This play is based on the life story of Antigone, the daughter of Oeudipe and Jocaste. It is a legend of her sacrifice for her loved ones, her believes and her honour. Antigone’s brother Polynice had betrayed his country and died during the war. Creon, the king of Thebes had refused to give him a burial. Antigone is outraged by this decision and goes as far as sacrificing her life, to give her brother a burial he deserves. Even law of the king does not stop her from doing what she thinks is right. Antigone is the tragic heroine of the play and this play revolves around her struggle against the autocratic laws of the state. Even she manages to give Polynice a rightful burial but, this burial costs Antigone her life. SYNOPSIS In the beginning of the play, two brothers leading opposite sides in Thebes' civil war died fighting each other for the throne. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, has decided that Eteocles will be honored and Polyneices will be in public shame. The rebel brother's body will not be sanctified by holy rites, and will lie unburied on the battlefield, prey for carrion animals like worms and vultures, the harshest punishment at the time. Antigone and Ismene are the sisters of the dead Polyneices...
Words: 2726 - Pages: 11
...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...
Words: 1750 - Pages: 7
...play Antigone cost people their lives. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone argues that the laws of the Greek gods’ are much more important than the laws of man, but Creon believes that the laws of man are above the laws of the Greek gods’. Both Creon and Antigone refuse to compromise whether to follow the Greek god’s law or man’s law. The tragic end of Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone comes about because of the actions of Creon, Antigone, and Haemon. Creon’s pride and stubbornness portrays an important role in the tragic ending of the play. Creon has to much pride in himself that he refuses to listen to anyone’s advice. Teiresias tells Creon that he should listen to the people of Thebes...
Words: 970 - Pages: 4
...Antigone is an extreme view of the trouble with in-laws. Sophocles brought to life the struggles of two troubled families during a time when the many greek gods were considered the ultimate power source, and retribution was the most compelling driver for decisions. This fear of the gods, combined with a desire to protect one’s community from harm, caused many leaders to make ill-advised and dogmatic decisions, despite the advice of others. Antigone placed family honor above all traits. And what a family to honor! As the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, Antigone has had an inauspicious start to life. Antigone is alsoengaged to Creon’s son, Haemon which only intensifies the conflict, as Haemon is torn between his father and his wife, ultimately leading to Haemon’s suicide following a conflict with his father regarding Antigone’s sentence. Antigone’s suicide was to avoid live entombment as ordered by Creon when she defied him by burying her brother, Polyneices. Polyneices was ordered, by Creon, to be left unburied where he died on the battlefield. This action would have left Polyneices’ soul wandering for eternity, which was something that Antigone could not tolerate due to her strong belief in family honor....
Words: 448 - Pages: 2
...Antigone And The Position Of Women The play “Antigone” is a Greek tragedy written by the author Sophocles. In the play there are many important themes displayed throughout the plot. One important theme is that of the position of woman in 442 BC. During the time that “Antigone” was written women were looked at as the weaker sex. Antigone however believed that she was as strong as the men that ruled in her society which led to her downfall. Ultimately women in this period were treated as unimportant and weaker than the men that lived in that time. Men had ruled the towns and cities that occupied the land and the women had performed the duties that men had assigned to them. In 442 BC women believed that they were the inferior sex when compared to the men that lived during that time because men had power and influence over the people and cities. Ismene says “You ought to realize we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men, and that we are ruled, by those who are stronger” (lines 70-73). These words said my Ismene prove that women looked at themselves as a weaker sex than the men. Ismene believes that as women, both her and her sister Antigone should not and cannot disobey Creon’s orders by burying their own brother. In this time period women feared the men that ruled over them although Antigone had the strength mentally to rebel. The ruling class of the men thought of themselves in much higher standing and importance than that of women. Creon, the king of the...
Words: 680 - Pages: 3
...defeat.” Though Creon at points can fill the role of a tragic hero in Antigone, Antigone is the only character to truly play the part of one. Sophocles writes tragedies, which are named after the tragic hero in each specific play. As in Oedipus Rex, the piece of theatre is named after the tragic hero, Oedipus. Thus only clarifying why Sophocles named one of his plays Antigone, the title being based off of the main tragic hero role. Antigone is a more appropriate title for the play Antigone because of Antigone’s immense bravery and individuality in behalf of her late brother, creating the plot in the play due...
Words: 951 - Pages: 4
...“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...
Words: 996 - Pages: 4
...King Creon once said “the inflexible heart breaks first”. In the greek tragedy Antigone, from the trilogy Oedipus Plays, by Sophocles King Creon is an extremely cruel man. King Creon rules his kingdom with fear and force. He is cold heartless, and selfish. These traits make his life end in immense tragedy. If people live their life without an ounce of compassion, sympathy, and empathy they will be lonely and miserable. In the beginning of Antigone Creon demands from all his citizens that no one buries the “traitor” Polyneices. Creon sends his son's bride to die in a cave alone, despite what others think. He also ignores his wife’s and his child’s requests and feelings. They both end up committing suicide. Creon rules the country of Thebes. His hierarchy is fragile and his system is corrupt. His two nephews, Eteocles and Polyneices, went to battle against each other. Eteocles fought for Creon and Polyneices fought against him. Since Creon's hierarchy is already so fragile anyone who acts as a threat to his crown is considered a traitor and an outcast. Both Eteocles and Polyneices end up killing each other during their battle. Eteocles is given a proper burial ceremony, but Polyneices is left...
Words: 647 - Pages: 3
...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...
Words: 930 - Pages: 4
...Creon and Haemon; Conflict of Antigone Creon and Haemon have dissimilar points of views when it comes to Antigone because Haemon has affection for Antigone while Creon feels animosity towards her. In the play, “Antigone” Sophocles tells the story of King Creon who rules Thebes the town. Haemon who is the son of the king falls in love with Antigone. Antigone is the niece of Creon and sister of Polynices. She plays a stubborn character. When her family is involved with the situation her attitude becomes aggressive. Polynices who is a traitor takes his last breath fighting against Thebes. The King announces anyone to honor or bury the body of Polynices would suffer a death due to the fact that he was a traitor of Thebes. The conflict of the play involves Antigone who disobeys Creon’s authority. In the speech between Haemon and Creon an Antigone is revealed between the two that exhibits Creon’s misogyny and Haemon’s analysis of his father’s discriminating attitude toward women in general. Note the tone in the following quotation: Creon: “Oh Haemon, Never lose your sense of judgment over a woman. The warmth, the rush of pleasure, it all goes cold in your arms, I warn you…a worthless woman in your house, a misery in your bed. What wound cuts deeper than a loved one turned against you? Spit her out, like a mortal enemy- let the girl go. Let her find a husband down among the dead” (1328). Creon expresses misogyny in this quote. He consults with his...
Words: 924 - Pages: 4
...In the tragedy, Antigone by Sophocles, Creon’s downfall is due to the choices that he makes. By making a law that no one could bury Polyneices, Antigone is sentenced to death. After Creon sentences her to death; Haemon, Creon’s own son, kills himself since he was engaged to Antigone. Then Creon’s wife, Eurydice, Also kills herself because of Haemon’s death. The family of Creon had died because of the choices he had made.Everything would have been swell if he had just buried Polyneices’s body. Haemon was supposed to marry Antigone. Since they were engaged, they had feelings for each other. Haemon warned his dad that he would kill himself if he sentenced Antigone to death. “Then she must die. But her death will cause another”(Scene 3, line 119)....
Words: 290 - Pages: 2
...Creon the king of Thebes lives a life of great power. One mistake and all things crumble down under him. He is the definition of a tragic hero. “One who, unsupported by the gods and in the face of human opposition, makes a decision which springs from the deepest layer of his individual nature, his physis, and then blindly, ferociously, heroically maintains that decision even to the point of self-destruction (Burt).” He kept his stance and followed every law that he put forth. Being a role model for all citizens and show no weakness. Antigone was determined to bury her brother Polyneices even though she knew that it was against the community and law. This made Creon infuriated because Polyneices was supposed to be eaten alive. He wasn’t going to let Antigone get away with what she has done; she must be punished. She was sent away to a small dark prison with a scares amount of food. Haemon, his son, loved Antigone and was supposed to marry her. He tried to stop...
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...Intelligence” (Clouse 1, line 54-55). We usually reach this stage between the ages of 12-18. The play “Antigone” by Sophocles focuses on a girl named Antigone, who is currently going through this stage and the ordeal she goes through accomplish what she believes is the honorable act to uphold. By the end of the play, you start picturing Antigone as this naïve girl that just wanted to do the right thing but none one supported her. The reality is, Antigone was a person’s whose personality was similar to the system of a ticking time bomb waiting...
Words: 1794 - Pages: 8
