...contingent on the societal and individual views. In Antigone and “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Antigone and Martin Luther King Jr. fight against the alleged justice and order of the society in order to pursue the real justice. Although Antigone has the stake of perturbing her dead brother' dignity and peace while Dr. King has the stake of losing the opportunity for African Americans to be free and treated equally, both of them are so determined to achieve their goals that they choose to act against the injustice despite their stakes. In Antigone and “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, both Antigone and Dr. King disobey unjust laws and pursue justices that are in accordance with their moral codes. In the play Antigone, Sophocles writes about how the antagonist Antigone disobeys unjust rules that...
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...“Antigone” is a play about struggle and passion. To fully understand the play, the previous plays needs to be understood. Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are the daughters of Oedipus, from the play “Oedipus Rex”. Eteocles takes control of Thebes and his brother Polynices raises an army to attack the city; both are killed in the battle. This is where the story of Antigone comes into play. Creon, Oedipus’s brother in law and uncle (Oedipus married his mother) is now King of Thebes. He issues a decree for Eteocles to be buried but for Polynices to be left where he was killed and not to be buried. He honors Eteocles for defending the city, but leaves Polynices body lying out for the people to see and the dogs to eat. However, as part of Polynices family, it is Antigone’s duty and obligation to bury her brothers, and she does so against the orders of the King. Under Creon’s decree, this places the death penalty upon the stubborn young girl. Creon becomes increasingly stubborn as well, eventually showing hubris, which means immense disrespect and excessive pride, this being his hamartia. He imprisons her alive in a tomb, not knowing that his son, Haemon, who is in love with her, follows them to the...
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...In France, women had long been fighting for equality to men by the time Anouilh’s “Antigone” was first performed. In 1971, the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen” was written by Olympe de Gouges as a retaliation against the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen”, which excluded women (Halsall). When the Anouilh’s Antigone was first performed in 1944, women had formed a multitude of organizations such as XXX. Shortly after the play was had its first performance in France, women received the right to vote and stand for election (Reynolds 2). During a time of political revolution, the play Antigone emulated the discrimination women in France faced at the time; Antigone’s portrayal as an obstinate, strong-willed character shows her resistance against prejudice, such as many women were doing when the play was first performed. The play itself cannot directly achieve considerable change in societal viewpoints; it merely parallels the challenges women encountered. During a performance of Antigone at the Oxford Playhouse in 2010, both Antigone and Creon’s character illustrate the stereotypes of sexes at the time. As shown in a photo of the performance, Antigone sits in a chair, with a...
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...Rachel Arber Professor Herron Literature 201 November 16, 2013 Antigone: A Rose Amongst Thorns In his fifth century play, Antigone, Sophocles invites the reader on a journey of power, heroism, and feminism. Oedipus’s sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, have killed each other in a battle over who will take over their father’s throne. Creon, the current King of Thebes, has now declared that Polyneices betrayed him and forbids him to have a proper burial. Antigone, sister of Polyneices, feels that her brother’s body needs to have full respect and decides she is going to bury her brother. She discusses this plan with her sister Ismene who sends her off with her disapproval to bury their beloved Polyneices. Antigone is caught red handed by Creon’s guards and they bring her in to the king. Antigone admits to the fact that she has gone against the law and has given her brother a proper burial, but defends her actions saying that the gods would have wanted this. As a consequence for her actions, Creon sentences Antigone to her death and banishes her to a cave. After much deliberation he regrets his decision. However, it is too late as Creon finds Antigone has taken her own life. Through her actions of bravery and defiance Antigone exemplifies true feminist ideals. She is a shining example of a woman who stands for what she believes. Antigone proves to be a hero in every generation, but especially in her time. In fifth century Greece women were seen as having no influence...
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...Surname 3 Student's Name Professor's Name Course Date Antigone vs. Macbeth In attempting to discern the legitimate and analytical issues in the two plays, Antigone and Macbeth, it is important to take into account the two key characters that all actions revolve around (Antigone and Lady Macbeth). In both plays, the characters appear to have comparative destiny and fate intertwined deeply within their societies. (Powell et al. 12). Antigone stands harshly rebuked by the state whose rule she contradicts. Antigone's fierce deviance is fully displayed when she declares that she'll bury Polyneices in total disregard of Creon's law. It is this rebellious act and Antigone's innate loyalty to the memory of her brother that forms the spine of the play. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth stands denounced by the laws of God and man having so eagerly disregarded them for the purpose of affection and enthusiasm towards her husband. The inclination that destiny appears to have in setting up these sorts of plays is portrayed undeniably by Sophocles in his piece of work, as well as Shakespeare in his Macbeth. The authorial intent ( a tragedy in contemporary society) as developed by both plays is similar in context. This is mainly detectable while considering the way both playwrights depict the condition that has befallen a nation. Aristotle, an outstanding scholar, and craftsman described tragedy as a mimic of a movement that is morally right. He further came up with guidelines towards...
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...Final Paper on Antigone In “Antigone,” one can be able to come up with different interpretations of the meaning surrounding the Greek tragedy. From upon reading this play, my view about it was mainly on staying loyal and respecting your family no matter what the consequences. As I began to read the different scholarly interpretations, my view on “Antigone” had changed. The aspect of ‘hanging virgins’ all throughout the play and the Greek culture poses an interpretive problem. The lives of virgins and women in the play can be looked upon as hanging on to their superior male counterparts. The males dominated the society where their decision in religious, ritual and marriage was final. In this paper I will explain the choices Antigone was facing, family values and social status to further support my understanding. In Sarah Johnston’s, “Antigone’s Other Choice”, it is clear that male sexism was at the core of the Greek society. One clear example of this is when Creon responds to Haemon, confronting him with the reality of his bad deeds and mistreatment towards Antigone. “If you are a women; it is for you, in fact that I show familial concern” (Rehm 192-193). This interpretation of Antigone is centered on the conflict that existed between female autonomy and male authority. The excerpt revolves is about Antigone’s choice to hang her and the options she made. Antigone chose to die out of hanging other than starvation. The excerpt by Sarah Johnson, tries to explore the entire theme...
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...judgement error which ultimately results in their downfall. Famous author, Sophocles, wrote a popular play in the genre of drama known as “Antigone”, he explains what the effects of character interaction have on a given person. In this play he describes what happens when the characters Antigone, sister of Ismene, and Creon, ruler of the state clash and contribute to Creon’s development as a tragic hero, and to the plot of the play. In “Antigone”, the two brothers of Ismene and Antigone, Polyneices and Eteocles, end up killing each other due to supporting different sides of the Thebes’ Civil War. Creon, the new ruler decided that Eteocles will have an honorable burial, while the other will be laid unburied for the animals to eat upon....
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...Maslow’s pyramid is the ability of people to accept themselves, their surroundings, and to think of things on a higher level. From the beginning of man’s existence to the current day human, we have changed dramatically. People often get swept up in their jobs and families but their basic needs are important. This can also be seen in current novels where people run around so much but they forget to sit down and think. In Antigone and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun few people are able to get past their mental barriers yet three people persist. Antigone, Beneatha, and Asagai all have this ability to balance their busy worlds and their mental needs. Antigone, a play by sophocles is set in Greece after the War on Thebes. Two brothers of the heir were killed in battle. One believed to be a savior...
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...rules don’t apply to them. A great example of determining right vs. wrong would be in the play, “Antigone,”...
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...The question of who is right and who is wrong in Antigone between the two main characters, Creon and Antigone, is an issue that is directly dependant on the gods. In this case, it is Antigone who is right and Creon who is wrong in their decisions. Antigone's reasons were just and accepting of the gods' control when she accepted her fate, while Creon indirectly assumes control for himself by disregarding and disrespecting the gods which results in his unprepared outcome. It is important to understand the reasoning behind the characters' decision-making and how these decisions relate to the gods in order to understand the purpose of the story's outcome and it's sound chain of events. It is known that following the gods with respect is a sign of good fate and righteousness. Antigone is respectful of the gods throughout the story and even complies with her fate as she makes her final decision of whether to go through with her burial plans for Polynices. However, Creon is disrespectful many times towards the gods, in particular when he insults Zeus, when talking about Polynices' dead corpse, by saying " But you will never cover up that corpse, not if the very eagles tear their food from him, and leave it at the throne of Zeus." (Antigone, lines 1039-1041). Creon is wrong in disgracing Zeus' throne and presuming his own commands stand stronger than Zeus'. It is clear in the text that Creon has forgotten that the power that has been bestowed on him as a king would never amount the...
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...Justice in Antigone and Measure for Measure The concept of justice hinges on the beliefs of any given individual, human influences must always ultimately crumble and be brought to justice in the face of what is morally correct and divine. Punishment, conflict and pursuit of justice are major themes in both Sophocles Antigone and Measure for Measure. Antigone is laden with violent imagery; countless arguments causing conflict between Antigone and Creon as well as Creon and Haemon; and the blatant violence of the various murders and suicides present in the play. Moreover in Measure for Measure, is the conflict between justice and mercy, and whether justice and punishment would be served through strictly following the law or by showing mercy. "The law is strong, we must give in to the law in this thing, and in worse. I beg the Dead To forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield”. (49-51) Why are Punishment, disagreement and pursuit of morals such a strong theme in both of these ancient works? Both Sophocles and Measure for Measure William Shakespeare lived in more primitive times when there were weakly enforced written laws concerning justice and fair play. The common solution for most problems were along the lines of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" which were better represented in Sophocles Antigone than in Measure for Measure, retaliation were definitely used as a method of justice. When Antigone buries her dead brother in the story of Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon's...
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...this character? | I want Heamon to be a likeable character so he should be presented as early 20s and to be dressed quite smart, he will be formal and respectful. | Are there any dominating physical characteristics? What causes them? Wealth? Age? Social condition? | He isn’t really a character that should need any dominating characteristics, I wouldn’t want him of a higher status than Creon or his mother, and he is equal to Antigone (before she is a dishonoured traitor). Of course he could show his wealth and social status over common folk, but he isn’t a character that is meant to be special in anyway. | What are you wearing? What does this show?Think about | Quite rich colours for example red and gold this will show his status and his importance. | What is your overwhelming purpose in life? | Haemon’s character is strange in his purpose, ultimately he is trying to dissuade Creon from carrying out his actions, but this is confused by his kindness towards him in the start of the scene, again this changes near the end of the script to an angrier purpose, which is questionable – to kill his father? | What is said about you? By you, to your face and behind your back? (5 quotes) | 1. “Whoever thinks that he alone possesses intelligence, the gift of eloquence, he and no one else and character too…such men, I tell you, spread them open you will find them empty.” 2. ““Here’s Haemon, the last of your children” 3. “Father, I am yours. You have the wisdom to direct me, and...
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...majority of suicidal circumstances, whether or not it’s to avoid emotional or physical hardship, it is morally acceptable to take one’s life. This moral dilemma is presented multiple times throughout the play, Antigone. Although all suicide cases vary, the majority of those who commit suicide take their life to escape suffering. If one is suffering tremendously, it is acceptable to take one’s life rather than live through the pain. Someone may also take their life as a form a rebellion or to prove a point, much like the character Antigone took her own life rather than let her uncle, Creon, have the satisfaction of killing her. Although they may not be attempting to avoid suffering, what they choose to do with their life and fate is up to them. All people possess the right to take their own life and choose their own fate. However, some would argue that suicide is immoral for multiple reasons. Taking one’s life may lead to the...
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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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...“eccentric”: unbalanced, excessively tragic, and subject to bizarre behavior. Emily enforces her own sense of law and conduct, such as when she refuses to pay her taxes or state her purpose for buying the poison. Emily also avoids the law when she refuses to have numbers attached to her house when federal mail service is delivering. Her dismissal of the law eventually takes on more threatening consequences, as she takes the life of the man whom she refuses to allow abandon her. Emily’s anxiety, however, lead she in a different direction and the final scene of the story suggests that she is a necrophiliac. Necrophilia typically means a sexual attraction to dead bodies. In a broader sense, the term also describes a powerful desire to control another, usually in the context of a romantic or deeply personal relationship. Necrophilia’s tend to be so controlling in their relationships that they ultimately resort to bonding with unresponsive individual with no resistance with dead bodies. Mr. Grierson controlled Emily, and after his death, Emily temporarily controls him by refusing to give up his dead body. She ultimately transfers this control to Homer, the object of her affection. Unable to find a traditional way to express her desire to possess Homer, Emily takes his life to achieve total power over him. Antigone is very much her father’s daughter, and she begins her play with the same swift decisiveness with which Oedipus began his. Within the first fifty lines, she is planning to defy...
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