...In the Greek tragedy, Antigone, this is the harsh reality that the titular character has to face. Creon, Antigone’s uncle and the king, buried one of her brothers, Eteocles, and has banned the burial of the other brother, Polyneices, because he believes that Polyneices has betrayed the city of Thebes. Antigone believes that since Creon was the one who banned the burial and not the gods, then she should bury her brother. Antigone is determined to bury Polyneices, which will contravene Creon’s law in the process. Antigone has a myriad of character traits, but the three main ones are stubbornness, determination, and loyalty. In the...
Words: 785 - Pages: 4
...In the play Antigone, Creon is a cruel leader who demands obedience in all things “just or unjust.” Antigone is a young woman forced to decide between her loyalty to her family and loyalty to her nation; which raises the question: is one bound to obey cruel leaders when it goes against personal belief? Is it better to sneak behind his back and hope to avoid punishment and be true to yourself? Or is it better to meekly submit to all rules, just or unjust, even against your belief. Laws are created to build order and guard freedoms, yet if citizens were to obey only the laws they felt like, there would be no point in having any rules all. A just law follows and adds upon natural rights. These rights are those that are not dependent upon the laws or customs of any particular culture or government, and therefore are universal and inalienable. One example of natural law is when Antigone claims that her loyalty to her brother supersedes the law of the state. Her defense was that her loyalty to her brother was more important than any civil law Creon could make. Creon did infringe on her loyalty...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
...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
...Pre-Writing Chart – Complete this on your own paper so you have more room. This is just a format chart example to help you organize your ideas. If you want to write about Antigone and Ismene, just switch the names when you make your own chart. Antigone Vs. Creon |Antigone |Creon | |What is her argument against Creon? |What is his argument against Antigone? | |She believes that her brother, Polyneices, deserves to be buried.|He thinks that Polyneices is a traitor and should be punished. | | | | | | | |Evidence: |Evidence: | |“Creon buried our brother Eteocles with military honors . . . but|“Polyneices, who broke his exile to come back with fire and sword| |Polyneices . . . fought as bravely and died as miserably” |against his native city and the shrines of his father’s gods . . | |(Sophocles 1022 lines 15-18). |. is to have no burial” (Sophocles 1027 lines 36-40). | | ...
Words: 907 - Pages: 4
...Antigone In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, shows bravery and strength. Antigone come out as a hero. She is representing extremely brave and absolutely fights for what she believes in it. She does not accept what the king says just because he is the king. She does not agree with his rule or law so she goes with her heart and her feeling and challenges the king’s rule. This play provides many examples how one’s hubris and pride can get in the way of correct and mistaken. There is also a huge difference on which laws should and should not be followed. Antigone goes against Creon’s decision. Creon didn’t burry Antione’s brother Polyneices and she got angry and she did it by herself. The message that influenced Antigone’s actions was her brother death. Her love for her brother gave her the power to stand up to Creon and burry her brother. The main cause of conflict between Antigone and Creon is the matter of the burial of Antigone dead brother Polynecies. Both of her brother were killed in battle. One brother fought against their home city and was reflected a traitor. Creon issue a law that whoever tried to bury Polyneices would be put to death. Antigone is very disappointed because her one...
Words: 380 - Pages: 2
...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...
Words: 1744 - Pages: 7
... QMHS Antigone by Sophocles 7/3/14 In this story the theme loyalty is portrayed through Antigone when she defies her uncle to bury her brother Polynices. Apparently Antigone couldn't bear for one brother to be buried with honor and the other left to rot in the sun. Since she felt that it was her duty to give Polynices a burial because he was her brother and was deceived by Eteocles when it was his turn to rule the kingdom. Unfortunately Antigone was caught and she believed that her Uncle Creon's order was an act of betrayal to their family. 7/7/14 The setting of the play takes place in Thebes which is located in Ancient Greece. The setting is important because in Ancient Greece two rulers were allowed to rule a kingdom. Also wars took place between family members on who had the right to rule. Apparently this was the reason on why Eteocles and Polynices fought and killed each other in battle. This leads to influence Antigone's decision and have a major impact on her life as well because of the ruling from Creon. 7/8/14...
Words: 2493 - Pages: 10
...Throughout the tragedy Antigone, Creon suffers from many tragic flaws that lead to his demise. His excessive pride and desire for power make Creon oblivious to the fact that others are trying to help him. Creon has a peripeteia when Tiresias informs him of his misdeeds. After many of his beloved family have taken their own lives, Creon finally realizes he has been irrational. Due to his hubris and need for absolute power, Creon is the true tragic hero of Antigone. One of Creon’s major flaws is his excessive pride. An example of this is when the Watchman tells Creon of Polyneices burial. The Watchman did not know who buried Polyneices as Creon responds to this by saying, “Yes, you did. And for money! You gave up your life”(l.322). Creon was...
Words: 515 - Pages: 3
...“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...
Words: 1117 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 1468 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 1891 - Pages: 8
...2012 Creon’s Tragic Fall: A Look at Sophocles’ Antigone A tragic hero is defined by Aristotle’s Poetics as the protagonist in the story to whom something happens that elicits pity from the audience. For the most part, a tragic hero is a “virtuous” person whose life changes from being prosperous to being a life full of misfortune (Aristotle, Poetics). In other words, the tragic hero is someone of great social standing who begins the story at a very high point, but suffers their downfall because of a tragic flaw. In Sophocles’ Antigone the central theme of this play is the struggle between Antigone and her uncle Creon. The issue of burying Antigone’s brother Polynices is based on the ancient Greek philosophy of death, where any unburied body condemns its soul to torment. Basically, it was the duty of the family to bury their dead. Yet, this issue extended beyond family loyalty to a decree of piety by the gods. However, in the play, Creon goes against this celestial decree because he sees Polynices as a traitor for warring against him as a member of another army. As a means to set an example about the repercussions of disloyalty, Creon issues an edict to leave him unburied. As a man who starts the drama in as the respected king of Thebes, he gradually loses his family, his objectivity, and his power to his stubbornness and hubris that ultimately results in his downfall. Hence, Creon is a tragic hero in the Sophocles’ Antigone because his unbending pride results in tragic downfall...
Words: 1758 - Pages: 8
...Emotions are the building blocks of people. Whether they be raw and tacky like undried clay or hard and mature like cut diamonds, emotions construct not only minds but also the hearts and souls of everyone. To be able to express anything close to explicit human emotion, especially when it comes to converting such into words, is an otherworldly art only prodigies can master. And when it comes to prodigies, history raises the classic words of The Odyssey by Homer, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and Antigone by Sophocles and puts them on a pedestal of perfect implementation. Throughout the course of these stories, there is one uncut emotion that makes today’s world go round: love. Often times in life people search for the perfect partner -- a true love and a happily ever after. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and Penelope could be considered a power couple even in modern-day society. Although Odysseus is gone for twenty years, he never forgets his faithful wife in Ithaca. This love seems to help him persevere through the many hardships that he encounters on his journey home. On the other hand, Penelope, of course, maintains balance in the scale of affection by unraveling his shroud and delaying her marriage to the suitors...
Words: 904 - Pages: 4
...Antigone vs Otheelo: women In the plays “Antigone” by Sophocles and the Shakespearean tragedy “Othello” written by William Shakespeare, the themes that’s being portrayed are honour and gender, through the play the audience if captivated by the characters choices and motives through the play. With the characters choices they help to make the play more understandable as the audience can recognise the tragic hero in both the plays. The relationships between men and women in Othello are remarked as lesser then men. Iago often refers to his wife as a prostitute - "A house wife that by selling her desires, Buys herself bread and clothes (iv.i.95)” showing what type of relationship women and men had during the late 16th century. Women were generally considered obedient, respectful, kind and warm. They were never outspoken nor were they meant to, for it could be seen as a lack of loyalty. When Othello accused Desdemona of cheating on him, he found himself in a position that he didn't want to face with. Othello was emasculated with the thought of a woman disobeying him. Men were easily manipulated into thinking the worst of woman because they were certain it would never happen. However, when the slightest things start to be pointed out the characters start to over analyse. Woman were not on the same level as men; men talked down to woman, they didn’t see them as equals nor think that they should be treated like one. This relates to Othello and Desdemona’s relationship – she “betrayed”...
Words: 3593 - Pages: 15
...In Antigone by Sophocles, Kreon is portrayed as a very patriotic character. Sophocles establishes Kreons loyalty to his country throughout many instances in the play. For example, Kreon distinguishes himself from anyone who he feels is an anarchist of the state. In addition, he puts great emphasis on upholding the integrity and social order of Thebes by enforcing various laws. Kreon’s patriotic nature is further revealed when he promises to place the safety of his country as his first priority. Hence, Kreon remains true to his word as he casts out the death of Polyneices, his own nephew, whom he considers a traitor to Thebes. Thus, These reasons depict how Sophocles portrays Kreon as a patriotic character. Kreon’s patriotism for Thebes is illustrated when he chooses to place the honor of his country, ahead of his own family. This can be seen in the play when he casts out the death of his own nephew, Polyneices. Kreon views polyneices as a traitor and a criminal to his country. Therefore, he forbids any citizen of thebes to bury the body of polyneices, in order to further disgrace his death. While addressing the state Kreon states, “But his brother, Polyneices, the exile,...will be left unburied so men may see...
Words: 769 - Pages: 4
