...theme throughout the story of Antigone which can be seen in interactions between Creon and Antigone as well as Antigone and Ismene. Each reacts to Antigone’s death sentence following her illegal burial of her brother and he or she shares his or her respective view regarding her punishment. Each individual has his or her own unique beliefs about how justice is be served regarding this particular situation. Thus the theme of justice prevails in the interactions between the selected characters. Antigone is strong-willed in the sense she will go to great lengths in order to bring justice to the ones that have a special place in her heart. She states her fearless opinion when she is talking to her sister, Ismene, about...
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...morals “better” than the other characters. In the play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, Antigone embodies the tragic hero because she achieves recognition of the will of the gods, she displays better character traits and morals than the other characters, and she has a desire to do good for her family. Throughout the play, Antigone achieves recognition of the will of the gods regarding the death and burial of her brother, Polyneices. Antigone strongly believes that the fulfillment of the will of the gods is much more important than obeying an order from Creon, a mortal king. For example, Antigone retorts to Creon, “Nor did I think your orders were so strong that you, a mortal man, could over-run the gods’ unwritten and unfailing laws” (Sophocles 14). Antigone explicitly states that she will not obey Creon’s orders since they infringe on her duty to the gods. This statement reveals Antigone’s tenacity and passion for fulfilling this duty. When Antigone states “unwritten and unfailing laws” it shows how she believes...
Words: 618 - Pages: 3
...EURO3301 Reflective Essay (2) Given that Antigone seems to act out of kinship loyalties and in deference to the will of the gods of Hades, to what extent can she be interpreted as an individual in conflict with her society? Do you consider her rebellious or conservative? Jack Tesser (21137219) Within Sophocles’ play Antigone, the major character Antigone is seen to act continuously out of kinship loyalties and deference to the gods of Hades. These actions allow her to be interpreted as an individual in conflict with her society to a certain extent. She can be identified as predominantly rebellious at different times within the play. The gender of Antigone as well as the gender related expectations of the society of Thebes also plays an important part in analysing how Antigone is in conflict with her society. Coupled with exterior factors such as religion, sacrifice, and human law, an audience can make commentary on how Antigone is at conflict with her society, and how she can be seen as primarily rebellious. After Antigone’s brother Polyneices, falls to his death in battle, Antigone feels the need to bury him in honour to her religion and the gods of Hades, as her other brother who is described by Creon as “Eteocles, who fell fighting for his city…will be buried and receive all honours”. Creon additionally describes Polyneices as the one “who…hope[d] of burning his native land…he shall be neither buried nor mourned” In Antigone’s eyes, both her brothers should...
Words: 1114 - Pages: 5
...Texts and Ideas: Antiquity and Enlightenment Dr. Jeffrey Rubenstein Paper #1 Outline and Rough draft due in recitation sections on October 2-3 and will be returned Oct 8-10. Final Papers due October 15. No late submissions will be accepted without prior approval. Papers should be emailed to NYU classes AND a hardcopy turned in. Directions: * Select one out of the following three questions. Write an essay of approximately and no more than 1200 –1500 words. (Use the “word count” function in your word processor). * Quoting: you should quote from the text. Make sure that the quotes do not take up too large a part of your paper and only supplement (rather than substitute) your own words. Whenever you quote, you MUST provide a citation in parentheses. Here are some examples: (Symposium, 175E), (Exodus 22:1). Quotes should not stand on their own. They should be attached to some part of a non-quoted sentence (it can be as short as: For example, “……..” or Sophocles states, “…………”). * How to begin your paper: Jump straight to answering the question. Do not summarize the text, but rather write with a reader who is familiar with the text in mind. Also avoid general sayings such as “In human history, women have always been subordinated” or “Leaders tend to be very interesting figures.” One way to start your paper is with a question you will be answering. But don’t use the same wording – try to rephrase it, paraphrase it, or break it up. * Make sure you have a thesis...
Words: 1575 - Pages: 7
...English- 10 18 November 2013 Antigone Essay: Theme: Wisdom vs. Power There are a lot of themes in the story of Antigone, but the theme, wisdom vs. power portrays the story the best. The writer Sophocles reminds me of Shakespeare, and includes figurative language just like Shakespeare, but of course isn’t as good as him. This story took place in a city called Thebes, where Creon, Antigone, Haemon, Polynieces, and many more live. Creon is the King of Thebes and this theme is basically based off of him and the way he does things. He has to find a way to choose a ruler, and how he/she should govern Thebes. Creon is a tough ruler because of his loyalty to Thebes, but he will not let his family come over his decisions on what to do with the city. His nephew, Polynieces was a big traitor to Thebes, and hated the fact that his uncle was king and used to disagree on everything Creon had to say. Antigone does not like Creon as a ruler, because she thinks he can’t solve issues the town has. Creon does not care what Antigone has to say about him because he sees her as a threat to his power. In the story Antigone says,” If he cannot rule his own house, how can we expect him to rule Thebes?”(Lines 658-662) The son of Creon, Haemon also disagrees to what his father says. Haemon tries to break this disagreement by bringing up general understandings of how his father runs Thebes. Thebes is not like Athens, it is not a democracy, so it needs the support of the people. Haemon also helps...
Words: 398 - Pages: 2
...At the beginning of “Antigone,” the author reveals that Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are very different. The two sisters have different personalities, tone of dialogue, and motives. They also view the situation that they are in differently. Although they are sisters, Antigone and Ismene are very different. Antigone has a very strong personality. She is a very loving, brave and determined person. She is brave because she wants to bury her brother, Polyneices, even though she knows she might be killed for it. She says this in the quote “But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (55-56) Antigone doesn’t let the fear of death get in her way. She is also a very loving person because she cares a lot about her brother. Antigone loves her brother and cares about his spirit in the afterlife. She cares about burying her brother more than her own protection. Antigone is also very determined because she won’t take “no” for an answer. Antigone has several tones in her dialogue in the beginning of the story. She has an accusatory tone at one point, because she is blaming Ismene for not wanting to bury Polyneices. Antigone’s tone is also very strong. She says, “I am not afraid of the danger. If it means death, it won’t be the worst of deaths, death without honor.” (80-81) She thinks what she is doing is right, and that no one, not even Creon, will be able to stop her. Antigone’s third tone is determined. She has set her mind to giving Polyneices a proper...
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...Expository Essay for Antigone / Social Justice Writing Assignment The current issue of social justice in the US now is racism. I think that this is the number one issue that we African Americans are dealing with right now. I honestly do not think that America has ever been great. We have to vote in a couple of months of who should be our next president of the United States. Will it be Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton? I really do not like either of them, but if I had to choose between one, it will surely be Hilary Clinton. This is because I feel like Donald Trump is not taking this presidential seriously and he seems very rude to others in general. I would not want a president like him at all....
Words: 865 - Pages: 4
...STUDIES IN DRAMA QUESTION: ATTEMPT A DRAMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE PLAY ANTIGONE BY JEAN ANOUILH Dramatic analysis is the process of identifying the elements of the structure of a dramatic work such as a play, or film. There are six elements used when analyzing a drama which includes: exposition, inciting incidence, rising action, climax, falling action and the resolution. The exposition provides the background information needed to properly understand the story, such as the problem in the beginning of the story. It introduces the characters and the basic conflict in a play. Inciting incidence is an incidence which comes after the introduction of the characters and the basic conflicts. The rising action is when the basic internal conflict is complicated being the introduction of related secondary conflicts including various obstacles that frustrate the protagonist attempt to reach his goal. Climax, also referred to as turning point marks a change for the better or the worse in the protagonist affairs. Falling action therefore, is a moment of reversal after the climax. The conflict between the protagonists unravels with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist. Denouement, resolution or catastrophe comprises the event between the falling action and the actual ending scene of the drama. It serves as a conclusion of the story where the conflicts are resolved. Jean Anouilh’s Antigone is an adaptation of Sophocles’ tragic play of the same title. Written in...
Words: 1408 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 764 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 803 - Pages: 4
...never have to live without you.” This quote portrays how important living life with your loved ones is, even if that means you must die before them just so you wont have to ever imagine life without them. In the play Antigone, it is often debated who has a worse fate, Creon or Antigone. Both of their stories end tragically, with Antigone dying and with every member of Creons family dying. Even though both Antignoe and Creon’s stories had tragic ending, Creons ending was more tragic due to the fact that he forever must live with the guilt of his actions. When Creon doesn’t listen to his all-knowing prophet Tiresias, it is already know that his own fate is not going to be good. Creon had always taken the advice of this prophet however, when the prophet tells Creon that he should not kill Antigone, he doesn’t listen. Creon states, “Since these hairs of mine grew white from the black they once were, he has never spoken a word of a lie to our city. I know, I know. My mind is all bewildered. To yield is terrible. But by my opposition to destroy my very being with a self-destructive curse must also be reckoned in what is terrible” (Sophocles 1390-1393). Even though Creon is aware that Tiresias has been right about everything before, he still choses to kill Antigone. Because he makes this clear mistake in not taking the advice of Tiresias, it is apparent that he is going to have the worst fate. If only he had followed the advice of Tiresias, he would have been able to keep his...
Words: 789 - Pages: 4
...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
...“Who knows? In the world below perhaps such actions are no crime,” (lines 795-96) Antigone retorts when Creon labels her brother as ‘evil’ for fighting against Thebes. Throughout the play, good and evil-right and wrong, influence many of the character’s words and actions. Likewise, as the plot progresses, Creon is educated on a sense of justice not known by many kings; righteous justice. And through his interactions with Antigone, the king is informed of the sense of justice he had overlooked for so long. But by the time he realizes the fatal flaw, his entire life had already spiraled out of control. Antigone’s sense of justice lied with that of the gods; whereas, Creon’s lied with the laws he had set forth and the belief that anything that stood against his laws was evil. “Zeus did not announce those laws to me. And justice living with the gods below sent no such laws for men.” (lines 509-10) Antigone states to Creon in an effort to show that his laws were feeble in comparison to that of the gods. However,...
Words: 691 - Pages: 3
...Who ever thought that Creon, a fearsome king and leader, would yearn to see death come quickly to his side. Antigone, by Sophocles, takes place in the City of Thebes, ruled by King Creon after he came to the throne. After King Creon declared a decree stating that Eteocles would have burial rights while Polyneices would rot, unburied. Antigone was angered and buried her brother, Polyneices. Creon punished her by sending her locked away to a vault. That causes a series of events to unfold. Following the suicide of Haimon, Creon’s son, Queen Eurydice and Antigone, Creon’s niece, both fall victims of death. King Creon is considered a tragic hero, the main character in a tragedy who suffers a downfall caused by his/her tragic flaws, because he made...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...What goes up, must come down. This can often apply to characters in literature. In the tragedy Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon, a hard headed, recently crowned king loses everything he holds dear. Creon’s stubborn pride leads him to make a series of regrettable decisions that have catastrophic consequences for his people, his family, and himself. His blindness to his rank and status as king suggests that he let his morals get the best of him, from what was actually morally right. Initially, by the laws of God, Creon enforces a law that forbids his nephew Polyneices to be buried, for he thinks of him as a traitor. Though he is newly crowned, Creon’s first Law is pretty strict. Anyone who argues against him is sentenced to death. You can clearly see his strict order of law, and law enforcement. Creon doesn’t take no for an answer. Once he is told someone disobeyed his law, he begins to rage in anger, and even threatens the sentry who told him the news, that he would kill him, making others fearful of him. Creon's wife, along with other people such as his son Haemon, disagree with his decision to sentence Antigone, Polyneices sister, to death when he finds out it was her who broke his law, and buried her brother out of respect for the family. He refuses to listen to the others. They believe what he...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
