...Quran Norris English 102 AC106 Mrs. Stephenson 0Antigone Paper Being a part of a family forces one to have responsibilities and duties that are needed to be fulfilled. In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone, Antigone has the responsibility of being loyal to her brother, Polynices. Her intuition and strong will discourages her from listening to the power of the state, thus disobeying part of her family, to respect her immediate family. Her devotion leads to the destruction of Creon and herself. Proving that Antigone’s role as a part of a family, does not stand in her determination to do what she believes to be right. It is for this reason that she is willing to destroy herself and Creon to fulfill her duty to both her immediate family and the Gods above. In order to understand Antigone’s actions and motivation, it is important to understand the importance of what a proper burial is to the people of ancient Greece. Unlike most religions, the Greek did not believe in the reward and punishment concept after death. They did not believe that good people went to heaven, while the evil suffered in hell. They believed that life after death was a sad and miserable affair, and the dead deserved to rest in peace. They believed in the importance of a proper burial, as proposed and supported by the gods. The gods mandated the way people lived their everyday life, and how they lived their life after death. The general belief of the people, was that those who did not get a proper burial...
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...down upon by others? In “Antigone” by Sophocles, the characters choose to go with with their conscience to make choices over what society thinks is best. Most of the choices that they make usually have an effect on their fate in the future. In the beginning of this story Antigone, the daughter of the tragic hero named Oedipus, chooses to go with her conscience over what society thinks is best. Her brother, Polynices, is looked as a traitor by society because he brought war upon the city of Thebes. If anyone were to bury him they punishment would be death. Antigone feels that her sister should help her bury the body, no matter what the consequence is. “Antigone. Help me lift The body up- Ismene. What, would you bury him? Against the proclamation? Antigone. My own brother And yours I will! If you will not, I will; I shall not prove disloyal.” (Sophocles 3). This quote shows that Antigone’s sister, Ismene, was with society and thought that burying the body was wrong. Antigone’s feels that she has to bury her brother so that she can feel loyal to her family. Antigone’s choice eventually leads to her death, and the death of others....
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...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...
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...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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...King (Uncle) Creon was confronted by his servants about Antigone burying Polyneices after he made the speech that whoever gave Polyneices a proper burial would be stoned to death. “Disaster is linked with disaster./ Woe again must each generation inherit.” (lines 595-96). Creon knew that Antigone had to be pushined for disobeying the law. He couldn’t take his word back for killing whoever buried Polyneices. Antigone confronts Creon and tells him that no one agrees with him on his opinion about the death of Polyneices hoping someone else would speak up and agree but no one did. Creon thought that he shouldn’t give as harsh of a punishment as he said. Instead of stoning Antigone to death, he put her into a locked room with food and water for just a few days and let the Gods decide on whether Antigone should live or die....
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...In Sophocles’ play Antigone; Creon and Antigone have different thoughts towards the burial of Polyneices. Throughout the play you notice that Creon leans towards the “law of man” while Antigone leans towards the “law of the gods.” Creon is the new head of state and lawmaker in Thebes; he believes that everyone should obey to man-made laws, “law of man.” Creon’s laws simply are standard (have no emotion), they protect the culture, and provide stability to the culture. Antigone obeys a different set of laws called "law of the gods." Law of the gods has standards for right and wrong. They are also more universal, not just people of Thebes apply to them; all people of the gods do. Antigone believes that the law of the gods tells people to give...
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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 vs. Creon: Struggles, Beliefs, and Morals In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, Creon and his young niece Antigone encounter many struggles in their lives because of moral views and political laws. Conflicts would arise when the values and actions of these two individuals disagreed with one another. Antigone’s conflict in the play held the approach of god’s law in the way, and on the opposing side, Creon chose his way of political beliefs that he would personally create as king. In my paper, I will discuss these characters, and interpret why and how their actions reflect their own personal beliefs and morals as individuals. The difference in beliefs, moral views, and opinions seen through-out the play were constantly disputed between Creon and Antigone. Antigone felt that Creon ignored the laws of gods through his laws. When she was captured after giving her brother proper rites and brought to Creon, she said, “Your edict, King was strong, but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God. They are not merely now: they were, and shall be operative forever, beyond man utterly” (Rand, 4). Antigone supports the laws of the God’s in heaven and believes that if someone is not given proper burial rites after death, they will not go to heaven. Her religious views were very important to her and the love for her brother would ultimately sway her decisions to go against the law of the king. Creon’s laws and orders became very personal...
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...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...
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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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...In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is the young daughter of Oedipus and her grandmother/mother Queen Jocasta. Jocasta and Oedipus kill themselves leaving Antigone’s uncle, Creon, to take care of her, Ismene, Polynecies and Eteocles. I believe that the gods and Creon have the greatest effect on Antigone’s destiny because; if Creon had not said that no one is to bury Polynecies she would not have buried him. The gods had a great effect on Antigone because; she believes that it is more important to follow the laws of her gods rather than the laws of her kingdom. Starting in the middle of action, Eteocles and Creon fight against Polynecies. Creon kills Polynecies and does not give him a soldier’s funeral because Creon believed that Polynecies...
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...for downfall, suffering, or 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...
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...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). | | | ...
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...Who is the tragic hero of Antigone? Aristotle defines a tragic hero as one with a fatal flaw that leads to a reversal of fortune, or peripeteia. This fatal flaw is often Hubris, which is excessive pride. Creon fits all these roles, therefore he should be labelled as the tragic hero of Antigone. Creon also faces anagnorisis, in which the tragic hero realizes the situation they're in and is often followed by regret. Not only that, but Creon's fatal flaw, excessive pride, impacts the story more than Antigone did. As previously stated, Creon's flaw is his excessive pride and arrogance. In the story of Antigone, Creon gives Antigone's brother, Eteocles, a proper burial, but refuses to bury Polynices for betraying their city and leaves him out to rot. Antigone was appalled by this and for the sake of family and love went against Creon's wishes and buried Polynices. Antigone is eventually caught doing so and is sent to Creon. Creon, being arrogant as always, insists on Antigone being killed for her actions....
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...The play Antigone is a Greek mythology written by Sophocles and is widely read by students and adults across the world. There are many different version of this tragedy with one of them being by the Arthur Jean Anouilh. Antigone is the subject of the popular story where she attempts to have a respectable burial for her brother, Polynices, who was killed in a battle between him and his brother Eteocles even when he is seen as a traitor. Creon is the uncle of Antigone and also the ruler of Thebes; he is the main force that tries to stop Antigone from burying Polynices. Although Sopocles and Anuouilh basically has the same characters and plot, he rewrites the story in the 20th century with a different emphasis. Both plays have Antigone fighting...
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