... March 11th, 09 English 112 Antigone: Divine Law vs. Human Law The play entitled Antigone was written by a man named Sophocles, a scholarly author of philosophy and logic. The play Antigone is probably one of the most prominent interpretations of a tragic drama. The two main characters of the play are Antigone and Creon. There is much conflict between Antigone and Creon throughout the play, both of them having their own ideas and opinions regarding divine law versus human law. The theme that I am going to analyze is the conflict of divine law vs. human law. The reason for this is because this theme seems to control the whole play. It is an issue of which law is the "right" law, and if Creon's and Antigone's acts were justifiable. The play Antigone can be summarized by the following: King Creon lets it be known that Polyneices the traitor is not to be buried, but his sister Antigone defies the order because of the values she holds. She is caught, and sentenced by Creon to be buried alive - even though she is to be married to his son Haemon. After the blind prophet Tiresias proves that the gods are on Antigone's side, Creon changes his mind - but too late. He goes first to bury Polyneices, but Antigone has already hanged herself. When Creon arrives at the tomb, Haemon attacks him and then kills himself. When the news of...
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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 Antigone, the protagonist Creon is a tragic hero who struggles with internal dilemmas. The fatal decisions that set him down a tragic path are rooted in his inner conflict. Creon must discern between the importance of civil law and divine law, and this tension created illuminates the central idea that defying the Gods ends in detriment. The conflicting force of civil law is most appealing to Creon. This starts to build his tension towards the God’s principles. Creon has the most power and control under civil law. By being a new, inexperienced king, he feels a need to prove to his people the strength and supremacy he can guarantee. In consequence, he makes a narrow-minded law, where no one shall bury Polynices due to Polynice’s betrayal to the state Whoever defies this ruling will face...
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...Antigone and Her Morality Thesis: Antigone is a tragic heroine who believes in her moral duty to the gods over her duty to the state and is willing to suffer the consequences in order to do what is morally right. I. Antigone's justification of action A. Her defiant speech against law of man B. Her argument through Divine Law II. Hamartia Theory A. Antigone's tragic flaws B. Human responsibility for action C. Chorus points out character flaws III. Divine injustice and the moral problem A. Action involves suffering B. Acknowledging moral order of the gods IV. Divinity in man is morality Antigone and Her Morality Thesis: Antigone is a tragic heroine who believes in her moral duty to the gods over her duty to the state and is willing to suffer the consequences in order to do what is morally right. I. Antigone's justification of action A. Her defiant speech against law of man B. Her argument through Divine Law II. Hamartia Theory A. Antigone's tragic flaws B. Human responsibility for action C. Chorus points out character flaws III. Divine injustice and the moral problem A. Action involves suffering B. Acknowledging moral order of the gods IV. Divinity in man is morality Antigone and Her Morality Thesis: Antigone is a tragic heroine who believes in her moral duty to the gods over her duty to the state and is willing to suffer the consequences in order to do what is morally right. I. Antigone's justification of action A. Her...
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...8 August 2014 A Critique of Antigone The story of Antigone, by ancient Grecian author Sophocles, is a tale of two conflicting systems of law and morality. On one side of the parallel there is Antigone, Oedipus daughter, who defies stately law by obeying divine law, and on the other there is Creon who is the enforcer of rule in the city and ignores the laws of the divine. Which system was in the wrong? In the case of Antigone, she is charged with the responsibility of giving the last rights and burial to her brother so that his spirit may move on to the other realm. In everyday circumstance in that time the responsible to bury the dead remained a right and duty of the family unit; however, Antigone’s brother was ruled to be considered an enemy of the state because he led a band of rebels to overthrow the government and gain the thrown from his own brother. Creon thus decrees that his body be left to the dogs without mourning. Despite the obvious consequences of breaking the law, Antigone attempts to bury her brother under the belief that the family unit’s law and personal moral law has more power than that of the state. In regards to Creon, he decrees that the body of Antigone’s brother should be left to rot for the vultures without a proper burial. Antigone’s brother led a group to overthrown his brother and gain the thrown. The aftermath leaves both brothers dead and the thrown to Creon. It is important to note that Creon declares Antigone brother traitorous because he...
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... Antigone Antigone returns to her home city-state of Thebes to discover both of her brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, have murdered each other. Creon, her uncle who is now king, has decreed that no man shall bury Polynices because he has been declared a traitor. Whoever dares to defy the law will be put to death in unimaginably harsh manners. Antigone is caught and is sentenced to death. However, by the time Creon has figured out he was wrong, Antigone has already hung herself. Her fiancé Haimon, who is Creon’s son, has also committed suicide. Haimon’s mother, who is Queen Eurydice has followed suit and has committed suicide as well. Antigone’s devotion to her values and beliefs are what make her such a powerful female lead. Throughout the play, she shows the difference between having loyalty in what you believe is true and what the state declares as true. After analyzing this theme, it is clear that having loyalty to yourself and your family is much more important than loyalty to the laws created by the government. The first scene of Antigone portrays the protagonist Antigone and her sister Ismene disagreeing about burying Polynices and defying Creon. Antigone’s loyalty remains with her dead brothers and her own values and beliefs. Antigone divulges to Ismene her incredible plan to sneak away to bury her traitorous brother. Ismene however, wants no part in the project Antigone has decided to take on, because Ismene believes...
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...Throughout “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, King makes a similar statement about civil disobedience and the law. He states that civil disobedience must occur after four steps are taken. Collection of facts to determine whether there are injustices, negotiation, self purification, and direct action must occur before civil disobedience transpires. He argues that “there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes an injustice when it is used to maintain segregation” (5). Ultimately, a law becomes unjust when it promotes injustice. This is when civil disobedience can occur as laws that promote segregation and inequality are unjust. King appeals to a higher law whenever a command of the state conflicts with his moral principles. Natural law can be described as King’s guide to civil disobedience. When the state does not conform with natural law, civil...
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...Antigone (Quotes from 1 to page 22) "Not to give way when everything's against her." – Chorus (speaking about Antigone and is evidence of hubris) For Zeus…struck him down…..Mighty Ares…Bacchic Fury – Chorus (gods helped kill the enemies) What, would you bury him? Against the proclamation?.....When Creon has forbidden it – Ismene (to Antigone about burying Polynices) (shows her respect of kingly right) I shall not prove disloyal –Antigone (hubris, devotion to family, divine law) We travel the behest or power of Kings. We must remember we are women born. Unapt to cope with men…mightier than ourselves- Ismene (to Antigone. This shows her inaction, respect to the laws of state and men, position of women) Far longer is there need I satisfy those nether Powers, than powers on Earth. For there for ever must I lie – Antigone (divine laws over human laws) Your heart beats hotly. For chilling work – Ismene (Antigone is too rebellious and takes pride in her action against the state and for the gods) I know that those approve whim I most need to please - Antigone (gods) Right loyal ever to kingly power – Creon (addresses the Chorus, loyalty to kings not gods) Vilest of men. Him too, whoever sets a friend before his native land. I prize at nothing -Creon (law of the land is the most important) I will not sit in silence-Creon (proactive kind, protects his people “No man shall bury, none should wail for him…..Such is my will”-Creon (Right as King) Death is the penalty....
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...him from dogs and vultures. Is this a crime?'"(554-557) Antigone is a victim of her own actions, but the true, tragic victim of Sophocles’ Antigone is Haimon; torn between the two people duty tells him to hold the highest. As an immensely patriarchal society, Haimon should have put his father’s wishes before Antigone’s and that’s his fatal flaw, but there was no winning either way. There is no denying that Antigone had pure intentions for what she was doing and believed that the gods should be held above man’s law, regardless she broke Creon’s rules and was punished for such; Haimon was only...
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...Abraham and Antigone: Facing Superior Orders Abraham from the Bible and Antigone from Sophocle’s tragedy Antigone share a very similar dilemma: both characters receive higher orders that would hurt their family members. Abraham receives the command from God to kill his only son as a sacrifice while Antigone is under the state’s decree that forbids her brother the honor of burial. Under the comparable situation, the two characters exhibit different responses: one decides to kill his son under command without hesitation, but the other is willing to defy the law for the sake of her brother. Abraham’s unquestioning attitude towards God’s inhumane order is startling and throws the credibility of his character into question. On the other hand, Antigone’s insistence of respect for her family, regardless of the city’s laws, makes her appear to be a more believable and relatable person. However, Antigone’s motivations to bury her brother also stems from her obedience towards the laws of her gods. Abraham and Antigone thus share the same absolute obedience towards divine authority, but Antigone’s will to also fight for her family’s dignity and honor differentiates her from Abraham as a more believable character. Abraham’s character seems unbelievable because he is willing to kill his own son without questioning and hesitation solely because God asks him to. In Genesis chapter 22, God commands Abraham to take Isaac, Abraham’s only son, to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice...
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...Does Antigone Deserve to Be Punished? Antigone has been acclaimed as a model that challenges authority and insists on just acts. However, according to Aristotle, a tragedy requires a man’s harmartia, which means error. Therefore, as a main character of a great tragedy, Antigone must possess flaws. Antigone’s self-certainty is one of her mistakes that contribute to her tragic fate. She regards burying dead people as absolute just behavior under any circumstance. This rite is important in Ancient Greek culture, but weather or not gods desire appropriate arrangement of Polyneices’ body is under question. It is Zeus that brings death to Polyneices because Polyneices brings war to his country and undermines the peace of Thebes. He “sought to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the shrines of his father’s gods, -sought to taste of kindred blood, and to lead the remnant into slavery”. In Creon’s opinion, Polyneices is so wicked that even gods do not want to see him buried. When asked whether the gods have covered Polyneices’ body, Creon replies angrily that “was it for high reward of trusty service that they sought to hide his nakedness, who came to burn their pillared shrines and sacred treasures, to burn their land, and scatter its laws to the winds”. Creon ‘s opinions are reasonable before Teiresias gives out the correct interpretation of gods’ wills. If Antigone realized the limit of her wisdom, she would hesitate to kill herself and Haemon...
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...“ To kill a mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Antigone” by Sophocles are both dramas having to do with justice, the main characters in both dramas are struggling to bring justice to a society or situation that was lacking. In Sophocles’ drama, Antigone was trying to bring justice by burying her brother Polyneices against the kings, Creon’s, orders. While in “To kill a mocking bird” Atticus is an attorney in a case where race is a major issue and he is trying to save Tom Robinson from being convicted of a crime where there’s overwhelming evidence of his innocence. Both “Antigone” and “To kill a mockingbird’s” themes seem to revolve around justice which is proven when Antigone buries her brother and Atticus agrees to take on Tom Robinsons case. Another large theme in both dramas is the idea that women are somehow ‘lesser’ because of their femininity, a cause of this might be because of the era that the dramas are set in. Throughout “To kill a mockingbird” Scout does her best to avoid ‘girly’ things so that she can keep playing with her brother Jem, its only later in the novel that Scout begins to realize that being a girl is more about having positive traits than lacking them. This theme continues in “Antigone”, most pointedly when Ismene states “Bethink thee, sister, we are left alone; Shall we not perish wretchedness of all, If in defiance of the law we cross A monarch's will?--weak women, think of that, Not framed by nature to contend with men. Remember this too that the stronger...
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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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...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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...In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, Antigone represents a strong-willed young woman, who believes her own beliefs stronger than that of her leader's rule. She is also braver and more independent than her sister, Ismene is since she dares to fight for the honor of her family. As the play begins, Antigone's dead brother, Polynices, is considered a traitor and King Creon "forbids anyone to bury him, mourn him", under penalty of death (Sophocles 34). However, Antigone wants to protect her dead brother's honor by giving him a proper burial, even if she has to break the laws of King Creon. Therefore, she says to Ismene, “I'll raise a mound for . . . my dear brother . . . he [Creon] has no right to keep me from my own!” (Sophocles 95, 59)....
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