...The play Antigone by Sophocles, still remains relevant today, even though it was written in 441 B.C. The issues that arise in the play are also seen now. This includes the conflict between faith and the law and sexism. This play is about a girl named Antigone who wants to bury her brother, because she felt that it was the right thing to do. Her belief of burial went against the law, causing conflict between Antigone and the king, Creon. Throughout the play, many remarks are made against Antigone about her gender. She was told various times that what she was doing was wrong because she was a woman, and that she couldn’t do bury her brother because she was a woman. Both issues are seen today because women are continuously being mistreated, and...
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...Some people in this world have a hard time making up their mind, whether it is a choice of where to eat or deciding if you want to go to that party or not. Antigone is a story of two brothers whose father committed suicide, and there was no way to get a new king unless someone fought. Both of the brothers died and the new king was the brothers’ uncle, Creon. Creon made a law that no one shall bury the body of Polynices, the brother who fought against the kingdom. Antigone and Ismene, the sisters, had to find a way to bury him but that would result in death because of Creon’s law. Ismene is the character in this story that is double-sided. She switches sides like a first grader playing in a Nerf war, and in the beginning said that she wouldn’t help, but in the middle of the story tries to take part of the blame for burying her brother....
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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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...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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...water;” but in “Antigone,” is it really so? The play “Antigone” is a Greek Tragedy that was written by Sophocles in 1961. The play is generically about the catastrophic fate of a young girl named Antigone, due to her disobedience in following the rulings made by the king named Creon. In the story, Antigone made the bold decision to bury her brother Polyneices, which was completely spoken against in the king’s decree. Polyneices had fought during the war on the side opposing that of the king and because of this, King Creon has made it illegal to bury Polynices who in his mind, committed treason; the actions of someone actually doing so, was punishable by death. King Creon though, gets a lot of negative...
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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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...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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...become a lack of trust because she will not help honor her brother. Even though Ismene does not believe that burying her brother is the right thing to do because the leader said not to, Antigone still sees Ismene as someone she cannot trust. This is because Ismene is defying what Antigone wants her to do. This is devastating to their relationship, especially with the previous events that happened to them. They should have been together and strong through these events, but are instead separated by this lack of trust. Once Antigone completed her mission, she was immediately caught and brought to Creon, who put her in jail. Antigone admitted that she was the one that defied the leader, Creon was furious. In front of a lot of the city of Thebes...
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...play say about a woman's place in society? Throughout history women have been considers inferior than men. In the classical play “Antigone” written by ancient Greek author Sophocles, it discusses and questions the role and importance of women during ancient Greek times. As the play follows the actions taken by the protagonist, Antigone, who transgression in order to bury her brother’s corpse. Sophocles portrays women’s role in society through being subservient, the status quote and as courageous. In the play the sister of Antigone, known as Ismene, is the essential figure in the portrayal of women as subservient to men. This is due to the fact that Ismene feels that she should not question nor disobey the edict imposed by Creon to deny the burial of Polynices. For instance, Ismene argues with Antigone and says “Rather, consider that we were born women, proving we should not fight with men, and that we are ruled by more powerful people and must obey them even in painful things.”(Lines 63, 15) This demonstrates that women knew that they needed to be subservient, and because they knew that they could not speak against men they subsequently advocated the thought that women did not play an important role, due to being weak. As a result women in ancient Greece were at the bottom of the social pyramid and not considered important Furthermore, Sophocles demonstrated the depiction of women weakness and inferiority through the status quo of Greek society. This is because the status quo...
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...Hubris, anger, ignorance, obstinate and supremacy consumed the King Creon, in Antigone by Sophocles, making him the tragic hero; his unpleasant traits lead to Antigone’s suicide, his family’s death and his own downfall. Infuriated by his nephew, Polyneices, for leading an attack on Thebes, Creon outlaws a proper burial for the traitor. Polyneices’ sister Antigone believes that the law is unreasonable, so she sets out to give her brother a proper burial despite Creon’s intense feelings. Initially Creon successes rule over Thebes because of the death of the last King and Queen, Oedipus and Jocasta. The former king and queen’s son, Polyneices, turned out to be a renegade and commanded an attack on his homeland of Thebes. As a result, Creon created...
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...Antigone Antigone is a very interesting Greek tragedy, full of death, love, and betrayal. The tragedy, Antigone, starts with the death of Antigone’s brothers. Both brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, died fighting each other in combat. Creon, the king of Thebes, has granted permission for Eteocles to have a proper burial, but not for Polynices. The Greeks at this time believed that without burial the person’s spirit would not be able to rest and would be a ghost for eternity. Antigone decided that a burial for her brother Polynices was needed even though Creon ordered that it was forbidden. So when the guards weren’t looking, Antigone threw dirt onto her brothers’ dead body so he could have a proper burial so his body could rest. When Creon found out that someone had thrown dirt onto the body, he ordered that whoever had done it would be put to death. After Creon orders this the guards bring in Antigone, who they caught throwing more dirt on the body of Polynices. Creon condemns Antigone to death for the burial of her brother. Haemon, Creon’s son and also engaged to Antigone, tells his father that he will never see him again if he follows through with her death. Tiresias, the blind prophet, foresees the future and warns Creon of the outcome of his actions. In the end, Creon is left alone, with his son and wife dead all because of his decision to condemn Antigone to death. In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is not the tragic hero, instead she is a...
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...The play “Antigone” by Sophocles displays many qualities that make it a great tragedy. A tragedy is defined as a dramatic or literary work in which the principal character engages in a morally significant struggle ending in ruin or profound disappointment. In creating his tragedy “Antigone”, Sophocles uses many techniques to create the feelings of fear and pity in his readers. This in turn creates an excellent tragedy. In order for a play to be considered a tragedy it must achieve the purgation of fear and pity. In the play “Antigone”, Sophocles does a great job of bringing out these two emotions in a reader. At the beginning of the play there is a conversation between Antigone and her sister Ismene. During the conversation the reader learns the two girls lost their father in battle and both of their brothers at the hands of one another. Then the reader learns that one of the brothers, Polynices, has been left out to die without a proper burial. At this time the reader begins to feel pity for the two sisters. They have lost their father and their two brothers all at the same time. Later in the conversation the reader learns that Antigone has a plan to bury here brother Polynices and that she wants Ismene to help her. Ismene is scared to do this because the new king, Creon, has issued a decree that says that any person that attempts to bury the body will be sentenced to death. The fact that Antigone is going to attempt to bury the body creates fear in...
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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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...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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