...about the following discourses? a. Gender b. Power (& Leadership) c. Identity d. Nature e. Culture The societies encountered by the Theban woman Antigone is Sophocles' Antigone, and the 19th century Englishwoman Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre, can be seen as highly unfavourable and disdainful of women. Both Antigone and Jane Eyre struggle and resist against a society which places men above them, and which sees expressions of female autonomy and liberty as unfavourable trends. Antigone and Jane Eyre both live in societies where a patriarchal culture dictates how these women should act within society, and what type of behaviour is acceptable, and which isn't. The control and subjugation of women – and the way they express themselves – can be seen as a consequence of discursive formations which aim to define the intrinsic qualities of men and women. It is in this context that the stories of Antigone and Jane Eyre can be seen as challenging conventional notions of gender and gender stereotypes, a highly pervasive discourse which affects a cluster of other ideas. This essay will argue that the characters Antigone in Sophocles' Antigone and Jane Eyre in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre are characters who challenge gender discourses which were very prominent during their time, and subsequently, the ideational influences which structured leadership, the creation of identities, opinions regarding natural attributes, and cultural . While Antigone lives in a pre-modern society dominated by males who...
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...Law in Antigone: Religion over State In Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon and Antigone’s understanding of law and justice stand in opposition of each other. Antigone prioritizes religious law over the state laws which Creon represents, thereby demonstrating the limitations of man’s power in comparison to the absolute power of the gods. Creon defines law and justice as the power of the state, and argues that the state, and his decisions as its ruler, must be put above all else in order to prevent chaos. He says, “We must obey whatever man the city puts in charge, no matter the issue…For there is no greater evil than a lack of leadership,” (Sophocles, 674-676) which shows that he follows a tyrannical system in which his word is law. His decision not...
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...By accepting the consequence and bringing attention to the injustice of the law, the individual is immensely benefiting society. Therefore, Sophocles and King believe that individuals have the right to disobey unjust laws in favor of a higher divine, or natural law. While Antigone and Martin Luther King Jr. state that individuals have the right to disobey unjust laws, their justification for civil disobedience differs. Antigone’s justification for disobeying Creon’s law was that the gods required the burial of Polyneices. For example, Antigone expounds, “but if I had left my brother/ Lying in death unburied, I should have suffered./ Now I do not” (Sophocles Scene II.70-72). Antigone may have not enjoyed life in the underworld if she had not buried Polyneices. Although she owes allegiance to Creon, she owes greater allegiance to the gods. Not only do Creon’s laws conflict with divine law, but they also carry less weight according to Antigone. According to “Justice in Antigone,” Her justification is that she will be in the underworld for all eternity, while her time on earth will be at most merely a few decades (2). Therefore, divine law takes precedence and must be followed accordingly. As stated in “Antigone’s Unwritten Laws,” Polyneices is Antigone’s brother and must be buried so he does not remain a wandering spirit for eternity. Antigone must bury her brother because she is bound to the law of love and close kinship between brother and sister as well (Ehrenberg 11). King justifies...
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...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...
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...Makai Montague Ms. Novak English 10CP Per. 2 15 January 2016 Antigone “It is no weakness for the wisest man to learn when he is wrong, know when to yield” (Sc. 3.608-609). King Creon certainly did not yield to anyone’s opinion except his own. In the Greek play Antigone, Sophocles uses King Creon as an example of a leader who is prideful and sexist, resulting in failure and tragedy. King Creon allows his pride and stubbornness to stand in the way of listening to others. When he learns that Antigone buried the body of Polyneices, he is angered that someone dared disobey his decree. He disregards Antigone when she tells him that some believes her action of burying Polyneices is honorable. Similarly, he obstinately disregarded his son Haemon when he suggested the same: “But I hear whispers spoken in the dark; on every side I hear voices of pity for this poor girl, doomed to the cruelest death, and most unjust, that ever women suffered for an honorable action-burying a brother who was killed in battle” (Sc. 3.590-596). King Creon’s prideful response was that as a king, he was only responsible for himself: “Indeed! Am I to take lessons at my time of life from a fellow of his age?”(Sc. 3.624-625). A good statesman takes into consideration what the people around them have to say, not push advice away because they feel too proud to take it from someone younger. Furthermore, King Creon later gets a visit from Teiresias, a blind prophet who foretells the future. The prophecy says that...
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...| Harvard University | | | Lessons from Antigone | | | | by | | | | Barry Humphries | | | | 31/01/2010 | | | | | | | | | We love our heroes. In sports, it’s Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods. Exploration? Christopher Columbus and Captain James Cook. Business? Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch are revered by millions. No matter how fast, far or rich, how ruthless, mercenary or arrogant – it seems we can’t get enough. The question is, are we creating heroes or monsters? In the play Antigone, Sophocles draws Creon as an autocratic dictator, interested only in political order and public obedience to the state. His stubbornness renders him unable to feel the injustice of his decree and ultimately rewards his blindness with personal tragedy. Could it be that Sophocles is asking us to question the qualities of unwavering focus, resolve and commitment – celebrated by many as being vital attributes of effective leadership (Avolio, 1999)? Qualities which in the case of Creon, may also be categorised as sociopathic or even psychopathic (Babiak & Hare, 2006). Sub-clinical socio/psychopathic traits such as narcissism, impulsivity, superiority, low-empathy and self-promotion are ironically also those that may assist individuals in rising to the top of the corporate or government ladder (Boddy, 2009). Paradoxically, these traits are often accompanied by the more positively held attributes of charisma, ambition and opportunism (Andrews & Furniss...
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...his physis, and then blindly, ferociously, heroically maintains that decision even to the point of self-destruction (Burt).” He kept his stance and followed every law that he put forth. Being a role model for all citizens and show no weakness. Antigone was determined to bury her brother Polyneices even though she knew that it was against the community and law. This made Creon infuriated because Polyneices was supposed to be eaten alive. He wasn’t going to let Antigone get away with what she has done; she must be punished. She was sent away to a small dark prison with a scares amount of food. Haemon, his son, loved Antigone and was supposed to marry her. He tried to stop...
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...Antigone is a Greek tragic piece that stresses the use of power and morality versus the law written by Sophocles. Both Antigone and Creon, the main characters in the play, could represent the tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who is known for being dignified and has a flaw that assists to his or her downfall. In my opinion, Creon best qualifies for being the tragic hero and fitting the definition read in the previous sentence. The things he said, did, and the comments that were made by those around him show how a man with everything could lose it all due to his own behavior. To open, the things he said showed how he changed and became the tragic hero of the play. Many of his statements reveal his personality including his admirable parts and his flaws. When Creon says: "I call to God to witness that if I saw my country headed for ruin, I should not be afraid to speak out plainly," (Sophocles, scene 1,24-26), it shows his strong sense of nationalism and leadership which catches up with him in the end. "The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron cracks first, and the wildest horses bend their necks at the pull of the smallest curb" (scene 2,76-79) is what Creon says to Antigone after finding out she is the one who buried Polynieces. He thinks that if Antigone wasn't so headstrong and arrogant then she could have avoided the consequence he was about to give her. I think Creon was being a hypocrite because he is just as stubborn as she is. The reason why Creon...
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...“Not even death can make a foe a friend. Die then, and love the dead if thou must; No woman shall be the master while I live.”(522-524). The Greeks held several virtues in high regard. Many characters in the play Antigone, either are an example, or just the opposite, of one or several of the virtues. The ruler of Thebes, King Creon, illustrates several of the Greek virtues throughout the play. The three that the king exhibits rather well are Kalokagathia, Sophrysne, and Arete. Balance can be a difficult thing to not only achieve but more often is even harder to sustain. Kalokagathia is the Greek character virtue of balance. It is however, important in keeping the universe in order. There are plenty of opposing topics that have been an issue for thousands of years. Balancing is finding the happy medium for two opposing topics. For example: church and state, law and justice, man and the gods, one’s self and other people, and a job and family. As ruler of a kingdom, King Creon certainly had to deal with balancing many different facets of life. As the highest ruler in the land he has much more to balance than the average man and there are many people who are affected by the way he tries to maintain this balance. He takes his role as king quite seriously, he strives for excellence. He makes this clear when addressing the elders, “A man who rules the entire state and does not take the best advice there is, but through fear keeps his mouth forever shut, such a man is the very worst...
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...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 statement that is not a statement of fact, but rather a statement of an argument. You do not need to write “in my opinion” or “I will argue” - this is implied, since it is your paper. Since each paper topic asks you to discuss two works...
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...the play Antigone written by Sophocles, Creon is the tragic hero. Creon was a king. His tragic flaw was that he has too much pride and this causes a downfall for him. Creon will not listen to anyone. He is very stubborn and he doesn’t notice that he might be doing the wrong thing. Creon said, “Let him do, or dream to do, more than a man can. He shall not save these girls from death” (i.628-629). Creon said this because he is making sure no one will help the girls because they did a bad thing in Creon’s eyes. Creon had a free choice. His free choice was to either listen or ignore the Sentry. The Sentry came to Creon to tell him that Polyneices was getting buried by his sister Antigone. Creon didn’t believe it. He said harshly, “You’re figure of speech may entertain you now; but unless you bring me the man, you will get very little profit from them in the end” (i.271-273)....
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...Jeremy Martinez English 1B-24013 R. S. Guglielmino 3/17/15 “Antigone” In ancient Greek civilization, the Greeks believed that loyalty is the most influential value one could have in society. They believed that loyalty is important to family, community and the gods (Ancient Greek Values). In the play “Antigone”, Antigone’s loyalty is exemplifying one’s perseverance to clear her family’s name of slander due to the mistakes of her ancestors. When her brother, Polynices, is refused a burial after dying in war, Antigone fearlessly challenges Creon to salvage her brother’s honor knowing the consequences that will follow for defying the Ruler of Thebes. In the Greek tragedy, “Antigone”, by Sophocles, the protagonist must overcome the challenges that lie ahead in order to give the proper respect her brother deserves. When the play begins, Antigone is talking to her sister, Ismene about the death of their brothers and how they are still suffering from the curse of Oedipus. This is the first indication of the family’s sorrow and the degree to which Oedipus’s curse still exist to this day. The two sisters are the only surviving children of Oedipus and Jocasta after their two brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, fought each other to the death to become King of Thebes. When they fought over this, Polynices decided to attack Thebes, making him a traitor. At the end of the war and both brothers’ deaths, Creon was the only person left to rule Thebes. Since Polynices was considered...
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...Western Perspectives I The play Antigone by Sophocles is unquestionably a tragedy, however the question remains: whose tragedy is it? In essence, is it a tragedy for one or two characters in the play or is it rather a tragedy for the entire populace of the city of Thebes? It is a tragedy in varying degrees, from somewhat tragic to extremely tragic. Analyzing the play it is easy to see tragedy from beginning to end. It’s also simple to see all main characters and even those in the background, the citizens of Thebes, experience some form of tragedy. Thebes as a whole, and the citizens of the city, are at the lesser end of the scale of tragedy. Before the play even begins, the city has already experienced a degree of tragedy from being under the rule of a King who unknowingly not only has married his mother but also created four children with her. As the play starts the future heirs of the city, the brothers, lay dead on the field of battle from the others’ hands. This alone is a tragedy for Thebes, yet it goes beyond this when the next male figure of the royal family steps into rule: the Uncle. Now Thebes is forced under the leadership of a ruler that should have never been, Kreon. As we progress up the ladder of tragedy I would say that next on the rung would be Ismene, sister to Antigone. Like the city of Thebes, when the play starts Ismene has already endured numerous tragedies such as the death of her mother, the shame of her father, and the death of her brothers...
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... In the play, “Antigone”, by Sophocles, display Creon as a tragic leader who caused his own downfall. Throughout the play Creon the King of Thebes experience a downfall from many fatal flaws. Creon begins his fatal flaw at the beginning of the play when Creon decides to honor Eteocles and not give burial right to Polyneices because Eteocles fought for the state and Polyneices against the state. Creon tragic flaw show itself when he sentence Antigone, doesn’t listen to Tiresias's, chorus leader and ignore his son Haemon. Creon fatal flaw begins when he finds out that Antigone went against the law to bury her brother Polyneices. He sentenced her to death because...
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...Maintaining or practicing resistance in a developing fascist country populated by nationalist sure is difficult. Thomas Carter’s film, Swing Kids, shows teenager Peter attempt to maintain internal battle of resistance of the Nazi regime. In Sophocles Greek tragedy, Antigone, Antigone shows her resistance by defiling the ruling of the developing dictator of Thebes Creon. Although the two’s situations differed in many ways, their common actions in rebelling from dictatorship while surrounded by pressuring nationalists, in the end proved a positive outcome. Antigone and Peter both have many differences in their situations. Antigone is conflicted with the king of Thebes, Creon’s, decision to ban the burial of one of Antigone’s brothers, Polyneices....
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