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Family relationships in Antigone
Characterisation in the play antigone
Family relationships in Antigone
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The King of Thebes
Antigone, written by Sophocles, a Greek drama In the play there are many significant parts that shape the story. Many characters in the play have very strong personalities and views towards life and others. A character that a personality that just doesn’t settle in your stomach is Creon. Creon the next in line for king is a misanthrope in the play Antigone. A misanthrope is someone who mistrusts or even hates other peopl e, the negative philosophy can sometimes be self-fulfilling. Creon dislikes most all of his family, even though very few members are alive. There are multiple occasions throughout the play where Creon shows hate towards his family or others that are highly thought of in the city of Thebes.
The first
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I do not deny it.’(Creon to Sentry) ‘You--you may go. You are discharged from blame.(Exit Sentry)Now tell me, in as few words as you can, did you know the order forbidding such an act?’‘ I knew it, naturally. It was plain enough.’‘And yet you dared to contravene it?’‘Yes’”(pg. 518).
Creon does not care about Antigone even though she is family he would rather see her dead. Before Antigone went to see her uncle, because of his suspicion Ismene and she were fighting about what would become of each of them; whether only Antigone should be punished, or if they both should be for carrying out the deed of sending off their beloved brother to heaven. Their fight continues in front of Creon leading him to believe that she was crazy not just when speaking to others, but her actions too.
Along with disliking others and their actions or opinions he also dislikes their feelings as well, in particular his son’s feelings. Haemon, Creon’s son is engaged to Antigone and can not wait to marry her, until he hears the news of her being put to a slow hard death, by herself, in a cave blocked off by rocks. Haemon tries and tries to make his father change his mind about killing Antigone, and letting him marry his love, but he can not change his father’s cold and evil
Throughout the story of Antigone, particularly the end, Creon proposes the bad-boy in control personality. He acts as the ruler he is and puts his power to work. He fears nothing unless his family is involved. He has no mercy when it comes to the law. Additionally, he is greatly affected by the environment he creates around himself.
Creon in the play Antigone by Sophocles plays a major role within the play. Antigone also plays an important role, as these two character’s conflicting views led to utter disaster, which highlights Creon as a tragic figure. Within the play Creon attempted to establish decisions for the common good; however, his decisions resulted in tragedy. Creon highlighted as the tragic figure, initially created decisions he thought were for the welfare and well-being of Thebes. However, Antigone, who rebelled against Creon’s decisions, caused Creon’s rage to cloud his rational way of thinking.
Being in power yields the assumption that everything is possible. In Creon’s case, he states that “never, if I can help it, shall evil triumph over good.” Creon’s pride in his position as King skewed his perception of what is just. He opens his Kingship commenting on this very feature of kingship, that “no other touchstone can test the heart of a man” like that of utmost power. Ironically, Creon reaches this touchstone, only to fail, causing many tragic deaths....
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the differences in Creon’s and Antigone’s passions and responsibilities helped illustrate both characters central flaws. By doing so, the play was also able to imply that in order to achieve a sense of inner peace and political stability; one has to be able to balance the two powers equally. Antigone and Creon are both very determined, zealous characters who were unable to achieve the stability because they were both unwilling to compromise. Often times, personal events or emotions can cause people to overlook moral or civil laws.
Antigone, as a character, is extremely strong-willed and loyal to her faith. Creon is similarly loyal, but rather to his homeland, the city of Thebes, instead of the gods. Both characters are dedicated to a fault, a certain stubbornness that effectively blinds them from the repercussions of their actions. Preceding the story, Antigone has been left to deal with the burden of her parents’ and both her brothers’ deaths. Merely a young child, intense grief is to be expected; however, Antigone’s emotional state is portrayed as frivolous when it leads her to directly disobey Creon’s orders. She buries her brother Polynices because of her obedience to family and to the gods, claiming to follow “the gods’ unfailing, unwritten laws” (Sophocles 456-457). CONTINUE
...e is another corpse before me. Alas for the poor mother, alas for the child” (Sophocles 1302-1307). This shows how mean Creon was; however, he does understand how his mistake was as a result of his own actions.
“You're not honoring that by trampling on the god’s prerogatives.”(lines 850-851) Explaining to Creon how no one in Thebes or himself believe in the actions he is taking. “Your gaze makes citizens afraid,”(line 783) states Haemon as he pleads the citizens of Thebes’ argument. Although Creon sees his point, he also cannot back down from what he has already set in place. “If I foster any lack of full respect in my own family, I surely do the same with those who are not linked to my blood,”(lines 748-50) says Creon.
Antigone written by Sophocles, is about the conflict between the two characters, Antigone and her uncle, Creon. In the beginning,Creon, the king of Thebes, makes a law that states that Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, is not to be buried. Antigone, believing it is her duty to protect Polyneices, defies the law and does the opposite; buries him. Creon finds out about this rebellious act Antigone has done and decides to punish her with death. Creon’s arrogance and stubbornness causes him to create selfish and close minded decisions that lead to future consequences.
Antigone asks her sister to help her bury her brother. Ismene refuses and tells her sister that she is crazy. However, once Creon finds out about Antigone’s actions, he orders that they both be put to death. Antigone argues that her sister should not have the honor of death when she has not done anything to help bury her brother. Antigone wants it to be known that she has done this all on her own, and she wants the glory for it. Creon also wants a lot of glory. Creon has many people in the village scared of him because he does radical things when he commands orders. Creon is “power hungry.” Both Antigone and Creon are willing to do whatever they have to do to get what they want, glory or otherwise. Antigone’s love is Creon’s son; Creon is willing to stone his son’s love, Antigone, just so he can show that when he says something he means it. Antigone is willing to break the law and the orders of Creon to bury her brother, even if it means being stoned to death in
Creon’s attitude toward law showed his pride in multiple different ways. This is first seen when the Sentry
Even when challenged again by his son, Haemon, who merely asks Creon, “Yield something of your anger, give way a little” (Sophocles 771), Creon refuses to listen and only becomes angry that yet another person wants him to defy his own laws. “Am I mistaken, reverencing my own office?” (Sophocles 801) Creon says to Haemon. In his anger, Creon declares he will kill Haemon’s bride, Antigone in front of him, leading to Haemon stating, “But you will never again/ set eyes upon my face” (Sophocles 822-823).
Creon's character possesses an infinite number of glitches in his personality, but his excessive pride was the root of his problems. His pride leads him to make accusations, before he considers the wise advice of others. Creon's pride also fills him not just as a king superior to the Gods, but also a man superior to women. The issue of Antigone being condemned to die becomes more than just a person who disobeys Creon; instead, the punishment is given even more eagerly, because it is a woman who disobeys a man. Creon's intelligent son warns Creon the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone, but Creon accuses Haemon of being a "woman's slave" (line 756). Even though he is suppose to be loyal to the state and her citizens, he defensively questions if "the town [is] to tell [him] how [he] ought to rule?"(Line 734)The Theban king is too prideful to obey even the wisest of prophets, blind Teresias, insisting that "the whole crew of seers are money-mad" (line 1055). Creon finally puts his pride aside and listens to the Chorus' wise advice. It is difficult even then, and he obeys only because he fears the punishment that he might receive. "To yield [for Creon] is terrible" (line 1095) meaning to swallow his pride and admit that he is wrong is a very difficult thing for him to do. When Creon loses his wife and son, Creon's pride disappears, and he admits that he made a terrible mistake by not listening to anyone's advice.
..., this sense of arrogance angers Creon to a point beyond belief. Antigone’s refusal to cooperate causes Creon to go mad with irritation and frustration. Wanting to show his sense of power, he refuses to back down in fear of losing his position. His stubbornness grows stronger as Antigone continues to disobey his commands. Antigone’s strong and steady foundation helps her show defiance. She is able to overcome the opinions of the people and commit to helping her brother regardless of the after effects. She ignores what everyone says and does only as she wants. She is powerful, both physically and mentally, and is successful in her tasks. Antigone matures into a commendable and respectable character in which she depicts her rebelliousness and bravery, pride and tolerance, and sense of moral righteousness to demonstrate fundamental character development in the play.
Creon first abused his power when he decided to go against the God’s law that every human deserved to be buried after death not depending on what that certain per...
You shall leave him without burial...” (222). Opposing the king, she neglects the decree and is now to die at the orders of the law for being disobedient; yet Antigone proudly states her crime. There is no sign of remorse shown by Creon as he states: “No; though she were my sister’s child or closer in blood than all that my hearth god acknowledges as mine, neither she nor her sister should escape the utmost sentence-death” (530-33). Bobrick, explains that Creon values the love for his land more than he values family and this becomes a struggle for Antigone as it becomes a fight between obeying the laws of man and the laws of the god’s. The second struggle Antigone faces comes when she realizes she is alone. Antigone confides in her sister Ismene with her plans to disobey Creon; but Ismene, a clear example of how a lady was obliged to be in this time, urges Antigone not to commit the act. Antigone rejects her advice and declares that Ismene is an enemy to her now (41): “If you talk like this I will loathe you, and you will be adjudged an enemy…” (109-10). Antigone must fight on her own. Thirdly, per Bobrick, Antigone