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Why antigone so determine
Greek mythology essays
Why antigone so determine
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In the story a person says “if you don’t break the rules, the rules will break you” Antigone had to break the rules so his fiance wouldn't “be broken”. Antigone the prince’s fiance is imprisoned in a cave to die. Orders from King Creon. Antigone's brother polynices passed away and the king's orders were for him to not be buried. Antigone broke the king's law should she have done what she done? Ssome people think she should have obeyed King Creon’s edict, but Antigone was right to defy the law of the king in order to remain true to her own moral/religious convictions because she wanted to protect her religious rights and she wanted to care for her family. The first support claim states that Antigone was right to defy the law of the king in …show more content…
We know this because antigone tells the king creon “No, you can’t do this! She didn’t have anything to do with the burial. She didn’t even want to help me. You can’t punish her for doing nothing!” She was begging him to spare her sisters life when antigone was caught burying her brothers body. This is important because Even though antigone is about to face death, she begs creon to spare her sisters life, this shows how much she cares for her family. So you could see why she cares so dearly for her brother. This shows antigone was right to break the law because her brothers memory is worth more than creon's laws. This is important because she cares so dearing for her family that she is willing to risk her own life for her family's. She's willing to put her own life before her family's life or memory. Some people think she should have obeyed King Creon’s edict. In the story antigone’s sister states “Our family has suffered enough internal conflict. Now, you want to create more by going against the king?!” Ismene is trying to tell antigone that even though their brother has passed away she thinks that they should follow the law so that there is no longer any internal conflict. This shows people think she should have obeyed creon's laws because breaking the laws could cause many repercussions.
At the start of Antigone, the new king Creon has declared the law that while Antigone’s brother Eteocles will be buried with honor for his defense of Thebes, however the other brother, Polynices will be left to rot in the field of battle for helping lead the siege of the city. Antigone discusses with her sister Ismene that she shall go and pay respects to her now dead brother, and give him the burial that she feels that he deserves. Her sister tries to persuade her otherwise, but Antigone claims she is going to follow her determined fate, not the law of ...
Antigone’s strength allows her to defend her brother’s honor against Creon, who wants to make a statement about traitors. However, both Antigone and King Creon commit faults while trying to protect the things they love. Antigone should not have died for her beliefs as it puts her loved ones and community in danger, and Creon should not have forbidden the burial of Polyneices as it angers the Gods and causes him great suffering in the end.
Granted, King Creon is an arrogant tyrant who opposes Antigone’s devotion to her family and to the gods. He himself said, “This girl, already versed in disrespect/ When she first disobeyed my law, now adds/ A second insult- vaunts it to my face./ I swear I hardly care if she be my sister’s child.../ She and her sister will not escape the direst penalty”(180). Creon is angered that Antigone, a “mere girl” would dare defy him, the ruler of Thebes. Antigone counters back that her actions were justified as her responsibility to the gods. Maddened, he vows to have her executed, which reveals that ...
In the prologue Antigone tries to convince her sister, Ismene, to help her bury Polyneices. They go back and forth arguing. Antigone calls her sister a traitor to their family, and how the law Creon made was a mortal law and she follows the laws of the gods. This is where the reader first meets Antigone and her belief. In this scene, her belief and rebelliousness are heavily contrasted with Ismene’s lawful and peaceful attitude. In Scene II Antigone is brought before Creon by a sentry. Creon accuses Antigone of defying his law, she responds with a comment about how it was not a proclamation of the gods, but merely a mortal law. And says that she will die for this if she has to and that she would rather die than have let her dead brother suffer. Antigone is willing to be condemned for her actions because she is not ashamed of what she did. Her belief allows her to face Creon and possibly death. Also in Scene II Antigone controls the scene saying that others do agree with her but that Creon has silenced them. In addition, she tells him that he has no right to judge what is wicked and that the gods are the ultimate judges. Antigone stands up for herself and her beliefs. Belief gave her the power to overpower the voices of
Antigone’s belief is on that supports the Gods and the laws of heaven. Her reasoning is set by her belief that if someone is not given a proper burial, that in turn they would not be accepted into heaven. Antigone is a very religious person and acceptance of her brother by the Gods was very significant to her. She felt that, “It is the martial law our good Creon lays down for you and me—yes me, I tell you.“(lines 37-38) Creon’s order was personal to Antigone; his edict invaded her family life as well as the principles of the Gods. In her eyes, Creon betrayed the Gods by not allowing her to properly bury her brother Polynices. She believed that the burial was a religious ceremony, and Creon did not have the authority to deny Polynices that right.
She committed an act of civil disobedience by directly disobeys an law put forth by Creon, which ordered that her brother Polyneices is not be given a proper burial. Antigone sister Ismene said “lie in the fields, a sweet treasure for carrion birds to find as they search for food.” is what she thinks Antigone brother body shall be put. In Creon law he states that if anyone is to bury him it is punishable by death. Antigone believes strongly in family loyalty and believes that it’s her duty as a sister to bury Polynieces, She believes in this loyalty so much she boldly breaks the law knowing she will face the ultimate consequence for her actions. When caught in the act and is confronted by Creon, she tells him “This death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not.” Saying that her life is not important, and she will not die fulfilled unless her brother’s body is not buried properly. Though Antigone struggled with the internal fight of following the law, she remained strong and kept her resistance against Creon. In doing so, she gave us the first example in history of civil disobedience, and an example of a woman facing political authority.
Antigone, dealt the worst hand in history, is she justified through her actions or not? Is it her fault that she has defied Creon over the Gods' will? Punishment by man is temporary, but in death, punishment is eternal. Who would wish for eternal punishment in the Underworld sentenced by the Gods? On Lines 55-58, Antigone says, "But I will bury him; and if I must die, / I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down / With him in death, and I shall be as dear / To him as he to me," Antigone knew her actions would result in Creon punishing her, but she also knew that if she did not do anything, she would be punished more severely. Although Antigone is willing to risk her life to bury her brother Polyneices, Ismene says otherwise. On Lines 50-52, Ismene states, "To forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield / To those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business / To be always meddling." She agrees with Antigone, but does not do as she believes; she yields to Man not the Gods.
Antigone had good reasons for her actions. She did obey the rules of her gods, which were that any dead body must be given a proper burial, with libatations. This would prevent the soul from being lost between worlds forever, along with wine as an offering to the gods (page 518- side note). Nor could Antigone let Creon's edicts go against her morals (lines 392-394). She chooses to share her love, not her hate (line 443). She couldn't bare to see one family member be chosen over the other because of what a king had decided was right, which she contravened. Why condemn somebody who stood up for what they believed in and is now dead for it anyway? Bringing homage to the family was very important to Antigone (line 422-423).
Throughout the play we see Antigone’s devotion to tradition and family. In her conversation with her sister, Ismene, she says, “You may do as you like, / Since apparently the laws of the gods mean nothing to you” (Prologue. 60-61). She does not fear the consequences of her actions, even if her uncle’s law forbids her to. As we read the play, we learn what kind of character she is. She is a kind hearted, stubborn, and headstrong woman; “Like father, like daughter: both headstrong, deaf to / reason! / She has never learned to yield” (2. 75-76), and when Creon says, “The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron / Cracks first, and the wildest horses bend their necks / At the pull of the small...
Antigone is trying to convince Ismene that she should help and support her in the burying of their brother, “He is my brother still, and yours; though you would have it otherwise, but I shall not abandon him” (193). Antigone is taught to always value her morals over the law that is made. She knows that it is morally right to bury Polyneices and not just abandon him and leave him there for the birds to pick at. She also knows that the gods would want her to follow her morals because her morals are from the gods and the law is from a human. Antigone speaks with Creon and describes that, “Zeus never promulgated such a law, Nor will you find that Justice” (210). Antigone knows to follow her greek religious values and that not even the god of the gods would make such a law that a body should remain unburied. And if Zeus would never make such a disgraceful law then why should Creon have the right to make that law. Antigone’s sacrifice is in accordance with the beliefs of the Greeks and she deserves recognition for
Although both sisters have lost their brothers, Antigone is the only one who will go against her king to do what she knows is right. When Antigone asks her sister if she will help her bury their brother Polyneices, Ismene responds with, “We are only women; we cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong; we must give into the law…” (Ismene 774). Naturally, Ismene should be afraid for herself, as well for the safety of her sister because what Antigone is asking of her will mostly likely cause them both to be killed. However, she should be braver like Antigone, and realize that she must do what is morally right for their family, and give her brother the proper burial that he deserves. Afterward, when Antigone has already been captured, Ismene then comes forth to try and share the punishment that has been given to Antigone, but Antigone tells King Creon that she has done nothing. In addition, when Creon asks Ismene if she had anything to do with the crime, and Antigone denies it, Ismene then replies, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here to join you, to take my share of punishment” (Ismene 785). Although now Ismene feels like she needs to stand up to the King and do what is right for her
When Creon threatens to execute Antigone, Ismene tells Creon that she wants to die with her sister. This shows that Ismene felt genuinely remorseful about her previous cowardice and refusal to help Antigone bury their brother. However, Antigone refuses her sister’s company and when Antigone dies, Ismene is left alone with her guilt. Sophocles is using the result of Ismene’s internal conflict to illustrate what happens when one does not do what they believe is right. Ismene did not follow her intuition or adhere to the will of the gods, so she was punished by a lifetime of
This is the Crux of the theme, the conflict between the law of King Creon, and the law of the gods. In fact, according to Greek belief, Creon would have been ordained by the gods to be king, and thus, should not his law be their law as well? This is the hurdle that Antigone has to face; should she abide by the law of Creon and leave her brother to rot, under penalty of death? Or should she disregard Creon's edict, follow the law of the gods and bury her brother? Creon is a brother to Jocasta, and thus next in line to become king after Etocles is killed in battle. The king is believed to be the chosen of the gods and to rule in their stead. Why then would the king attempt to punish Polyneices after death and so blatantly violate the rules of the gods? However, Creon is the king, and the penalty for disobeying this law of his is very real and very brutal, death.
And yet they should not seem so: I should have praise and honor for what I have done”. (Sophocles 1814) Antigone expresses to Creon that she wants not be remembered as a traitor but more likely as a martyr. In this quote she is also declaring that god’s laws are more important than Creon’s. Often society has laws that individuals feel are immoral. Antigone decided to bury Polynices, for she was obeying the gods, even though it was declared illegal by Creon. Antigone believed that the power of the gods was greater than the power of any king. If she had obeyed Creon, she would have disobeyed the stronger power of the gods which could have had more of a devastating result on her. She believes that punishment awaits those who break the laws of god(s). Antigone shows us, through Civil Disobedience that breaking some of society’s laws is a religious responsibility to stay loyal to god’s laws
In the play Creon goes against the Gods by making it illegal to bury Polyneices, Antigone’s brother because he is deemed a traitor. The burying of a dead body is seen as a necessity by all of Greece as it is an unspoken law of the Gods. Antigone goes to bury her brother so his afterlife will be better. She does it in spite of the law that Creon has made. “It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands” (192) She tries to explain to her sister, Ismene, that they must bury Polyneices, but even that close relationship has trouble because of the law. Ismene is unwilling to suffer the consequences of the law, to save her brother’s soul “Forgive me but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (192) Even the two sisters who have just lost both of their brothers have different views on the matter. One will not stray from the law and what is deemed right by their king, while the other will accept any punishment, even death just to do what she believes is right.