Choices That Mean Life or Death In Antigone
The play Antigone was penned by Sophocles, a Greek writer, sometime in the
late 440s B.C. This Greek tragedy uses a combination of literary elements in order to
grab the reader’s attention. Two such elements are theme and conflict. Most
importantly, Sophocles’s Antigone deals with themes, such as the conflict of family
versus state, the conflict of individual versus government, and the conflict of human
versus divine laws, that are still very prevalent in modern human societies (Nardo 16).
The play, Antigone, has several primary themes. It raises the question: “Which
laws are paramount and most binding– human or divine laws?”(16). Antigone provides
insights into the human condition and also into the relationship between human actions
and divine will and judgement (15). Family ties and family loyalty are also themes in
Antigone. Antigone as well as Creon were forced to decide who their friends were and
how they would treat those friends (Hogan 127). It is this conflict of family versus state
that really gets the reader emotionally involved in the play. It is a theme that most
readers in modern times can relate to. The ancient values of kinship and state would
have been very interesting to the people in Sophocles’s first audience because of the
way ancient Greece was set up. They knew that while one was to care for blood ties
and have allegiance to family members, one was to also think about the welfare of the
city-state (Allbaugh).
Literary critic Robin Fox wrote that “the conflict in Antigone is one in which
Antigone’s duties are not to individuality, selfhood, or to private affairs of the heart, but
to her...
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...ss, 1999. 44-51.
Hogan, James C. A Commentary on the Plays of Sophocles. Edwardsville, IL:
Southern Illinois UP, 1991.
Knox, Bernard M.W. “Antigone Dies for Her Principles.” Readings on Antigone. Ed.
Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. 77-82.
Nardo, Don. “Sophocles and Antigone.” Readings on Antigone. Ed. Don Nardo. San
Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. 14-25.
Norwood, Gilbert. “Respect for the Community Is as Important as Respect for Loved
Ones.” Readings on Antigone. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,
1999. 59-63.
Pomeroy, Sarah B. “By Acting Like a Man, Antigone Provokes Fear and Hostility.”
Readings on Antigone. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999.
83-87.
Sophocles. Antigone. Trans. Michael Townsend. New York: Harper & Row, 1962.
James McBride’s mother, like Tateh before her, clasps the values of education and religion close to her; according to McBride’s depiction in The Color of Water, she enforces them with an iron fist, instilling them in her children as Tateh did to her, Dee-Dee, and Sam, though more out of tough love than for pride. Despite carrying on Tateh’s materialistic tendencies, Ruth keeps the balance by inheriting his recognition of the predominance of education and religion over wealth in terms of resulting quality of life. Ruth’s and Tateh’s worldview is passed on from generation to generation, from parent to child, like all values, whether or not parent and child consent to the continuation of the morals’ journey through time.
Brad Moore, a famous athlete once said, “Pride would be a lot easier to swallow if it didn’t taste so bad.” In Sophocles’ well known Greek tragedy, Antigone, the main character undergoes immense character development. Antigone transforms from being stubborn and underestimated to courageous and open-minded. In reality, it is Antigone’s insular persistence that leads to her ultimate decline in the play as well as others around her. After the death of her two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, Creon becomes the new ruler of Thebes. With this, he grants Eteocles an honorable funeral service for his brave fighting. Claiming that Polynices was a traitor, he shows complete refusal to grant Polynices a respectable and worthy service. Clearly disagreeing with Creon’s inexcusable demands, Antigone declares she will bury Polynices herself so that his soul can be at peace. Entirely aware of the consequences and dangers of this action, which include death, she goes forward vowing her love for her family. Antigone shows strength and determination towards her brother. However, her growing sense of pride leads to her downfall as she sacrifices everything for her family. Antigone develops into an admirable character in which she portrays her defiance and courage, pride and open mindedness, and sense of moral righteousness to show vital character growth as the play progresses.
Antigone remains a static character at stage five throughout the story. Faced with people who do not agree with her decision, Antigone stands tall with what is morally right to her. Kohlberg’s Theory is not only universal but also helps readers understand a character morally. Choosing whether or not to bury her brother, Polyneices, or to follow the law given by Creon, does not derail her moral
Antigone, despite being a girl, stands against her Uncle Creon, who is King of Thebes. This is not because she is the daughter of
Since the beginning of time, mankind began to expand on traditions of life out of which family and societal life surfaced. These traditions of life have been passed down over generations and centuries. Some of these kin and their interdependent ways of life have been upheld among particular people, and are known to contain key pieces of some civilizations.
The Deaths of Antigone and Creon Antigone and Creon are the main characters of the play Antigone written by Sophocles. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, who was a major figure in ancient Greek myth. Oedipus accidentally killed his father and married his mother. Because of that act, Oedipus ended up cursing his family and died a horrible death. After his death, his sons inherited his kingdom and in a power struggle ended up killing each other.
All through time, successive generations have rebelled against the values and traditions of their elders. In all countries, including China, new generations have sought to find a different path than that of their past leaders. Traditional values become outdated and are replaced with what the younger society deems as significant. Family concentrates on this very subject. In the novel, three brothers struggle against the outdated Confucian values of their elders. Alike in their dislike of the traditional Confucian system of their grandfather, yet very different in their interactions with him and others, begin to reach beyond the ancient values of Confucianism and strive for a breath of freedom. Their struggles against the old values lead to pain, suffering and eventually achievement for the three of them, however at a harsh price for two brothers.
...otional bonds between children and parents, children and siblings and family kin. How did the Byzantine parents express their affection towards their offspring and, correspondingly, how did the children experience the family love and care? What were the societal expectations regarding children´s attachments towards their kinsfolk? How did the Byzantine authors describe the emotional ties between children and parents, siblings and other relatives? The chapter will address also the issue of tension and conflicts between children and their families. Hence, my aim is to explore the reasons that generated the conflicts, the way in which tension is depicted in the hagiographical sources and how did the children and the parents cope with such conflicts? How did such tensions contribute to the dynamics of the familial relationships?
In Sophocles’ Antigone, Antigone saw her action of burying her brother as a just one. It may not have been just in the eyes of Creon and the people of Thebes, but she was not concerned with the laws that mortals had made. Antigone saw the divine laws of the gods to be much more important than those of mortals. She felt that if she died while upholding the laws of the gods, that her afterlife would be better than if she had not. Our lives on this earth are so short, that to see a good afterlife over the horizon will make people go against the laws of humans.
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.
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
Antigone holds her love of family, and respect to the dead, elevated beyond the laws of Creon, whom she believes, has no righteous justification to close his eyes to the honor of the deceased. In her determination to fulfill Polynices' rights, she runs directly into Creon's attempts to re-establish order. This leads to encounters of severe conflict between the dissimilarities of the two, creating a situation whereby both Creon and Antigone expose their stubbornness and self will.
...e worst of deaths – death without honor.” In a way Antigone is blaming Ismene for not helping her but in a way she is not.
All in all, Euripides clarifies that families and relationships should be a single figurine of power, as opposed to many opposing forces. The relationship ought to flow together and not struggle over dominance. Many relationships are torn apart. Families are separated; children are deprived of parents. All these heartbreaking stories may not have ever occurred had they heeded Euripides’ message. Although leadership in the relationship is a necessity, correct balance and utilization is a must.
Filial piety is a value rooted in Confucianism, and individuals in many eastern cultures would have been exposed to such concept while growing up. For many raised in a culture with such value ingrained in them, filial piety is not just a responsibility but a moral obligation that cannot be compromised. The basis of filial piety lies with children, having received from parents (e.g: food, life, education), have an obligation towards them. Even if they can never repay their debt to their parents fully, they can repay a small part of it by obeying and serving their parents and by making them happy and proud. In these communities, it is impressed upon members that the ability to uphold filial piety is an indicator of responsibility and maturity. On the other hand, failure to do so could be met with the feeling of shame and also negative social judgement.