Antigone And Haemon Case Study

Antigone demonstrates her strength as both a character and a female heroine throughout the entire play. In the beginning of the play, Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are arguing about whether or not to defy Creon’s law. Antigone believes in the god’s law, which requires a proper burial, however, Ismene fears Creon so she wants to follow his law. Creon’s law requires no one to touch or bury Polyneices, if someone does, they will be killed. Ismene is trying to convince Antigone that they should just follow Creon’s law because she is scared and Ismene does not want them to get executed.

Therefore, if he denies Hermia her happy marriage, she will live in sadness, which will have a similar effect on him. It is unlike most parents to let their children undergo suffering if it will last many years in marriage. Instead, Egeus insists that Hermia should marry Demetrius, although Hermia does not have feelings for him. His actions show that her father is foolish to the extent that he is willing to ruin her life. In fact, Egeus gives ultimatums to her daughter that she would rather die or be a Nan if she fails to comply with his demands.

She vows to bury her brother so that his soul may gain the peace of the underworld. Antigone is torn between the law placed against burying her brother and her own thoughts of doing what she feels should be done for her family. Her intent is simply to give her brother, Polyneices, a proper burial so that she will follow "the laws of the gods." Antigone knows that she is in danger of being killed for her actions and she says, "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." Her own laws, or morals, drive her to break Creon's law placed against Polyneices burial.

Through her powerful decision making and strong will she says, “ I will bury the brother I love” (694). Antigone is an important follower of tradition and does not want to displease the gods or the dead. This means that Antigone will do anything possible to help her brother, even if it means being harmed innocently. In addition, Antigone commits more faultless actions that result in the death of her. When Antigone is caught by Creon she is immediately sentenced to death and cannot be saved.

She can’t fail unless she tries. A second example where Antigone demonstrates bravery is also when she is talking to Ismene about burying Polynices, “There is no punishment / Can rob me of my honourable death,” (129). This quote displays Antigone’s bravery because she knows that she will probably get caught giving her brother a proper burial. She also knows that if she is discovered, she will be sentenced to death. A third example that shows Antigone is brave is when Antigone has already been caught, and is being questioned by Creon, “I knew that I should have to die, of course.

This statement truly exemplifies Antigone’s recognition of her fate due to her actions. Antigone is stating that she knew of her tragic fate of death, and accepts that this is her destiny. The will of the gods is more powerful than Antigone’s actions, and she knows that she cannot do anything to change this. Therefore, Antigone decides to act on her free will by burying her brother. She knows that this action will result in a penalty of death, but she also can recognize that she’s destined to death by fate.

Sympathy is felt for Antigone because she was punished for take a stand for what she believed to be the right thing. Unfortunately the risk she took was going against her uncle Creon, who so happened to have power over her. It was a tragic situation that Antigone was to be killed for such a ridiculous crime. Although Antigone should not have been punished for that law she had broken, she was willing to accept her death sentence. She said to Creon, “These laws- I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods.

Pearl will not let that happen because she knows that by leaving, Hester is escaping her sins and living life thinking that she is a bad person. Hester talks of leaving with Dimmesdale: "Let it suffice, that the clergyman resolved to flee, and not alone. ....(Dimmesdale) "But now-since I am irrevocably doomed-wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution? Or, if this be the path to a better life, as Hester would persuade me, I surely give up no fairer prospect by pursuing it!" (Hawthorne 184).

Antigone and Winton are very different individuals, however they both share the same quality of determination. When faced with the challenge of protecting others over the consequence of their own demise; both characters chose to die trying saving others from the evils of humanity. Antigone knew that her brother Polyneices deserved the respect of a proper burial, despite the choices he made when he was alive. Antigone, determined to bury her brother went against the advice of her sister and the the command of the King. “Go away, Ismene: I shall be hating you soon, and the dead will too, For your words are hateful.

However, it isn’t until she commits suicide after her doubts are confirmed that her suffering finally adds deeper layers to the tragedy. During her fight with Oedipus, Jocasta says, “Stop- in the name of god, if you love your own life, call off this search! My suffering is enough” (222). This statement verifies that Jocasta already knew the truth about who Oedipus really was. She just wanted Oedipus to call off his search for the truth so that her suspicions couldn’t be confirmed and she could live in an eternal state of denial.