In his well known essay, Self-Reliance, famous writer Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.” Put simply, the thought that Emerson is conveying is that too much consistency is not necessarily a good thing. Being too consistent with something means that no real effort is made. Things are done as they always have been, without someone trusting their own beliefs or opinions. In fact, the overall themes of Emerson’s essay is a person should stick to what their conscience tells them to, and not fear what others will think. After consistency there will inevitably be negative consequences. Consistency is usually seen as a good thing, but it has been the downfall of many, for example political leaders, in the real world. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, it happens to be the downfall of two main characters, Creon and Antigone. Emerson’s thought that consistency is foolish relates to both Creon and Antigone, as both set their mind on something without ever changing it, which in turn caused terrible misfortune for themselves and others.
First, Creon and Antigone both were consistent by sticking to their beliefs throughout the entire play. For example, Creon kept a firm stance on Antigone’s brother, Polynices, not being buried because Creon felt betrayed by him. Creon states, “No, [Polynices] must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, and obscenity for the citizens to behold!” (68). Creon was so adamant in punishing this young man that he was willing to defy the Greek tradition of burying bodies, which allowed a proper passage to the afterlife. In a wa...
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...one couldn’t get over their stubborn ways.
In conclusion, consistency proved to be the destruction of both Creon and Antigone. It almost seemed as though Creon and Antigone were always at opposite ends of the spectrum. While Creon stuck to the Greek law, Antigone stuck to the Greek morals, and, in turn, Creon was left without a family, and Antigone deserted what little family she had left. If somehow they had just found some common ground, things would have turned out incredibly better for everyone. It was all due to the fact they were unwilling to change their beliefs. People in the real, modern world should all take a leaf out of Emerson’s book. If people remain ignorant of other’s beliefs and traditions and always stick to their own, the world will never truly know peace, and will spiral towards a path of destruction, as was made a perfect example in Antigone.
Not understanding or listening to the opinion of others can frequently have unfortunate consequences and even lead to tragedy. In the play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, the two main characters, Antigone and Creon, both failed to listen which led to the death of several people. It was exhibited how important it is to acknowledge the truth and this was the central theme of the play. The conflict between Antigone and Creon started because they had opposing viewpoints of whether or not Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, should have been buried after he died in battle. Antigone strongly believed that Polyneices should have because it was the law of the gods and they are eternal, while man’s laws are not. However, Creon, on the other hand,
In the play, Antigone, two brothers are killed in battle. One of them, Polyneices, is considered to be a rebel by the new ruler of Thebes, Creon. The corrupt and prideful king, Creon, created an edict that states that nobody could bury Polynices’s body because he was a traitor to Thebes and his family and denies the sanctification and burial of Polyneices's body because of his rebellion and intends to leave him to become the meal of wild animals. Polyneices's sister, Antigone, defies Creon by giving her brother a proper burial, no matter the consequences. Both King and Antigone sought to do what they thought was the right thing to do, even if it was against the law. Though King and Antigone are two completely different people from two completely different times, they were actually quite similar in that they both were minorities at a disadvantage, and lacking power and credibility among those in control. King and Antigone both fought for injustice and what they believed in, however, not necessarily in the same
The character Antigone has been in conflict against Creon ever since he became the king of Thebes. Antigone would never let Creon's law about burying the body of Polyneices override her moral beliefs and her beliefs in the gods. “Zeus did not announce those laws to me, And justice
From the Greek point of view, both Creon's and Antigone's positions are flawed, because both oversimplify ethical life by recognizing only one kind of good or duty. By oversimplifying, each ignores the fact that a conflict exists at all, or that deliberation is necessary. Moreover, both Creon and Antigone display the dangerous flaw of pride in the way they justify and carry out their decisions. Antigone admits right from the beginning that she wants to carry out the burial because the action is glorious. Antigone has a savage spirit; she has spent most of her life burying her family members.
Antigone and Oedipus, written by Sophocles, are dramatic plays with a tragic ending. The main theme for Antigone is that people sometimes have to learn the hard way from their mistakes. This theme is expressed in the final four lines of the play. They read, There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise. These lines are an important part of the play. They symbolize Creon's bad decisions he made, his defiance to the gods, the punishment he went through because of his edict, and the wisdom he gained because of all his mistakes. "There is no happiness where there is no wisdom" demonstrates how Creon not using wisdom in his decision affected him. By declaring that Polyneices could not have a proper burial, he went against the gods and the other citizens of Thebes's beliefs. This was not a wise decision on his part, and because of it he lost his wife, his son, and his happiness. Creon also defied the laws of the gods. This is what is expressed in the line, "No wisdom but in submission to the gods." In Antigone, the edict and decisions that Creon made demonstrated that his law was more important then the gods laws. His defiance of the laws eventually made him believe, by talking to Teirisias, that something bad would happen to him, so he gave in to his decision.
Sophocles' Antigone, in its later phases is no longer about the conflict of law; It is about stubbornness and self will, about the sin of refusing to listen; about a man who has never been told.
He writes, “Our own humanity involves having a sense of ourselves, and what this sense of ourselves amounts to is a recognition that “I matter in the world.””(67) If life is a quest of purpose we must realize we actually matter in the world. If someone lives life thinking they do not matter, then they will never find their purpose. By first coming to a realization and saying the words “I matter in the world,” allows us to come to terms with ourselves. The world we live in is a filled with endless possibilities and outcomes, no one should think they are insignificance. Our place on this world is not perfectly defined because we define it ourselves. Antigone realizes that she matters in the world. She is able to find her humanity. Creon on the other hand realizes his own humanity to late. He does realize he matters in the world, but he is unable to find his own humanity. He blinded by power and it ends up killing everyone in his family he
The main source of conflict between Antigone and Creon is the issue of the burial of Antigone’s dead brother. Both of her brothers were killed in battle, however one brother fought against their home city and was considered a traitor. Creon issued a law that whoever tries to bury this man will be put to death. Antigone is very upset because her one brother is graced with all the rites of a hero while the other is disgraced.
What Antigone did goes against Creon and this is where his difficult decision comes in. “Creon represents the regal point of view, while Antigone is just the opposite. The primary conflict arises when Creon declares that no one be allowed to bury the body of Polynices, one of Antigone's brothers who was slain in battle. Antigone, who cares for her brother very much, wants to see him properly laid to rest, so that his spirit can find peace. Unf...
When Creon decided to forbid the burial of Polynices, as he believed Polynices was a traitor to Thebes, Antigone was outraged. This decision, viewed through the eyes of Creon, was just and fair; on the other hand, Antigone viewed his decision as cruel and selfish, which resulted into a major conflict between these two characters. When Antigone disobeyed his proclamation, Creon became infuriated towards this rebellious act. Those small events within the play expressed Creon as a ruler doing what he believes is right; on the other hand, Antigone’s rebellion expressed otherwise. Antigone was soon shown to cause an evil spark within Creon.
It only takes one word or one thoughtless action to change a person’s life forever. The things that people do and say are based on their principles for how they think life should be lived. This idea of principles shaping lives and actions can be seen in the greek tragedy by Sophocles called “Antigone”. Characters such as Creon and Antigone act on act on their principles which turns a simple decree from the king into a climactic story that ends in the death of several main characters including Antigone(who hanged herself), and Creon’s wife and son (who also committed suicide.) All of this could have been avoided had Creon not been so adamant about leaving his traitor of a nephew to rot without a proper burial,
...amily, and her opposition to himself. Antigone does not act with hostility to Creon. Antigone's motives for her actions are love and obedience. Antigone loves her family, so she refuses the idea to not help them. Antigone obeys the divine laws of the gods in Thebes because she has respect for the dead. Antigone's love and obedience create an opposition to Creon's beliefs. Antigone suffers to prevent suffering. Antigone's actions could not escape the looming cloud of death Creon creates. Antigone's actions are an example for society. Her example stresses the importance of doing the right thing regardless of the harm a person might experience. Love is a power without constraints. Love should compel us to do the right thing always. Accomplishing the right thing no matter the circumstances is a concept prevailing in society yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
At the beginning of the play, Antigone is upset about a decree Creon, the king, made (190). The decree states that her brother, Polyneices, was not allowed to be buried, because Creon believes that Polyneices was a “traitor who made war on his country” (211). Antigone has a very strong love for her brother and the gods, therefore she believes Polyneices deserves a proper burial according to the laws of the gods (192). Antigone says to Ismene that she [Antigone] will go against Creon’s decree-which states that if anyone buries Polyneices they will be killed (190). Antigone is extremely angry with Creon for creating the decree, to the point where she decides to make a big deal about the burial, instead of lying low and doing it in secret (192). Antigone even tells Ismene to “Tell everyone!” that she [Antigone] buried Polyneices when everyone finds out, and not keep it a secret-although Ismene doesn’t listen (193). Antigone’s decision not to do the bur...
In Antigone, her brother Polynices, turned against his own city by attacking his own brother just so he could become king. On this day, both brothers died. One, Eteocles, was given funeral honors, but the other, Polynices, was not. This decision was made by Creon, Antigone’s uncle and the current King of Thebes. Creon said “He is to have no grave, no burial, no mourning from anyone; it is forbidden.'; (Pg. 432; l. 165) He also announced that anyone who should attempt to bury him would be put to death. After hearing this decision, Antigone said that Creon couldn’t do that and that the Gods would want Polynices to have a proper burial, therefore Antigone promised to her sister Ismene that she would be the one to defy Creon and bury her brother; and she didn’t care if the whole city knew of her plans. After being caught in the act, she was taken to the palace and when asked by Creon why she did it. Knowing the punishment that would come from it, she replied by saying that she didn’t think Creon had the power to overrule the u...
-Sophocles has his own philosophy reflected in his plays. One of these philosophies is that nothing is constant in this life. A friend yesterday may be an enemy today. This philosophy is so clear in this play: Oedipus and Creon were close friends in the past but they become enemies. Creon is the opposite of Oedipus and he is not rash or hot-tempered. But he will change. Why do we change? We change according to circumstances.