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Rhetorical devices used in julius caesar
What was Antigone willing to sacrifice
Rhetorical devices used in julius caesar
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In the Greek play, Antigone by Sophocles, a woman named Antigone is put in line for execution by her uncle and soon to be father-in-law, Creon, king of Thebes. The execution is ordered because Antigone is considered a traitor since she buried her brother Polyneices, who was also considered a traitor because he attacked the city of Thebes and the king of Thebes, his brother Eteocles. Some people of Thebes found that Antigone’s action was an action of honor and believed that it was unfair that she was going to be executed for it. Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancé found Antigone action honorable and was against his father’s decisions. Using ethos, pathos, and logos, Haemon was successful in convincing Creon to have pity for Antigone …show more content…
and not execute her. To persuade Creon, Haemon used rhetorical devices: pathos, logos, and ethos in a speech to his father.
Haemon uses pathos when he says “she covered her brother’s body. Is this indecent? She kept him from dogs and vultures. Is this a crime? Death? She should have all the honor that we can give her!” (65-67). This is an example of pathos as it makes Creon think about his role and how he is only taken seriously as he is feared rather than respected. This makes Creon realize that what Antigone did was to protect her brother and it is an action that should be honored because it is not bad. Creon realizes that Antigone’s actions are seen as correct to others. By executing Antigone he will be giving an incorrect punishment for something kind. Haemon also uses logos to convince Creon, this is evident when Haemon says that “in flood time you can see how some trees bend, and because they bend, even twigs are safe, while stubborn trees are torn up, rots and all” (80-82). This is an example of logos as it is a real life example that shows Creon how his stubborn attitude will lead to his downfall. If Creon doesn’t allow himself to bend and feel or accept other’s opinions, he will set himself up for downfall. Creon cares about his position and doesn’t want to lose his power because of an incorrect decision. This makes Creon realize that his orders for Antigone are
not correct. The last rhetorical device that Haemon uses in his speech to his father is ethos. Ethos is shown when Haemon states, “yet there are other men who can reason, too; and their opinions might be helpful. You are not in a position to know everything that people say or do or what they feel” (55-58). This is an example of ethos as Haemon is trying to give credibility to other men that have the capability to think and rule as well as Creon. This is ethos as he compares his father’s reasoning to other kings making his father trust his words. Haemon feels sympathy for Antigone so he uses various techniques to persuade his father into not executing Antigone for burying her brother. In Conclusion, Haemon was successful in coving his father because of the techniques he used. Haemon was able to make his father Creon, see Antigone the way others view her for her actions. He was able to get Antigone to be no longer executed as it was unfair because she was doing a correct decision. Despite the use of ethos, pathos, and logos, Haemon could’ve used his relation to Creon to convince him that Antigone shouldn’t be punished. Haemon could’ve also proposed an alternate fate where Creon was in Antigone’s place. This would have made Creon think of his decisions more thoroughly since he could be in Antigone’s place. This would make him realize what he would want if he were in her place. Overall, Creon’s original speech was successful in persuading Creon to not punish Antigone with execution and giving her a less harsh punishment. Due to the use of techniques that made his father realize the effects the decision would bring to him because of the opposing perspective the people of the city had.
Sophocles wrote many characters, each with complex personalities. But none a character quite like the personality of Creon from the play, Antigone. Creon is a complex character, but from the writing of Sophocles, we can reveal his true nature.
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.
Since the play’s inception, there has always existed a contention concerning the true hero of Sophocles’ Antigone. It is a widely held belief that Antigone must be the main character simply because she and the drama share name. This is, of course, a very logical assumption. Certainly Sophocles must have at least meant her to be viewed as the protagonist, else he would not have given her the play’s title. Analytically speaking, however, Creon does seem to more categorically fit the appellation of “Tragic Hero.” There is no doubt as to the nature of the work, that being tragedy. Along with this genre comes certain established prerequisites, and Creon is the only character that satisfactorily fits them all.
In ancient Greek tragedies at least one character has the misfortune of having a tragic flaw. The flaw usually effects the protagonist and leads to his down fall. Normally, the characters close to the protagonist are all affected by his flaw. In Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon's tragic flaw is that he is insecure. Creon's insecurity leads to the death of many people and to his own downfall. At many times, Creon feels that people are directing everything toward him, when of course they are not. Consequently, he takes action to make sure people take him seriously. He hopes his actions will teach people not to walk all over him and his empire. However these actions are not always the right ones.
In the awe-inspiring play of Antigone, Sophocles introduces two remarkable characters, Antigone and Creon. A conflict between these two obstinate characters leads to fatal consequences for themselves and their kindred. The firm stances of Creon and Antigone stem from two great imperatives: his loyalty to the state and her dedication to her family, her religion but most of all her conscience. The identity of the tragic hero of this play is still heavily debated. This tragedy could have been prevented if it had not been for Creon's pitiful mistakes.
In the Antigone, unlike the Oedipus Tyrannus, paradoxically, the hero who is left in agony at the end of the play is not the title role. Instead King Creon, the newly appointed and tyrannical ruler, is left all alone in his empty palace with his wife's corpse in his hands, having just seen the suicide of his son. However, despite this pitiable fate for the character, his actions and behavior earlier in the play leave the final scene evoking more satisfaction than pity at his torment. The way the martyr Antigone went against the King and the city of Thebes was not entirely honorable or without ulterior motives of fulfilling pious concerns but it is difficult to lose sight of the fact that this passionate and pious young woman was condemned to living imprisonment.
A popular teaching of ancient Greek philosophers, was the ideal of “Sophrosyne” (wisdom), which rooted from self-knowledge, or “Know thyself” which was intended to be learned throughout a life time. Self knowledge would eventually lead to wisdom, good judgement, balance, control and harmony. In the play Antigone written by Sophocles we are presented with King Creon who believes he is righteous and blessed with wisdom from the heavens declares a ruling that no traitor of the nation shall receive burial, which goes against divine law. Did Creon make a wise judgement when dictating his new law or was it his pride that got the best out of him, leading him to his downfall.
The opening events of the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, quickly establish the central conflict between Antigone and Creon. Creon has decreed that the traitor Polynices, who tried to burn down the temple of gods in Thebes, must not be given proper burial. Antigone is the only one who will speak against this decree and insists on the sacredness of family and a symbolic burial for her brother. Whereas Antigone sees no validity in a law that disregards the duty family members owe one another, Creon's point of view is exactly opposite. He has no use for anyone who places private ties above the common good, as he proclaims firmly to the Chorus and the audience as he revels in his victory over Polynices.
Third, Antigone is a wonderful example of a martyr. Her legacy will live on, and inspire many other rebels to stand up for their beliefs. Antigone dared to defy the King’s threat of death to bury her brother, and shows true family pride. The people take pity on Antigone, and feel that she should be let alone. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's betrothed, states how the people of Thebes feel. “On every side I hear voices of pity for this poor girl doomed to the cruelest death…for an honorable action-burying a brother who was killed in battle…has she not rather earned a crown of gold” (
In the play Antigone, I choose Creon to be the tragic hero because he is the King of Thebes and he looses everything he has. Creon being King makes the audience believe that something like that can happen to the King then what can happen to us. Antigone the niece of Creon, The sister of Polyneices was punished by Creon for burying Polyneces after his death, Creon has forbidden anybody to do so. Once Creon punished Antigone the blind prophet Teiresias told him that the Gods will take revenge for his actions, then Creon tried to change everything but he is too late. Creon's tragic flaws were his stubbornness, the abuse of power and the actions he took to cause the downfall of the Thebes.
Although Antigone has a bad reputation with Creon, and possibly Ismene, for being insubordinate, she stays true to her values throughout the entire play by following the law of gods, not so that she could appease them, but because she admired its value of honor and respect to loved ones that have passed away. This devotion and determination to give her brother a proper burial shows the true essence of her being: that loyalty to family is in fact hold above all else.
In the following paper, I plan to discuss the source of conflict between the title characters of Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ “Antigone”. I also plan to discuss how each character justifies his or her actions and what arguments they give for their justifications. I will also write about the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments. The final points I try to make are about who Sophocles thinks is right and who I think is right.
Antigone was caught and death was the price to pay as ordered by Creon, not to her surprise. Death to Antigone seemed wanted, it was the only thing left as honor for her. Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancé has enough respect for his father that he does not interfere with Creon's decision to put Antigone to death.
Creon highlighted as the tragic figure, initially created decisions he thought was 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. 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. This “spark” caused Creon to intensify his punishments towards Antigone, which in turn caused a chain reaction of events and eventually led to his tragic decline. Being portrayed as a menacing villain throughout the play, Creon began as an honorable man; however, overwhelming events and confrontations caused Creon to evolve in to this monstrous figure.
In the play, “Antigone,” Antigone says, “I should have praise and honor for what I have done.” (828). Although she knew she was going to have to suffer the consequences, she still stood up for what she wanted and took the risk unlike her sister, Ismene, who did nothing. Haemon, Creon’s son, says, “No woman has ever, so unreasonably, died so shameful a death for a generous act.” (841). He confronts Creon with his beliefs about the situation of Antigone risking his own life to try to save hers. He believes that what Antigone did was right and instead of being put to death, she should have honor. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, says, “I have no strength to break laws that were made for the public good.” (817). She believed that the situation should be left alone and decided not to help Antigone. All of these different people standing up for their beliefs led to different outcomes, but they all made themselves happy by sticking by