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Summary of antigone by sophocles
Antigone role in the story
Summary of antigone by sophocles
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Haimon has a certain tendency to be overlooked in Sophocles’ Antigone. At first he appears to be a minor character, an accessory to the overt conflict occurring between Kreon and Antigone. We see Haimon supporting his father, but soon thereafter in conflict with him. Haimon expresses disregard for the life of his cold bride to be, yet is defined as being driven by lust. Several questions come up: who does Haimon really support, what drives his actions, and what is his ultimate intent? Unraveling these issues is a tricky task, but what we find is Haimon is far more than an accessory.
Haimon is introduced in third-person, making his character easily overlooked and marginalized from the start. Ismene says “oh dearest Haimon, how your father dishonors you,” yet he isn’t even present (573). When Haimon does enter, his father assumes he knows of the situation, meaning he had time to plot his actions. Haimon begins by showing Kreon that he is really on his side, a very common technique for disagreement that can be found in such books as Dale Carnegie’s. The general idea is to start by wining a person’s favor so he will be more open to criticism later. It not uncommon to hold the view that Haimon isn’t using such a technique but actually does support Kreon, however there are problems with such a view. Haimon says an interesting ambiguous statement: “your judgments, being good ones, guide my path aright” (636). The ambiguity is subtle, but it can imply Haimon follows only when Kreon’s judgment is good.
As of yet no disagreement has surfaced, but when it does it also shows a degree of planning. Haimon maintains distance from saying his father is wrong, by mentioning that the city favors Antigone’s actions and “things might also turn out well some other way” (687). Haimon then presents a parable: “on a ship, if he who holds the power strains the rigging tights and does not yield, he turns his rowing benches over and completes his voyage upside down” (715). The refinement of the parable does not imply an improvised remark but something premeditated. At this point the reader should ask what motivated this change in Haimon’s views – or was it even a change at all? Within a short span of time Haimon’s stated views change, but there is no clear motivator for the change. Perhaps that...
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...character, to consider motivation and intent. Changes in a character’s view don’t occur spontaneously, motivation for change or previous deception regarding the view must be considered. If one moment Haimon supports Kreon and the next opposes him, what causes this change? Likewise, the reader should consider what the character is doing while not the focus of attention. Haimon knew about the events that were unraveling, what can he plan while the focus is elsewhere? Ambiguous terms factor greatly into an interpretation of Haimon’s motivation. Lust and passion are associated with women, but can just as easily be applicable to power or money. Looking at these issues combined we can answer the original questions; whom does Haimon support, what drives his actions, and what is his ultimate intent? Haimon does not support Kreon; he does support Antigone’s views, but is not bothered by threats of her death. As the chorus states, Haimon is driven by lust, but this lust is for power rather than for Antigone. Combine these issues together and what we find is Haimon’s intent – he seeks to exploit a situation where Kreon is in poor standing to fulfill his lust for power by taking the throne.
In Margaret Talbot 's article about neuroenhancing drugs, she uses tone, appeals, and evidence from various sources. Talbot also utilized stories from past students that had used these drugs to enhance their academic performance, along with their work ethic, because they felt they needed an academic aid. Throughout this article, Talbot is trying to inform our society of the effects of neuroenhancing drugs, as well as get her point across about how she feels about this issue. She uses evidence from past college students that displays her opinion on the use of these drugs for nonmedicinal use. According to her writing, the use of these drugs is becoming more widespread than it should. In my analysis I will focus on how Talbot uses these strategies
All of the characters in this plot have to fight for something, and Haimon, Creon's son and Antigone's Fiance falls victim to their determination. Antigone buries her brother, which means Haimon has to face the fatality of his loves execution and Creon is the one to punish Antigone so Haimon feels his father couldn't care about anything but the way he is viewed as King.Haimon has a lot to contest for and uses the three appeals, pathos, logos and ethos to do this.His fiance Antigone breaks the king’s laws and therefore has to face the consequences. She is punished with death by the laws holder.This tragic sister welcomes death, as it is an honor for whom she encounters it for. But Haimon won’t accept this and knows that If anybody were to
Sophocles play titled Antigone, embellishes the opposing conflicts between Antigone who stands for the values of family, and Creon who stands for the values of state. Sophocles explores the depths of Antigone’s morality and the duty based on consequence throughout the play, as well as the practical consequences of Creon who is passionate and close-minded. Although Antigone’s moral decisions appear to be more logical and favorable than Creon’s, a personal argument would be that both characters’ decisions in society can be equally justified.
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.
Segal, Charles Paul. "Sophocles' Praise of Man and the Conflicts of the Antigone." In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.
Sophocles uses a dark and depressing mood in this quote to describe the death of Antigone and Haimon and show their love for one another. Sophocles starts off the quote by saying, “Now the dead lie in the arms of the dead (Sophocles. 1436)”. He uses a depressing mood in this phrase as the two have killed themselves and they are now with everyone else who has died. Sophocles continues to write the phrase, “They have been wedded in the house of death (Sophocles. 1437)”, Sophocles uses figurative language to describe how Antigone and Haimon have reunited with one another. The two never got married in the real, living world, however, they were joined together forever in “the house of death”. The exile of Antigone brought her to kill herself, and
The belief that Antigone is the hero is a strong one, but there is a stronger belief that Kreon, the Ruler of Thebes, is the true protagonist. Kreon's main and foremost hamartia was his hybris, or his extreme pride. Kreon was a new king, and he would never let anyone prove him wrong or let anyone change his mind once it was made. One main event that showed Kreon's hamartia and also caused the catastrophe was when he asked his son Haimon, who was engaged to marry Antigone, if he still loves his father. Haimon says he respects Kreon's ruling, but he feels, in this case, that Kreon was wrong. Haimon asks his father to take his advice and not have Antigone executed, but, because of Kreon's hybris, Kreon gets furious and makes the situation worse then it already was. He was way too proud to take advice from someone younger, and in his anger he decided to kill Antigone right away in front of Haimon's eyes. "'Just understand: You don't insult me and go off laughing. Bring her here! Let him see her. Kill her here, beside her bridegroom'" (Sophocles 919-921). This was too much for Haimon to take, and he runs out of the room, yelling, "'...her death will destroy others'" (Sophocles 908). Blinded by his pride and arrogance, Kreon takes that remark as a threat to himself, unknowing that it wasn't directed to himself, but was a suicide threat by his own son. Another example of Kreon's tragic pride is when the prophet, Teiresias, travels all the way to Thebes to tell Kreon very important news, but Kreon pride makes him ignore it and he accuses Teiresias of being bribed.
In the play Antigone, there are many situations in which loyalty is involved, and in some, conflicts arise. The first example of this is the relationship between Haimon and his father Creon. This unusual relationship between them is incredibly superficial in that Creon is only proud of him because he is kissing up and says what his father wants to hear. It is blatantly obvious during their conversation where Haimon states; “I am your son father. You are my guide. You make things clear for me, and I obey you. No marriage means more to me than you continuing wisdom.” This statement is basically what Creon expects to hear out of his son. His reply of, ”Good. That is the way to behave: subordinate everything else, my son, to your father’s will.” Creon is used to having people do everything he wants them to do. The second example is the relationship between Antigone and her dead brother Polyneices. She is incredibly loyal to him and is willing to risk her life in order to preserve his honor as a warrior and bury her against Creons order. It is evident in her statement of, “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall die down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me.” She will do whatever it takes, even if it is death, to bury her violated brother. The third example is the relationship between Haimon and Antigone. Although Haimon was loyal to his father, he later broke away from his grasp and went to the aid of his fiancée Antigone. He felt that he betrayed her by siding with his father when he was obviously wrong and being stubborn. He signifies his loyalty to Antigone with the statement of, “But her death will cause another.” He will openly defy his father in order to stand by her side. There are numerous examples of loyalty in the play Antigone.
In conclusion, the gods and the love of her family rule Antigone’s life. Creon’s life is ruled by what he thinks is good for his country and pride. Creon did not change his mind to free Antigone until a prophet told him he would suffer horribly for his actions. However, because Creon was so stubborn for so long and did not take heed to anyone’s advice sooner, he ultimately suffers in the end, as does everyone else in the play. This was all due to a man’s lack of good judgment, his selfish pride and his stubbornness.
... for his mistakes in the denouement. Devastated by Antigone’s death, Haimon ends up committing suicide. Creon then realizes how wrong he was, however it is too late. This is not the only karma that Creon receives though. Creon’s beloved wife, Eurydice, also met her death when she was told the fate of her son. Creon finally realizes how blinded he was, and how he was continuously making foolish decisions. Two losses in one day- Creon is filled with great remorse and regret. Like the ‘Sun King’, all the sunlight in Creon’s life has faded. The world no longer revolves around Creon, as all his valued things in life have vanished. If you attain power, use it wisely. Otherwise you will end up heartbroken and repentant, just like Creon.
Haemon had been promised Antigone’s hand in marriage and was obviously frantic by his father’s ...
Sophocles’ Antigone is a Greek tragedy that portrays a conflict between two ancient Greek values. Creon, the king of Thebes, touts the importance of loyalty towards the state, and Antigone, his niece, shows the willingness to sacrifice her life for the ultimate purpose of shining light on the importance of loyalty to one’s family. In Sophocles’ Antigone, Sophocles uses the clash between Creon’s value of loyalty to the state and Antigone’s value of loyalty to family in order to demonstrate not only the potential damage that could result from placing too high of an importance on loyalty to the city-state, but also the challenges involved with being a leader in ancient Greece.
People are undisputedly faced with the challenge to grow and encounter headfirst all the unexpected changes life throws at them. Change, perhaps the solitary constant factor of life, drives people to make decisions that will be reciprocated with an unforeseen event. This principle of life is applied as an underlying web of the plethora of ironies throughout all of Antigone. Set in the age of reconstruction in Thebes, no doubt due to the aftershock of a war between brothers and their ongoing family curse, Sophocles’s constant use of irony in Antigone around Creon, the king of Thebes, indicates that the ironic nature of man contributes and lurks in their ultimate demise.
The idea of bullying an individual for their physical flaws originates within the thoughts of the bullies themselves. Bullies tend to think of themselves as perfect. They tend to point out the flaws of others and tease those same individuals for not being like them. Different body types such as fat and bulky, facial defects such as birthmarks and height differences such as being too short are common physical flaws that individuals are bullied for. Vice versa, a bully could also be jealous of other individuals because they do not have any physical flaws, but the bully has many. A bullying situation could potentially occur because the bully will verbally abuse the other individual in order to lower their
George Orwell’s novel 1984, is the most powerful warnings ever released about the dangers and the controls of living under a totalitarian government. The main character, Winston Smith is at war, trying to control the Inner Party and rebelling against Big Brother, the dictator of Oceania. The author gives us readers an image of inhumanity and the impacts it has in the citizens, physically and mentally. Orwell uses literary elements such as imagery, foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to demonstrate the theme of indestructible of a totalitarism.