The Rule Of Man And Divine Rule In Antigone By Sophocles

Although Ismene declares that the sisters lack any power in the situation, Antigone insists that she will bury Polyneices, and asks for Ismene's help. Ismene states that though she loves Polyneices, she must abide by the king's decree. Ismene, unlike Antigone, fears death. She believes that there is nothing that she can do. She reminds Antigone that they are on... ... middle of paper ... ...assistance, resolves to give their brother a proper burial.

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. Ismene tells Antigone angrily, “Our own death would be if we should go against Creon/And do what he has forbidden!” Antigone replies, “You may do as you like, /Since apparently the laws of the gods mean nothing to you.”(462) Antigone believes the god’s law is more important than Creon. Antigone will even go against her own sister to make sure her brother receives a proper burial. Antigone keeps the consistency of being strong throughout the entire play. After the sentry informs Creon that Antigone was the one trying to bury Polyneices, he wants Antigone arrested.

Antigone’s strength allows her to defend her brother’s honor against Creon, who wants to make a statement about traitors. However, both Antigone and King Creon commit faults while trying to protect the things they love. Antigone should not have died for her beliefs as it puts her loved ones and community in danger, and Creon should not have forbidden the burial of Polyneices as it angers the Gods and causes him great suffering in the end. Antigone is a strong willed character who is not afraid to defend her beliefs. After learning that Creon has denied Polyneices of a proper burial she uses her free will to decide that she must lay her brother to rest, as she strongly believes he should be honored like the other fallen soldiers.

Ismene is willing to die with her sister and doesn’t give in to Antigone saying no; not only does this show how stubborn Ismene can be, it also shows that she has the willpower to seek things to the end. Ismene is a one of a kind character in this play because of her devotion and kindness to her sister. If the two boys Polyneices and Eteocles were still alive it is likely that Creon would find another way to rid the state of them. In that moment Ismene would definitely be the one who protects them while keeping the family from killing each other. During the conversation from the quote above the line “But now we stand convicted, both alike(Sophocles 1249).” Ismene said that they were both convicted.

However, compliance is not enough for Antigone. The desire to honor her brother goes way beyond her instinct to protect herself. Antigone finally accepts that her sister is not going to help her in her mission: “Go be the person you’ve chosen to be./ I’ll bury Polyneices myself. I’ll do/ what’s honorable, and then I’ll die.” (Antigone lines 84-85) This statement proves that Antigone is aware of what the consequences for her actions will be. She comprehends that choosing to defy the government by honoring her brother will end in certain death, and she seems at peace with her decision.

The characters Antigone and Ismene differentiate what a woman is told to do to follow the law and what is morally right. Antigone chooses to position her life in danger for the good of the family, while Ismene follows the law, not to upset her uncle even though her brothers are dead. Sophocles’s play could have influenced Glaspell by the themes, motifs, and the conversing between characters that are used in Antigone; specifically how someone else tells the main character’s story. Also the men in her play are the authority figures of the women, which could represent Creon in Antigone. Overall, Glaspell writes based on Sophocles themes, pattern, and main points, she just changes the story.

Antigone says, “He has no right to keep me from my own” (Sophocles 1008). She believes in divine law even if it means breaking man’s law. Creon commanded no one to bury her brother. Antigone knows it is not the right choice according to divine law and she should be able to bury her own brother, but Creon believes no one should break the law he has put before everyone. Ismene replies, “ The law is strong, we must give in to the law, in this thing and in worse.

Antigone is the protagonist in the story Antigone. She is a young girl who rises up against her uncle, King Creon to defend what she believes in. King Creon is seen amongst the society as a dictator and feels no one should go against his orders. One of King Creon’s orders is to not give Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, a proper burial because he thought Polyneices was a traitor. Antigone, however, chooses to bury her brother because in her heart she feels it is the right thing to do, knowing full well that Creon disapproves and has made it clear that if anyone attempts to touch Polyneices, they will be stoned in public.

She did obey the rules of her gods, which were that any dead body must be given a proper burial, with libatations. This would prevent the soul from being lost between worlds forever, along with wine as an offering to the gods (page 518- side note). Nor could Antigone let Creon's edicts go against her morals (lines 392-394). She chooses to share her love, not her hate (line 443). She couldn't bare to see one family member be chosen over the other because of what a king had decided was right, which she contravened.

The protagonist is convincingly characterized because she is constantly determined to fight for what she believes is right. Antigone’s belief that burying her brother is the right thing to do is distinct in the drama and comes to light when Antigone, as Bobrick puts it, “proudly” admits to going against Creon’s decree when put before him and states as a fact that “religious rituals justify her actions.” Antigone is determined to bury her brother, Polyneices, no matter the consequences. Bobrick suggests that this defiance is Antigone’s “first act of self- isolation” and further explains that self- isolation and her doing what is right go hand in hand (41). Antigone views the burial of her sibling as a duty and must be completed; Lansky illustrates this with the comment that “Creon is the guardian of the honor of the polis and Antigone of that of the family” (49). Besides being convincing because she behaves consistently, the protagonist is a convincing character because the love for her brother motivates her to disobey the decree of her king to do what she believes is right.