The Importance of Family for Ancient Greeks

811 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The impact of Greek culture upon present culture

Family is extremely important to Greeks and is based on social structure (Greece - Cultural Studies). The ancient Greeks believed in many gods and each of the gods signified a certain characteristic in life. Zeus being the main God (Galens and Spampinato). Greek families are very loving and caring for each other. Although, once one member of the family does something dishonorable it puts the whole family to shame. “Greece has the highest tradition-nearly three thousand years of recorded family life and values (Janus).” The most important value of the Greeks is loyalty. Greeks do not really talk about family values, one will either live by them or they will not. On the other hand, the penalty for whether you live by these values or not depends on the community. Greeks will always be there for their own through the good times and through the bad. Family is based on tradition which happens throughout history. The Greek family is influenced from the Byzantine traditions (Michopoulou). Family will always be a critical factor to the Greeks.
Antigone is a Greek tragedy that expresses strong family values, focusing mainly on loyalty. She appeals to the important struggle between customary or family responsibilities (Patterson 1). Antigone is the daughter of Jocasta and Oedipus and also the niece of Creon. Antigone and Creon are both tragic characters who induce shame and meet tragic ends. Creon was named ruler after Antigone’s father fell from power. So Creon raised Oedipus’ children and was only supposed to rule Thebes only until Polyneices and Eteocles could run Thebes together, but after both of their deaths Creon was announced King of Thebes (Galens and Spampinato). Antigone shows her loyalty when Creon will not allow anyone to bury...

... middle of paper ...

...denies her sister having anything to do with it. Antigone reminds her sister that them being women, it is not their decision on whether things are wrong or right (Galens and Spampinato).
By Antigone killing herself, she disobeys Creon not only in the burial of her brother but by killing herself instead of him executing her. She shows him that he cannot control her and will have her own path to Hades (Johnston 183). Even though Antigone, Ismene, and Creon all feel like they have made the right decision, their choices were catastrophic. Antigone dies, Ismene is left alone forever knowing she did not do anything to help her family, and Creon loses his family and complete power of everything (Galens and Spampinato). The conflict between Antigone and Creon is important because it shows how significant responsibilities are to your family and to the public (Johnston 184).

Show More
Related

  • Comparing the Family in Antigone and A Rose for Emily

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone is a young woman whose moral background leads her to go against the wishes of the king to bury her brother, Polyneices.  Sophocles uses Antigone as a character who undergoes an irreversible change in judgment and as a result, ends up dying.  Antigone is hero, and she stands for honor, and divinity.   Because Antigone's parents were Oedipus and Iacaste, she was born into a family of power; something that she could not change.  At times, Sophocles leads the reader into thinking Antigone wishes she was not who she was.  Ismene, Antigone's sister, refuses to help Antigone because (as she states) "I have no strength to break laws that wer...

    Read More

  • The Deaths of Antigone and Creon

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Deaths of Antigone and Creon Antigone and Creon are the main characters of the play Antigone written by Sophocles. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, who was a major figure in ancient Greek myth. Oedipus accidentally killed his father and married his mother. Because of that act, Oedipus ended up cursing his family and died a horrible death. After his death, his sons inherited his kingdom and in a power struggle ended up killing each other.

    Read More

  • Righteous Judgement in Antigone

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the play, Antigone brought Ismene outside the city gates at night for a top secret meeting. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polyneices' body because even though he died in dishonor he was her brother. Ismene refused to disobey the king which is also their Uncle Creon, and she failed to talk Antigone out of doing the act herself. "Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses..Then, mother...did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords. Third, our two brothers, on a single day...Each killed the other, hand against brother's hand." (Antigone, Lines 59-65) In this quote, Antigone justified her reasons for going against the law describing how her parents went through so much, how their father was banished and due to this their mother had committed suicide because her reputation went down to the drain, even after all that their two brothers went into battle against one another and died in the process. Ismene was sympathetic, but still she was noble and afraid of Creon so she did not offer her help to Antigone.

    Read More

  • Compare Antigone And The Bible

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone, as a character, is extremely strong-willed and loyal to her faith. Creon is similarly loyal, but rather to his homeland, the city of Thebes, instead of the gods. Both characters are dedicated to a fault, a certain stubbornness that effectively blinds them from the repercussions of their actions. Preceding the story, Antigone has been left to deal with the burden of her parents’ and both her brothers’ deaths. Merely a young child, intense grief is to be expected; however, Antigone’s emotional state is portrayed as frivolous when it leads her to directly disobey Creon’s orders. She buries her brother Polynices because of her obedience to family and to the gods, claiming to follow “the gods’ unfailing, unwritten laws” (Sophocles 456-457). CONTINUE

    Read More

  • Antigone by Sophocles

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the book Antigone, Creon and Antigone can be considered as the tragic heroes of the play. Antigone is considered the tragic hero because of the characteristics she shows such as her ambition to defeat Creon, Creon shows more of the characteristics clearly. Creon is the king of Thebes. He is also Antigone's uncle. Creon became king after a fight between Eteocles and Polyneices. One may see Creon as a harsh and controlling ruler, but he is not good nor bad because he shows signs of both like when he wanted to give Eteocles a proper burial . Creon is the tragic hero of the Antigone, because of his dominance in society, high rank, tragic flaw; and self-pride.

    Read More

  • Antigone's Actions

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone and her family have suffered many things. It all began with her father, Oedipus. Oedipus has a very confused life. He ends up killing his father, the king of Thebes, while he believes his father is someone else. He ends up as the king of Thebes and married to his mother, Jocasta.

    Read More

  • The Characters Of Antigone And King Creon

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Honor In Greek Society

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    When a civilization is emerging in the way which it emerges helps to establish its values. Greek Society emerged in two different ways, through Athenian and Spartan mentalities. Through many wars and differing enemies, Athenian culture became more prevalent. However, each brought forth important ideals that defined Greek Society. They are the reason that when reflecting upon Greece we conjure images of philosophers or strong willed warriors. Greek society through individual action and institution truly valued duty to the community, innovation, and honor.

    Read More

  • Creon and Antigone as Tragic Heroes in Sophocles' Antigone

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    Creon and Antigone, main characters in the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles share some of the same characteristics that make up a tragic hero, but to varying degrees. Antigone, daughter of her mother/grandmother, Jocasta, and father, Oedipus is head strong, proud, and stubborn. She had three siblings, Ismene her sister, and two brothers Eteocles and Polyneices who found there deaths at the end of each others sword in battle over which would become king of Thebes. Antigone's pride fullness and loyalty is revealed when Polyneices is denied proper burial by her uncle and king Creon. The two buttheads in the political for Creon and personal for Antigone situation and bring about the downfall of the royal family.

    Read More

  • The Source of Conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles' Antigone

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Analyzing Antigone and Creon

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play, Sophocles examines the nature of Antigone and Creon who have two different views about life, and use those views against one another. Antigone who is depicted as the hero represents the value of family. According to Richard Braun, translator of Sophocles Antigone, Antigone’s public heroism is domestically motivated: “never does [Antigone] give a political explanation of her deed; on the contrary, from the start [Antigone] assumes it is her hereditary duty to bury Polynices, and it is from inherited courage that [Antigone] expects to gain the strength required for the task” (8). Essentially, it is Antigone’s strong perception of family values that drive the instinct to disobey Creon’s orders and to willingly challenge the King’s authority to dictate her role in society.

    Read More

  • Creon Suicide Quotes

    703 Words  | 2 Pages

    Creon, the king of Thebes, was compelled to witness the death of all his family members, simply because of his one oafish decision. The almighty king of Thebes watched the downfall of all of his beloved ones, right before he had the opportunity to prevent it. Antigone, by Sophocles, portrays the courageous deeds of the female heroine, Antigone. Throughout the play, Antigone attempts to avenge her brother, but confronts a series of difficult obstacles, laid out by her uncle, Creon, the antagonist. Antigone, feeling excessively depressed about her life, ends up committing suicide, which leads to a series of events that actually causes the downfall of Creon. Her suicide leads to the death of Creon’s beloved ones, Haemon and Eurydice. Creon ought

    Read More

  • Civil Disobedience In Sophocles Antigone

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    Antigone was not about to simply obey Creon’s absurd decree. She felt that her personal responsibility was to the gods and her family rather than the king. She then asked Ismene, her sister, to assist her with the burial, but was denied any help. Ismene justified her decision by telling Antigone that they were already punished and that there was no need to make matters worse for the two of them by defying Creon’s law.

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek Social Structure Essay

    681 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paragraph will concern the social structure of ancient Greece society. In ancient Greece society, only native-born men were granted citizenship and entitled to full protection of the law in a city-state (wikipedia.org/Ancient Greece). In the majority of city-states, social prominence did not include special rights. In some situations, families controlled public functions, but this did not exactly grant extra power for the government. In the state of Athens, the population was divided into four social classes which was based on wealth. A persons amount of income was able to determine of they were eligible to change classes. In Sparta, male citizens received the title of equal if they completed their education requirements. With this being

    Read More

  • The Daily Life of Ancient Greeks

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Daily Life of Ancient Greeks Life in Greece in ancient times will remind you of your own life in many ways. There were school, family, athletic competitions, and social gatherings. Knowing that participants in their sporting events competed nude or that you rarely knew your husband/wife until the wedding day does however, make you grateful for the society that you live in today. Babies Life for the Greeks in Athens began in their home. Babies were delivered by the women of the family, and only in cases of serious complications was a mid-wife called.

    Read More

More about The Importance of Family for Ancient Greeks

Open Document