It takes a lot of courage to stand up and defend an action or idea that is forbidden by society. This is what Antigone does in Sophocles' story Antigone. She clearly disobeys King Creon's order that no person should bury Antigone's brother, Polynices, which is punishable by penalty of death. In this case, is Antigone's decision the correct one? Her actions affect many of her other countrymen negatively because they cause problems within the royal family, disagreement among the people and directly
Creon was the uncle of Antigone, Eteocles, Polynices and Ismene. He became King of Thebes after his Nephew’s died after battling over control over the city. Creon is the kind of man that believes in law and authority as he rules over the city of Thebes. He does not believe in bending the rules for any of the people in his city not even for his own niece Antigone. Antigone defies her uncle Creon after he passed a law that his own nephew Polynices would not have a proper burial after he battled against
Her brother is her own flesh and blood, a part of her family that has the absolute right to be properly buried. Antigone’s conscience would not allow her to leave Polynices as Creon’s law bid, which she reveals when she tells Creon, “But if I had allowed my own mother's son to rot, an unburied corpse — that would have been an agony.” According to her moral compass, to respect and honor her brother in his death transcends
Oedipus’ sons, Eteocles and Polynices, kill each other in battle, leading to a dangerous situation and a fatal choice, brought about in part by Antigone’s fiery personality and her determination. Although, at first glance, it would appear that Antigone’s decision to bury Polynices’ body is based off of her bravery and courage, it later becomes apparent that she is only doing so because she is seeking attention and glory. Antigone’s willingness to risk her life to bury Polynices, further highlights her
The play “Antigone” by Sophocles is about how a girl named Antigone who was determined to bury her brother Polynices because the law in Thebes who was ruled by her uncle known as King Creon said that you weren’t allowed to bury or honor people who was a traitor to the city and yet a prophet claimed a very powerful vision that would later hurt Creon for making that type of law. The theme in Antigone was to open your ears and listen to others, take advice from others because if they did, there would
Creon's view is "twisted," I do believe that their fate is a direct result of their extreme pride and stubbornness. In "Antigone," Sophocles examines the conflict between the requirements of human and divine law that is centered on the burial of Polynices, Antigone's brother and Creon's nephew. On the issue of the burial, their views are opposed and they each believe that one is right and the other is wrong. The views of Antigone and Creon are opposed, and they both possess the same stubborn belief
Thebes was invaded by Oedipus’ son, Polynices, and his followers. As Oedipus predicted in the previous play, Polynices and his brother, Eteocles, killed each other during battle. Creon, the king of Thebes, ruled that Eteocles should have a proper burial with honors and Polynices, the invader, be left unburied to rot. Antigone was dejected with Creon’s ruling and decided to bury Polynices herself. She tried to enlist Ismene to help her, but Ismene was to afraid. Antigone furiously continued with
conflict with her uncle, Creon. It all started when Antigone brother Polynices was killed in a battle fighting against his brother, and his burial is prohibited. Creon refuses to make any exemption based on the fact that they are family. There is a lot of disagreement between Antigone and Creon, and this is the main theme of the play. In the play, Antigone has made a commitment that she will be faithful to her brother, Polynices. Her instinct and tough feelings will discourage her from listening
When writing about why civil disobedience is necessary, Henry David Thoreau said, “The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it” (On the Duty, 437). According to the Oxford English Dictionary, civil disobedience is defined as the “refusal to obey the laws, commands, etc., of a government or authority as part of an organized, non-violent political protest or campaign”
his decree against Polynices as a patriotic duty. In his first speech, after giving the order, he closes by explaining: Such is my purpose, and never by any deed of mine shall the base be held in higher honor than the just. But he who is a friend to this city shall be honored by me as such in death as in life (206-210). Antigone also shows her viewpoint early in the play when admonishing her sister Ismene for not sharing in her conviction about burying their brother Polynices, saying: Be what
What makes a hero? In our society, a hero is thought of as a tall man who wears a cape and has super powers, but to the Greeks, it was very different. In every Greek tragedy, there is the tragic hero, defined by Aristotle as a character who is an extraordinary person, with both good and bad qualities. Although the character reaches a level of insight, a tragic flaw, such as hamartia, leads to their failure in the end. A perfect example of this can be found in Sophocles’ trilogy, The Theban Plays
law are the rules that a person or society sets down according to their understanding of their faith. This may or may not be simpatico with human law. Sophocles’ Antigone, picks up where The Seven Against Thebes left off. The sons of Oedipus, Polynices and
Would you rather not have conflicts in your life? Antigone is a play, based upon conflicts between the characters. Antigone is the sister of Polynices, who is dead. Polynices is considered a traitor to Creon and he doesn’t bury those who are against him. As conflicts occur, Antigone, Creon, and the Chorus argue on whether to have Polynices buried or not. Conflicts are a necessary part of life because of the changes that we run in to. It is appropriate to rebel and create conflict when we believe
Being a part of a family forces one to have responsibilities and duties that are needed to be fulfilled. In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Antigone, Antigone has the responsibility of being loyal to her brother, Polynices. Her intuition and strong will discourages her from listening to the power of the state and to disobey some of her family to respect another part of her family. Her devotion leads to the destruction of Creon and herself, but her role as a part of her family does not stand in her determination
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
Antigone is a play written by Sophocles, between approximately 496 – 406 B.C. The play begins after the siege of Thebes by Polynices; Polynices and his brother, Eteocles, are killed by their father, Oedipus. Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, that Creon has ordered for Eteocles to be buried with honors, but Polynices will be left to rot; Antigone and Ismene plan to bury Polynices, but before they are able to do so, Creon hears of their plan and declares that both of the women will be put to death. Creon’s
literature, the character Antigone, of Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle, displays fine characteristics of a great female leader in order to stand up against male dominance for her religious, political, and personal beliefs. When the king denies her brother, Polynices, proper burial, Antigone goes against state law by burying him herself in order to protect heavenly decree and maintain justice. In doing this, she steps out of her place as a woman in a male dominated society. In order to characterize Antigone
she guided her father through life, his “hero ness” was slowly infiltrating Antigone and was fully installed into her with her father’s death. After Antigone heard of the orders of Creon, regarding her brother Polynices, she knew that something had to be done for the proper burial of Polynices. Antigone’s sudden rise in spirit and bravery to fight for the honor of her family name is what places her under the category of being an archetypal heroin... ... middle of paper ... ...ok some time before
loyal to their beliefs. Antigone thought Polynices should have the respectful burial that he deserves because that it something one needs to be with the gods. She is very strong on her belief of this because Polynices is family to her and family is family no matter what. Family is something she valued along with the wishes of the gods. Antigone is so passionate about Polynices’ burial she goes to Ismene, her sister, for help with the burial of Polynices and their conversation states: Antigone:
brother’s burial rights. Antigone conveys her conviction when she says “[n]o matter – Death longs for the same rites for all” (Sophocle 584). Therefore, with enforcing this edict Creon is not only insulting her right to perform burial rites for Polynices, but he is also interfering with her piety and the gods will. This further fuels her need to go to extremes within her personality and lash out against Creon’s tyrannical rule. Antigone’s dedication to enacting the god’s will is exemplified when