Characteristics Of Antigone

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Antigone appears to exhibit many characteristics of a Shakespearean tragedy. The scholarly critical articles that are addressed show diverse views in order to display the different levels
Tragedies like any good tale have some type of exciting force that brings all the conflicts to light. In the case of Antigone, it is the discussion of the burial of Antigone’s brother, Polynices. Antigone is willing to do whatever is necessary to do right and have a proper burial for her brother. The true conflict arises when we realize that by burying her brother, Antigone is bringing trouble to herself. The question we begin to ask ourselves is whether or not she is justified in her decision to take it upon herself to complete the burial. Bennett and Tyrell …show more content…

It was only time that they could have an influence on social and political life. (454-455) Unfortunately, this was a right that was taken away over time. With this fact then it was true that Antigone had no right to proceed with the burial until you consider that Antigone and Ismene were the closest families left. With no one left around to proceed in the burial, the duty should have been placed onto the two sisters. Even Creon with his role of being the uncle/great uncle of Antigone and her siblings it can be considered that he was not the next closest kin of the family. Antigone also wants to do right by the gods by completing a proper burial. The obsessive need to be faithful to the gods is most likely tied to the fact that Antigone’s family being cursed by the gods. Antigone probably even realizes that she is going to die anyway but feels as though this is a just cause, one good enough to die for. Even with all this evidence pointing otherwise it is still a fact that Antigone had no right to proceed with the burial. Creon, although he was wrong in the way that he treated the body, he was just acting in a way that was right for that time in restricting women’s participation in burials. (456) With all this Antigone comes off as a person who goes against already established customs of …show more content…

According to Lines, “The flaw of hubris is easy to spot in Oedipus, but Antigone’s brilliance is so dazzling that we overlook her flaw.” (par.18) We want to root for the person that we consider being fighting for a just cause with forces fighting against her in every way. Everyone loves the underdog, and Antigone is just that. A child born to a warped family line against her will and also born a woman. At first glance, she just seems as someone who is fighting a fight that is way ahead of her time. Antigone is someone who follows her voice and does not allow others to persuade her to change her actions. Whereas, Creon does what is to be expected of him. He does not try to rock the boat. He has just gotten into the role of king and intends to keep it by maintaining happiness among the polis. In retrospect when you look deeper, Antigone is actually looking backward. In Lines article, she fails to realize that her actions actually speak of the past, something of which was addressed by Bennett and

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