Antigone Creon Pride vs. Power - 2277 Words

KP Paper II (REVISION) Christoforatou Original date: 03/28/12 Revision date: 05/24/12 Antigone Creon: Pride or Power? â€Å"I will suffer nothing as great as death without glory† –Antigone According to Aristotle, the most important factor in a Greek tragedy is the plot. The plot must tell the actions of characters from beginning to end. Though, without the characters, the plot has nowhere to go. In Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, each character has a distinct personality and strong beliefs. The heroine, Antigone, has some of the strongest beliefs of them all. Antigone is willing to sacrifice her own life and well being to honor her fallen brother, Polyneices. Polyneices was killed in battle by her other brother Eteocles.†¦show more content†¦She knows that if she buries Polyneices, that Creon will put her to death. When Creon and Antigone verbally confront the issue of Polyneices’ illegal burial, Antigone states, â€Å"Of course I did it. It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation-not to me.† In stating this, she is blatantly defying Creon because she does not believe he has the right to put a claim on her brotherâ₠¬â„¢s body since he is not a god. Antigone is the fiancà ©e of Creon’s son, Haemon, which escalates the decision of punishment of Antigone’s actions. Antigone’s yearn for honor and glory is shown in lines 85-86 as she states, â€Å"I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory.† This quotation directly shows Antigone’s insatiable hunger for glory and doing what is morally right. She wants the people of Thebes to do what the gods deem morally acceptable instead of just succumbing to the beliefs of the king. Antigone wants to teach the people of Thebes that a king cannot decide honor and pride. It is to be decided by the gods and religious morals. Although Antigone’s actions of burying her brother’s body without regards to the law is honorable, her pride is her downfall as she is to be exiled in a cave to die. This is where some of the people of Thebes begin to question Creon’s decision and hi s motives for keeping Polyneices’ corpse unburied. King Creon views his decisions and opinions as comparable to those ofShow MoreRelatedGender Roles In Antigone1547 Words   |  7 PagesIn Sophocles’ Antigone, gender roles are a major conflicting theme throughout the entire play. The setting of the play was written during the Greek mythological days, around 442 B.C. During these days, men were dominant and held all of the power, so women were automatically treated as less. Antigone and Creon portray the conflicting sides between male and female, and Ismene and Haemon portray opposing sides to Antigone and Creon’s actions. Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon each show differencesRead MoreThe Test Of Time By Sophocles1403 Words   |  6 Pagesfew have withstood the test of time as long as Antigone has. Written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles in 441 B.C, it is almost two and a half thousand years old. How does a piece of writing last that long without becoming irrelevant and antiquated. The answer to that que stion can be found in the themes and characters of this long enduring masterpiece. Before I jump into this paper, I should probably tell you what Antigone is about. Antigone is a play which takes place shortly after theRead MoreDivine Law Vs. Human Law1510 Words   |  7 PagesWritten Assignment Divine Law vs. Human Law West Islip High School Là ©na Seltzer 003996-0069 May 2017 1472 Words Religion and State have historically battled over value of importance. For centuries, laws have been set forth to further the separation between the two. While good intentions were utilized in the creation of these statutes, it is challenging to shift the mindset of civilians who have worshiped religion above the state their entire lives. In the play, Antigone, Sophocles dramatizes theRead MoreAntigone : Human Law Vs. Divine Law1418 Words   |  6 PagesLauren Wolfson Professor Neil Scharnick THR 3270 History of Classical Theatre 30 November 2016 Antigone: Human Law vs. Divine Law The most prominent theme in â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles is the conflict of divine law vs. human law; it is the driving force behind the entire play. It is an issue of which law is the right law, and if Creon s and Antigone s acts were justifiable. It is also a question of what motivates them both to act as they do and if they were predestined to their fates dueRead MoreHow the Movie a Few Good Men and the Play Antigone Found Honor in What1109 Words   |  5 Pagesexcuses. In the play Antigone by Sophicles, and the movie A Few Good Men, by Aaron Sorkin, Antigone, Dawson and Downy stand up for what they think is right at that moment, and go against the laws they were to follow. The Greek Tragic Hero Antigone is characterized as a person with great honor and has a conflict with going against the civil law under Creon, and not burying Polynices. Polynices was a traitor to Thebes and was killed in war against his brother Eteocles. Antigone, Eteocless andRead MoreHuman Law Vs. Divine Law1487 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Law vs. Divine Law Morality is principles that determines the distinction between right and wrong action, or good and bad behavior. There is also a link that being moral should be determined by either human law or divine law. The play â€Å"Antigone†, by Sophocles, shows the complexity of this certain concept of morality. Antigone must determine whether she should defy King Creon’s law in order to bury her brother, Polynices, or reject her own religious beliefs in order to maintain in the King’sRead MoreReview Of Oedipus Rex 1342 Words   |  6 Pagesplay. Antigone Reading Questions How is this version of Creon in comparison to the Creon presented in Oedipus Rex? Why? - In the myth about Oedipus Rex, Creon is portrayed as an honest, fair character who uses reason when confronted. For example, when Oedipus accuses him of conspiring against him, Creon explains to why he has no need for Oedipus’ crown. When the truth is revealed about Oedipus, Creon is also shown as understanding towards his troubles. In the myth of Antigone, Creon is depictedRead MoreAntigone Rainy River1181 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Law Vs. Written Law Morals are defined to be the principle of what is right from what is wrong. What defines whether something is right or wrong is based purely on ones judgment and perspective. Staying true to personal beliefs and morals can sometimes be problematic to retain when conflicting with the written law. In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone disregards the decree of her uncle Creon, King of Thebes, which forbids anybody to bury Antigone’s brother Polynices who was killed in battleRead MoreMajor Works Data Sheet : Fiction2158 Words   |  9 Pagesof authoring and publication: Antigone was written by Sophocles around 440 B.C. This was right before Athenians fought a campaign on the Samos revolt. Sophocles was chosen to be a high ranking military official during this time. These events are relevant due to the fact that some of the play s main issues are how much power a state should have, the chance of a justifiable rebellion, and the laws of the government citizens had to follow. Antigone s popularity lead to Sophocles electionRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King And Antigone1170 Words   |  5 Pagesworld. In civilizations such as Athens, women were looked down upon and this battle to leave behind tradition proved to be almost if not fatal. Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone exemplify three distinct female Athenian characters who approach this battle with different fronts. Through analysis of Ismene, Antigone and Jocasta’s distinct characters, the reader better understands how Sophocles uses a feminine voice to break away fro m the tradition discerned in Athenian life to advocate for the