Similarities Between Antigone And Creon

Reading famous plays draws our attention to many different aspects of the type of characters, the storyline, and the dialogue between characters. We get wrapped up in the plot and forget to focus on the way the characters are developed through diction. Sophocles does a fine job of demonstrating characteristics through certain phrases said by the characters. In Sophocles’ work, Antigone, set in 400 B.C, aspects of life revolved around the individual’s social status and cultural values. In Antigone, the social classes were: the gods at the top, then the government, and family at the bottom while men were above women. A few cultural social rights women had were burial rights and the right to mourn. These two are specifically important in Antigone

He rules Thebes with his own will instead of the will of his people. He is full of ambition and pride at the start, but by the end, Creon suffers the wrath of the gods. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and the sister of Polyneices. She champions the laws of the gods above the laws of the state, has an unbreakable love towards her family, and occupies an ultimate high moral ground. Both Creon and Antigone are critical characters and towards the end of the play; both characters establish a fascinating character development with their final monologues. Sophocles’ incorporation of final monologues said by the two main characters, Antigone and Creon, shows elements of emblematic characterization, rhetoric, and character development which are essential to the work and affect our perspective of

In Antigone’s final speech she says, “O city of Theba! O my country! Gods,/ The fathers of my race! I am led hence/ I linger now no more. Behold me, lords,/”(35). She uses ethos to establish herself which contrasts her character from herself in the beginning of the play. Antigone is directing this speech towards the people and towards the gods, which conveys the purpose of these last couple words she has to say. The audience will remember her last few words more vividly than what she had to say throughout the play because a strong conclusion is a key to a good story. Antigone’s final speech serves as her concluding phrase and the end of her breathtaking emblematic character. Further, in her last speech, she says, “the last of your kings’ house-- what doom is mine,/ And at whose hands, and for what cause-- that I/ Duly performed the dues of piety!/”(35). Antigone is stating her last and final argument through acceptance. She is accepting her fate and punishment for the crime she has committed, which is unlike her for her type of character. This is her way of saying goodbye, and it contrasts her character because she isn't standing up for herself anymore like she usually did with her compelling arguments. Antigone's character is bold and self-led, which contrasts with her character towards the end of the play. Her final words show acceptance