The Button
One would assume that Antigone wouldn’t not push the button in the Stanley Milgram experiment. The experiment was about an authority telling the “teacher” to ask a series questions that would be answered by the “learner”. When the “learner” got the question wrong or did not answer they were shocked. If the “teacher” was to ask all the question the voltage would be up to 450 volts and the voltage was started at 15 and moved up ever time the questions is not answer or answers it wrong. In the experiment Antigone would ask the questions to the learner and would push the button to shock them. Also Antigone was a girl that loved her family and would follow what she thinks is right before following the law of authority. The play is a Greek tragedy that is about a young girl that did everything she could to bury her brother. Although some people say that Antigone would push the button in a certain situation, I disagree because of her beliefs, morals and honor.
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Evidence supports that Antigone’s beliefs could interfere with her decision on not pressing the button.
For example, “Antigone identifies her devotion to a reverence for an eternal, unwritten law” (McNeil 415). This is important because it explains how she believes in her “unwritten law,” meaning after her death how she would be viewed by the god she worshiped. Also, in the article, written by David McNeill, Antigone Autonomy it states how she was “guided” by “the laws of gods that demanded burial for the beloved dead” (McNeill 413).This evidence shows how Antigone was influenced by the gods, and what they believed was right. If Antigone was put up to the test, one would naturally assume that she would also be “guided” by what she thinks is right. Therefore “Antigone has been held up as a hero of conscience, who holds fast to her own beliefs, to her own sense of what is right, of what must be done” (McNeill 414). This shows how Antigone “holds” up her own believes and “sense” of
right. The article by David McNeill, Antigone Autonomy, shows she believes, and accepts her punishment in for the action she did. For example, “Her respect for law for this provides her with a standard of evaluation of her action independent of the approval or disapproval of any living human being” (McNeill 415). This quote show that she believes in her own law and god laws. This gives an “evaluation of her action”, so, they show the reason for what she does, and why she does it. Also this article show how she made her own laws for herself to follow so she can make are own way of life. The article states “by manifesting her own moral worth through her devotion to her own as ends in themselves, she hopes to participate in, if not a kingdom of end, a spiritual community of selves” (McNeill 415). This shows how she makes her own decision over what she thinks is wrong and right. The evidence of the articles of Antigone and her family honor and honor for others “The actions of both women demonstrate demonstrate that loyalty to one’s own blood has consequences that extend beyond the family” (REHM 195). For Antigone this quote shows how she horrors her family, and even on outside she honors them the same. Also, the articles stats “Antigone ‘s characteristics dispose her well to those in need of an enduring archetype to inspire political change” (Verkerk 289). This shows Antigone honor to others that need the respect and help that she gives by honoring them.There are a lot of way Antigone has honor others and herself . For example “personal allegiance to her beliefs gives her the courage to stand up to her oppressor and to fight for what she believes in beyond regard for her own life” (Verkerk 289). This quotes shows she honor what she stands up for like the honor to others and to do the right thing. Antigone as a lot of ways she honor others with her beliefs and the way she does what she thinks is right no matter what. In conclusion, Antigone would not push the button because of her beliefs, morals and honor for others. One would assume that she would respect the learner and would keep asking questions to the authority she could stop. Also, one would assume until Antigone would do want she was right and would honor both the “learner” and authority, but one would assume though she would also make a statement of what her beliefs were about the Stanley Milgram experiment.
Antigone remains a static character at stage five throughout the story. Faced with people who do not agree with her decision, Antigone stands tall with what is morally right to her. Kohlberg’s Theory is not only universal but also helps readers understand a character morally. Choosing whether or not to bury her brother, Polyneices, or to follow the law given by Creon, does not derail her moral
“…a mere mortal, could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions…These laws I was not about to break them… and face retribution of the gods.”(505-513) This provides a basis for Antigone’s hubris, her belief in God, standing for what is right, defying man’s rule. As the play progresses Antigone’s hubris becomes more apparent as she claims, “Give me glory! What greater could I win than to give my own brother a decent burial?”(562-563). This pride in committing a moral and God-willed deed reaches a point where Antigone thinks that it is
In addition, Antigone is a strong believer in the divine laws of the gods and that by following those laws the gods will give Antigone an honorable place in the afterlife. In a quote by Antigone to Ismene, “I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory…I have longer to please the dead than please the living here” (Sophocles, 1468). It is this unyielding belief that pushe...
The character must decide whether or not to allow the employee’s cousin to work in their restaurant. The cousin must provide for his family through the cold winter or they will become homeless. The character also knows that the law requires him to check the citizenship of all employees and forbids him to hire anyone who is in the country illegally.
The play Antigone by Sophocles is about reason and opinion and reveals how people use their voice to be heard. Antigone uses reasoning and opinions to express their moral beliefs and state laws in the play. People manipulate each other by using these terms to get their way by speaking out and standing up for themselves.
Antigone is loyal to her family readers can see that when she says “ Their it is, and now you can prove what you are: A true sister , or a traitor to your family” ( PR. 26-27). This quote shows that Antigone is loyal to her family because she wants her sister to be a true sister like her because she is going the break the law for her brother. Antigone is also seen as loyal to the gods when she says “ That final justice, that rules the world below makes no such laws” ( 2. 57-58). Antigone is seen as loyal because she says the final justice of her being killed doesn’t matter because she did something good for the gods, so they will be loyal back to her. In the greek tragedy Antigone, Antigone has the tragic flaw of loyalty to her family and to the gods, which leads to her
Although Antigone has a bad reputation with Creon, and possibly Ismene, for being insubordinate, she stays true to her values throughout the entire play by following the law of gods, not so that she could appease them, but because she admired its value of honor and respect to loved ones that have passed away. This devotion and determination to give her brother a proper burial shows the true essence of her being: that loyalty to family is in fact hold above all else.
Antigone’s opinions are distinctive as she clearly states her beliefs to Creon after being caught for performing her brother’s burial rituals. Antigone strongly believes that law has no validity when laid by a human as she questions Creon saying, “What laws? I never heard it was Zeus who made that announcement” (Antigone 450). This quote shows her reliance on the Gods for moral direction instead of the kings who reign over her. Although she disregards the law, she also accepts punishment; Antigone is able to follow her opinions and independently rule herself, yet also recognize the societal expectations of law and accept punishment. When being taken by Creon with her sister Antigone takes the responsibility of the crime all herself and recognizes what she did despite not being ashamed of it. One of the main views of Antigone that causes her disobedience is the belief that rulers should not keep loved ones from each other. Antigone clearly states, “He has no right to keep me from my own” this shows how she believes the connection between family overpowers that of a law passed by a vengeful king (Antigone 48). Antigone’s opinions contrast to those of Creon who is a gender biased ruler who sees women as lesser as he states “I will not be ruled by a woman” (Antigone 24). This shows his belief in who is credible within law. Not only does he have opinions on who
religious, state otherwise. Antigone, on the other hand, holds the beliefs of the gods in
Antigone was a selfless person with pride as a strong characteristic of her personality. She possibly had feelings of loneliness and anger from the way society has looked upon her family from their past. It took a strong willed person who has no fear of the repercussions to stand up to a king as she did. To make everything all the worst she stood up to a king who was her Uncle and she being a female back in those time, standing up and speaking out for herself was not heard of.
The play “Antigone” is a tragedy by Sophocles. One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader parts of the form through different characters.
Antigone shows throughout the play that she is always thinking that she must do what is best for other’s and not just herself. She is willing to do what is needed to follow the law of the gods, even if it is breaking the state law.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Sushma Karki P English 1302 October 10, 2017 Antigone “Antigone” is a Greek tragedy by Sophocles. The story is about a young woman who has a brother by breaking the king’s decree, and now she is punished for obeying God’s law. In the classic model of dramatic structure, two characters move the action of the play from introduction to climax to resolution with their conflict. One of these characters is the protagonist, and the other is the antagonist. The protagonist is a “good guy” and the antagonist is the “bad guy”.
One major theme in Antigone is the abuse of power. Creon and Antigone cause doom to their lives as they display resistance to power. The two characters attempt to override divine law with the law of the states, which leads to ruin. Creon, displaying a resistance to moral law, denies Antigone the opportunity and rightfulness to bury her brother, Polynices. This is due to Polynices’ rebellion against Creon, the King of Thebes. Antigone serves as a threat to the status quo. She gives up her life out of her commitment to principles above human law—moral law. Creon believes that the laws created by the King must be obeyed no matter how big or small they are. Creon argues that the law created by the King is the platform for justice. On the other hand, Antigone feels that there are unjust laws, despite who made them. She believes she has a moral obligation t...
Sophocles formulates a believable plot through Antigone’s social conflict. The conflict in Antigone centers in Antigone needing to bury her brother because of her belief that natural law is higher than the governing law, and does not want to have the god’s fury pointed at her. It also revolves around the fact, that family is significantly greater to Antigone than that of the justice system. Polyneices, her brother, was a traitor and died going to war with his own blood brother. Creon, her uncle and king, has made a decree stating: “I here proclaim to the city that this man shall no one honor with a grave and none shall mourn. You shall leave him without burial...” (222). Opposing the king, she neglects the decree. Since she broke the king’s decree, she is sentenced to die for being disobedient; moreover, Antigone proudly states her crime. There is no sign of remorse shown by Creon as he states, “No, though she were my sister’s child, or closer in blood than all that my hearth god acknowledges as mine. Neither she, nor her sister, should escape the utmost sentence-death” (530-33). Bobrick explains that Creon values the love for his land more than he values family, and this becomes a struggle for Antigone as it becomes a fight between obeying the laws of man, and the laws of the god’s. The second struggle that Antigone faces, comes when she realizes she is alone.