“The Life of Antigone”
Antigone, The daughter of Oedipus, the niece of the king Creon, the sister of Eteocles and Polyneices. She has a huge part in this story. From going against Creon for burying her own brother. To Explaining why she did it so she wouldn't get put to death. Creon “Not even death can make a foe or friend”. She shows the definition of braveness in this story .
Antigone's decision contrast from Creon. Such as her burying her own brothers body . He thought that it was against the man law . But In her mind she believes in the law of God. He disagrees and tries to put her to death but he said “ the death won’t be from me”. He knows that If he killed her the City would hate him . Haemon says “ The city is upset about the
girl”. As she waits to be given a punishment or sentenced to the stoned lair. She has many conflicts with Creon. Such as when she was arguing or explaining why she did the crime her sister came in and claimed that she committed the crime with her sister's help. Then Soon after they took her and dragged her out of the palace. Antigone was fairly upset and she said “ Why would we both commit a sacrifice if we both die then it's not a sacrifice anymore.” Antigone was depressed and sad about what her sister had said. The for the final Remark Creon Sent her to the stoned lair and gave her just a little food so if she died it wouldn't be him that has made the crime. When haemon had heard of this he went to the stoned lair where she was dangling from her arms hanging on the ropes. Haemon Found her dead and the prophet told him that his son was going to die too if he didn't make it in time and he didn't and his son tried to kill creon but he missed and killed himself. Creon contrast from Antigone because he has too much pride and is very Ignorant and from his ignorance his son and his wife had died from the mistakes he has made . He called himself ignorant and said “No man should see what I’ve seen twice today.” He is what you call a “Tragic Hero”.
Human emotions and beliefs can be some of the most powerful and forceful factors in the world. They can often time cause humans to overlook their moral and civil duties and instead confront the demands of a private passion. Two people that have contrasting views about passion and responsibility can cause a major conflict which could cause a “classic war” in literature. In the play Antigone, the differences in Antigone and Creon’s passions and responsibilities helps Sophocles illustrate their central flaws. By doing so, the playwright implies that one needs to achieve a balance of passion and responsibility in order to maintain a sense if inner peace and political stability.
Antigone had good reasons for her actions. She did obey the rules of her gods, which were that any dead body must be given a proper burial, with libatations. This would prevent the soul from being lost between worlds forever, along with wine as an offering to the gods (page 518- side note). Nor could Antigone let Creon's edicts go against her morals (lines 392-394). She chooses to share her love, not her hate (line 443). She couldn't bare to see one family member be chosen over the other because of what a king had decided was right, which she contravened. Why condemn somebody who stood up for what they believed in and is now dead for it anyway? Bringing homage to the family was very important to Antigone (line 422-423).
From the Greek point of view, both Creon's and Antigone's positions are flawed, because both oversimplify ethical life by recognizing only one kind of good or duty. By oversimplifying, each ignores the fact that a conflict exists at all, or that deliberation is necessary. Moreover, both Creon and Antigone display the dangerous flaw of pride in the way they justify and carry out their decisions. Antigone admits right from the beginning that she wants to carry out the burial because the action is glorious. Antigone has a savage spirit; she has spent most of her life burying her family members.
By burying her brother, Antigone knowingly and willingly went against royal orders and in doing so chooses her own death. She knows as well as anyone in the town that death would come to all that disobeyed Creon's order. Antigone says to this "no one will ever convict me for a traitor,"(Act I: Scene II: Line 361) and decides to bury the body, this is quite ironic because by burying her brother a traitor is exactly what she is convicted of being. Antigone's actions went against her homeland. Creon had declared that "Our country is our safety. Only while she voyages true on course can we establish friendships truer than blood itself. Such are my standards. They make our city great."( Act I: Scene II: Line 382) He says this meaning that if everyone acted as a whole they would always prosper. If someone were to go against the laws and ideals put by Creon it would only cause dissension. When Antigone went against the law this was exactly what happened. Chaos would not have ensued if she trusted her king to be right in his decision, just as all the townspeople and her sister Ismene did.
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
Antigone’s strength allows her to defend her brother’s honor against Creon, who wants to make a statement about traitors. However, both Antigone and King Creon commit faults while trying to protect the things they love. Antigone should not have died for her beliefs as it puts her loved ones and community in danger, and Creon should not have forbidden the burial of Polyneices as it angers the Gods and causes him great suffering in the end.
In the beginning of Antigone, we see Antigone struggling with the conflicting expectations between divine law and man’s law. The problem throughout the play is Antigone is a believer in divine law while Creon is a believer in man’s law. In the first scene, Antigone tells her sister that she will defy Creon’s law and bury her brother. Antigone says, “He has no right to keep me from my own” (Sophocles 1008). She believes in divine law even if it means breaking man’s law. Creon commanded no one to bury her brother. Antigone knows it is not the right choice according to divine law and she should be able to bury her own brother, but Creon believes no one should break the law he has put before everyone. Ismene replies, “ The law is strong, we must give in to the law, in this thing and in worse. I bet the dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (Sophocles 1009). Antigone ...
When Antigone learns that no one is to bury her brother, she immediately knows what she must do. She doesn’t even hesitate to her decision and she is fully willing to face the consequences to do what is right. She believes that what she is doing is just a humane right and she’s willing to die for what she believes in. She even tells Creon that what he’s doing is against what the gods wanted and that his laws were worthless. She states: “Not through dread of any human pride could I answer to the gods for breaking these.” It seems that gods are almost speaking to Creon through Antigone and warning him of his decision.
She believes that burying her brother is right and wants to show respect to him. She knows what she is standing for and stands her ground. Like what Barnett said the actions in one’s life is the meaning of life. Antigone believes she did the right thing, while she disobeys the law. She knows she is going to die soon. She admitted that she has buried her brother to the king. The king tried everything to cover up what Antigone has done. But she explains that she’ll continue to bury him, if she isn’t killed. Later on she begins to lose confidence on why she did it. She says to the guard, “do you think it hurts to die?”(Anouilh 48). She starts to become scared of dying and ask question about if it hurts to die. Then she says, “Creon was right. It is terrible to die” (Anouilh 50). She believes that dying is the punishment she deserves. She is scared. Antigone was brought to a cave and she hanged herself. Even though Antigone has lost the confidence about why she buried her brother, she stills follow through with it. She doesn’t back out. Instead she hangs herself, so she would suffer the punishment
What Antigone did goes against Creon and this is where his difficult decision comes in. “Creon represents the regal point of view, while Antigone is just the opposite. The primary conflict arises when Creon declares that no one be allowed to bury the body of Polynices, one of Antigone's brothers who was slain in battle. Antigone, who cares for her brother very much, wants to see him properly laid to rest, so that his spirit can find peace. Unf...
Antigone broke one of Creon’s laws when she made the decision to bury her brother Polynices even though Creon forbade her to do so. She decided to ignore her brother’s law because her other brother Eteokles, who was killed in the fight between the brothers, was buried with full honor, however, Polynices was left to rot on the streets in front of by the city gates . This unfair decision was made Creon because felt that Eteokles was fighting in defense of his father’s nation, but Polynices was fighting against his brother. Creon agreed with the reason why Eteokles, but not the reason why Polynices was fighting. Antogne did not agree with the decision. Since the decision was already an edict, a law, she just decided to go behind Creon’s back and honor Polynices as well. In spite of knowing the consequences of breaking Creon’s law, which was hanging until dead, Antigone did what she felt what was right. If she was not hanged, she could be stoned to death for breaking any law, Creon’s law also stated, “whoever shall...
Antigone welcomed death at the time of burying her brother; she was not concerned with the consequences. She saw her actions as being true to the gods and religion. “I myself will bury him. It will be good to die, so doing. I shall lie by his side, loving him as he loved me; I shall be a criminal but – a religious one.” (Antigone, lines 81-85) To Antigone, the honor of her brother, and her family was all that was important. She may be going against Creon, but if her actions were true in her heart then the gods would see her in a good light.
You shall leave him without burial...” (222). Opposing the king, she neglects the decree and is now to die at the orders of the law for being disobedient; yet 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 Antigone faces comes when she realizes she is alone. Antigone confides in her sister Ismene with her plans to disobey Creon; but Ismene, a clear example of how a lady was obliged to be in this time, urges Antigone not to commit the act. Antigone rejects her advice and declares that Ismene is an enemy to her now (41): “If you talk like this I will loathe you, and you will be adjudged an enemy…” (109-10). Antigone must fight on her own. Thirdly, per Bobrick, Antigone
I’ll do my duty to my brother-and yours as well, if you're not prepared to, I won’t be caught betraying him”(lines 56-58). This then set forward the motion of the theme of the play by Antigone neglecting that free will and disobeying man’s rule and obeying the god’s rules. Antigone knows that she will die for committing the crime but she does it anyways because she does not care if she dies or not,”Take me and kill me- what more do you want”(line 565). This evidence supports my claim because it speculates her knowledge of her free will that she broke and in the future Creon breaking his free will to kill Antigone or not. If Antigone never buried the body then Creon never would have killed her and making that first mistake in the play to set the theme of the