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Summary of antigone by sophocles
The antigone compare sophocles
Sophocles essay antigone
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No one lives life without experiencing tragedy in some form. In the tragic play, Antigone, written by Sophocles, King Creon experiences the conflict between civil law and divine law when dealing with his niece Antigone’s defiance to his newest edict. He has a hard time believing that divine law is more important than civil law, as expressed by Antigone. Creon is the real tragic character in Antigone because he is unable to realize that his thoughts and actions are wrong, and consequently he experiences great tragedy. Creon is unable to see how his power could lead to his downfall. He is disrespected by many people, including Antigone, and his son, Haemon, who is Antigone's groom to be. He makes an edict that ensures that the dead body of his …show more content…
Creon loses his wife, his son, and his niece in just one day. When Haemon ventures to save Antigone from her slow, painful death, he sneaks into the cave that she is locked in, and he discovers that she has hung herself. Haemon is distraught and when his father discovers him in her prison, he beckons for him to come. He shouts, “’Oh my child-what have you done? what seized you, /what insanity? what disaster drove you mad? /Come out, my son! I beg you on my knees!’” (1355-1357). Haemon is outraged that his father could have such little compassion for his dead fiancée. In response Haemon “…gave him a wild burning glance, /spat in his face, not a word in reply…” (1358-1359). Haemon lunges at his fleeing father with his sword and misses. In defeat, Haemon ends his life by “leaning his full weight on the blade, /he buried it in his body, halfway to the hilt” (1363-1364). Creon returns home with his dead son in tow, and he is greeted by the morbid news of how his wife kills herself. She had found out that Haemon was dead, and she blames Creon. As stated by the messenger, “She stabbed herself at the altar, /then her eyes went dark, after she’d raised/ a cry for the noble fate of Megareus, the hero/killed with her dying breath she called down/torments on your head-you killed her sons” (1426-1431). He is blamed for and blames himself for the death of Eurydice (his wife), Haemon, Megareus (his
Haemon is the son of Creon and the bridegrooms of Antigone. After Creon has made the decision to kill Antigone he brought in his son Haemon to hear his opinion because she is supposed to be marrying him. Creon tells his son ,“Son do not let your lust mislead your mind, all for a woman’s sake, for well you know how cold the thing he takes into his arms who has a wicked woman for a wife.” Although this may be true to Creon because Antigone disobeyed his law she always had the best of intentions at heart for her family which shows she would make a wonderful wife. Haemon responded, “But in dark corners I have heard them say how the whole town is grieving for this girl, unjustly doomed, if ever woman was, to die in shame for glorious action done.
...f civil disobedience causes a tragic domino effect. Antigone commits suicide. Haemon, who is Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, is torn apart by grief and kills himself. Haemon's mother and Creon's wife, Eurydice, learns of her son's death. She becomes despondent and takes her own life: "She drove home to the heart with her own hand, once she learned her son was dead" (Antigone 1440-1441). Her words do end many things. The law is banished. Her brother is allowed to be buried, but now he is accompanied by three others.
As he justifies Antigone’s actions Haemon says,”When in the slaughter her own brother died, she did not just leave him there unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds. Surely she deserves some golden honour” (Lines 789-792). Haemon’s justification of his fiancee’s actions consequently attributes to the theme of civil disobedience which once again juxtaposes Creon’s values. The specific value which is being contrasted is Creon’s constant belief that due to his high power he is always right in decision. The value is once again juxtaposed when Haemon concludes his support for Antigone by saying,”When men speak well, it good to learn from them” (Line 819). Creon’s unreasonableness and stubbornness is juxtaposed by Haemon’s reasonable argument toward the support of Antigone hence contributing to the theme of Antigone and revealing Haemon as the foil to
Haemon’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s by revealing Creon’s obdurate and unwillful personality. He depends on his pride too much, even in the presence of his own blood. Haemon says, “When men speak well, it good to learn from them.” (line 819) Creon believes that his own devotion to his decree is more valuable to him than compromising with his son. His decision to ignore his own son’s reasoning demonstrates how his obdurance differs from his son’s open-mind.
As Creon holds the limp, dead body of his son, he says, “I was responsible. My actions killed him”(Sophocles 53). Creon realizes that he is responsible for the deaths of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice which he expresses to the chorus in the play Antigone by Sophocles. At first Creon does not listen to anyone and goes forward with his decision to kill Antigone for burying the body of Polynices, which he did not want buried. This angers the gods and his son, Haemon. Creon is warned by several people that he must free Antigone and bury Polynices or the gods will punish him. Creon does not take the advice until it is too late, and therefore he is punished. Since Creon does not listen, he brings on his own destruction by an error in judgment.
We see evidence from the text when Haemon says “The city is upset about the girl” (Line 786) and “Surely she deserves some golden honour?” (Line 792) This evidence supports my claim because this is when Creon finds out what the people of Thebes truly think about his decree and punishment set out for Antigone but, as you read on he is still being a stubborn and conceited ruler and will not back down on what he has made law, no matter of his son or the people of Thebes are unhappy. We see evidence from the text again when Haemon and Creon say “Then shall die – and in her death kill someone else” (Line 859) and “Are you so insolent to threaten me?” (Line 860) This evidence supports my claim because at this point in the play we, the readers, either think that Haemon is actually threatening to kill Creon or that Haemon is threatening to kill himself. But obviously later on in the play we learn that Haemon actually attempted to kill Creon but failed so he killed
But the conversation devolved into a heated argument. Creon stubbornly stuck by his judgements and as he left, Haemon declared he would never see his father again. Creon spared Ismene but sentenced Antigone to death. He had her buried alive, locked away in a cave in the desert with little food. Once the deed was done the blind prophet, Teiresias came to the palace with a warning for Creon. He told the king that the gods were against him and his doings. Creon stubbornly stuck by his own judgements and accused the prophet of being corrupt. Teiresias then warned him that he would be despised by Greece and that one of his own children would die because Creon would not burry Polyneices and buried Antigone alive. After the prophet left the chorus pleaded with Creon to right these wrongs. Creon was frightened and took a group of men to burry Polyneices and free Antigone. A messenger returned and announced that Haemon had taken his own life. The queen, Eruydice asked to be told everything and the messenger told her that both Haemon and Antigone had committed suicide. She then left and Creon returned carrying Haemon. Another messenger then told the king that the queen took her life, cursing him with her last breath. Creon fell into despair, knowing that it was all his fault. The
Haemon’s actions relating to a tragic hero are somewhat related, but applied in a different situation. Haemon, at first, shows obedience and praise to his father, with the quote, “Father, I’m your son... you in your wisdom set my bearings for me - I obey you. No marriage could ever mean more to me than you, whatever good direction you may offer” (lines 709-712). Haemon acknowledges the power and influence of his father, and his loyalty towards him. He also acknowledges Antigone’s sentencing and knows that the marriage between him and her will not continue on, but yet still places his father above his marriage. Later on in the text, however, Creon manages to push Haemon’s true inner feelings out about the situation, with an argument occurring between them, with Creon insulting Haemon, calling him a “woman’s slave” (line 847) and Haemon defending himself and Antigone’s actions, while accusing Creon of “trampl[ing] down the honors of the gods” (line 835). This passage exemplifies the change in Haemon’s demeanor throughout, and how his trust in his father has faded after his unjust actions. While this does show a “tragic hero” type of action occurring through Haemon, he does not show any true negative side of his actions or his beliefs, and is mainly a positive main character, with no real noticeable character
This new concerned Creon, so much he went to release Antigone , but by then it was too late she had hung herself. Haemon so angry he goes to kill his father, but instead kills himself.. Back at the place Haemons mother, creators wife hears about the fate of her son and kills herself as well. Leaving. Creon alone.
“We found her…hanged by the neck in a fine linen noose, strangled in her veils- and the boy his arms flung around her waist, clinging to her...he drew his sword….and then, doomed, desperate with himself suddenly leaning his full weight on the blade, he buried it in his body, halfway to the hilt” (Sophocles pg 122). Because of Creon's pride, he throwed Antigone into the cave to which she hanged herself, Haemon threatened Creon with a attitude of “I love her, I will kill you because you did this to her.” He missed which caused him to kill himself. When the queen found out that Haemon killed himself, she ends up killing herself as well. The messenger announces to the people, “The queen is dead. The mother of this dead boy… mother to the end- poor thing her wounds are fresh.” (Sophocles pg 124). The queen ends basically devastated, “What?” Then she went silently into her room and then killed herself. So in the end, because Creon's pride put Antigone in jail his pride payed the price for his
After Creon decided to punish Antigone she killed herself to quicken her death. This in return caused Creon's son and wife to commit suicide for their longing to be with their loved ones. Creon’s son, Haemon, committed suicide because he was in love with Antigone and he could not bare the thought of living without her. Creon’s wife killed herself to cope with the fact that her son committed suicide. After hearing the news of his wife’s death, Creon expressed, “No, no, harbor of Death… herald of pain… I died once, you kill me again and again!” (1415) It can be seen that Creon felt that Death was bringing him nothing but pain and it was relentlessly bringing him agony. The pain he is feeling is bringing him down. Without his family he feels alone. His family was his support and so without them, he cannot cope with their loss. His family meant more to him than he led on. Feeling down will affect his ruling in a negative way. This could have been avoided if he realized his fatal flaw before it was too late. Creon realizes “...dead, lost to the world, not through your stupidity, no, my own” (1398-1399). Although too late to change the outcome, Creon understood he was the only one to blame. His fatal flaw was blinding him of what was truly important; family. It took violence for him to realize his ways, but he now has. He feels he should be dead too with his family he has no purpose anymore. His family were the ones he turned to in time of need, now he has nobody. Although Creon fits the description of a tragic hero, it could be argued that Antigone is more of a tragic
The conflict between Creon and Haemon represents the communication problems between parents and their children. Creon and Haemon’s conflict also represents ageism. Although, Haemon is always very respectful towards his father, Haemon cannot understand why Creon wants to punish Antigone, Haemon’s fiancé, for her brother’s burial. As Haemon discusses Antigone with Creon, Haemon says, “No woman has ever had a fate that’s so unfair (they say), when what she did deserves honor and fame” (30). Haemon tells Creon that the people of Thebes secretly think Antigone’s crime is nonexistent; therefore, there is no reason for Creon to punish Antigone. Even though they are scared to go against Creon, the people of Thebes believe that Antigone’s heroic action deserves praise. When Haemon mentions why Creon should listen to him, Haemon says, “I know I am younger, but I may still have good ideas” (31). Haemon knows that his father may not listen to his plea just because of Haemon’s young age; however, Haemon hopes Creon will look past Haemon’s age and see the rationale behind his plea. As Haemon and Creon argue, Haemon foreshadows the future events in the play, he says, “Then she’ll die, and her death will destroy someone else” (33). Creon does not notice that his son gives him a warning. Haemon basically warns Creon that if he puts Antigone to death, then her death will cause a lasting destruction on someone else. Creon’s selfish attitude does not allow him to see where he is wrong in his decision to punish Antigone. Creon does not think of how Antigone’s death will affect Haemon and as a result affect Creon himself. The conflict ends with Creon not listening to Haemon. As a result of the outcome of this conflict between the father and son, tragedy follows with the death of Haemon and Creon’s wife. The significance of the outcome is that it is always important to
Creon’s pride comes out, which leads to his demise. He was calm compared to how Creon overreacted. In Creon’s rage, he calls Haemon a (854-859) In reality, this was Haemon insinuating that he would kill himself. Excessive pride develops his stubbornness and ignorance.
Creon believes that he has the upper hand when it comes on making major decisions. When Creon commands some of the guards to take Ismene and Antigone away, “You, there, take them away and guard them well:For they are but women, and even brave men run When they seen Death coming”(1039,L164,S2.) This is the beginning of Creon’s error in judgement. He believes that Antigone is the enemy of Thebes because she is going against his authority, but in reality he is the enemy by making false judgement. The next example of Creon being doomed to make a serious error in judgement is when Creon discusses the plans for Antigone’s fate with Choragus after Haemon leaves, “I will carry her far away, Out there in the wilderness , and lock her Living in a vault of stone. She shall have food, As the custom is, to absolve the state of her death(1045,S3L142.) This is another starting point on the error of Creon’s judgment by adding Haemon into this conflict. Haemon tries his best to protect Antigone from Creon, but still fails because her imprisonment leads to her and Haemon’s death. This event not only kills Antigone and Haemon, but also Eurydice his wife. Creon’s decision in the story causes him to make a serious error in
When Haemon first tried to approach Creon, he had started with offering him critical information about his people and city, and maybe could be seen to be about his honor too. This information which should have taken a toll on or even changed the mind of any levelheaded