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Discuss the various deaths in Antigone
Elements of tragedy in antigone
Elements of tragedy in antigone
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Recommended: Discuss the various deaths in Antigone
Creon's unfoil
In the play Antigone written by Sophocles, Sophocles portrays Creon as a noble leader. “I would not stay silent if I saw disaster moving here against the citizens a threat to their security” (line 210 page 327). Creon's looked as a rightful leader with rational decisions to protect the people of the city. By the end of the story Creon's truths are unfolded and his true self is revealed, but it would be soon too late for Creon. Many would agree that the paths that Creon withholds are doomed as a tragic hero. Creon's greatest flaws will be his excessive pride and hubris that will lead to his downfall. Creon's niece Antigone is one who brings out the truth in another’s actions, she helps unfold Creon's self. But Antigone does
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Harmon, Creon's son Haemon was supposed to Antigone, but Antigone was banished to a tomb where she would kill herself. Teiresias is a was a prophet, he told Creon of his son's fate, and that because of dooming Antigone to death he would doom his son. “you’ll lose a child of your own loins,a corpse in payment for these corpses.You’ve thrown down to those below someone from up above—in your arrogance you've moved a living soul into a grave,leaving here a body owned by gods below—unburied, dispossessed, unsanctified.” ( lines 1191-1197, page 370). 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. “Alas for me … the guilt for all of this is mine— it can never be removed from me or passed to any other mortal man. I, and I alone … I murdered you … I speak the truth. Servants—hurry and lead me off, get me away from here, for now what I am in life is nothing.” ( Lines 1463-1469, page
The hubris resonating throughout the play, ‘Antigone’ is seen in the characters of Creon and Antigone. Their pride causes them to act impulsively, resulting in their individual downfalls. In his opening speech, Creon makes his motives clear, that “no man who is his country’s enemy shall call himself my friend.” This part of his declaration was kept to the letter, as he refused burial for his nephew, Polynices. However, when the situation arises where it is crucial that Creon takes advice, he neglects the part of the speech where he says “a king... unwilling to seek advice is damned.” This results in Creon’s tragic undoing.
SECOND MESSENGER “Hearing the loud lament above her son With her own hand she stabbed herself to the heart.” (1316-1317) When King Creon imprisons Antigone, it leads to her self inflicted death. When Haemon, Antigone’s fiancee, finds her dead, it influences him to kill himself. When the news of Haemon’s death gets to Eurydice, Creon’s wife and Haemon’s mother, she kills herself. In the Greek play, Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon is a complex character that brings suffering to others by imprisoning Antigone, killing Haemon’s fiancée which results in Haemon killing himself, this chain continues when Haemon’s mother, Creon’s wife, kills herself; this showcases some of the tragedies that play out in Antigone.
...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.
In the awe-inspiring play of Antigone, Sophocles introduces two remarkable characters, Antigone and Creon. A conflict between these two obstinate characters leads to fatal consequences for themselves and their kindred. The firm stances of Creon and Antigone stem from two great imperatives: his loyalty to the state and her dedication to her family, her religion but most of all her conscience. The identity of the tragic hero of this play is still heavily debated. This tragedy could have been prevented if it had not been for Creon's pitiful mistakes.
It is clear that Creon's tragic flaw was his pride, arrogance and beliefs of a leader that cause his downfall. His downfall began when he denied the burial of Polyneices and was firm when he condemned Antigone for her objection to his law. Creon represents the laws of the land and the divine ruler of society. He remains loyal in upholding his laws and trying to overpower the laws of the gods, until the end when he realizes that the divine laws are stronger than his own. His regards for the laws of the city cause him to abandon all other beliefs. He feels that all should obey the rules set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral or religious, state otherwise. This is proven when he says, "As long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man. But whoever shows by word and deed that he is on the side of the State-he shall have my respect while he is living and my reverence when he is dead" (40).
Creon required the support of the Chorus of Theban elders, and for his verdict considering what to do with Polyneices' body. When Creon came to know of Antigone’s plan he called for her and when she did not deny of the fact that she buried her dishonorable brother’s body he grew angry and assumed Ismene her younger sister had helped her. Ismene being the good sister that she is lied and said she had helped Antigone, after that Creon ordered for them to be locked up. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, promised to be loyal to his father and not talk to Antigone but he tried his best to persuade his father to spare her life, but they end...
Third, Antigone is a wonderful example of a martyr. Her legacy will live on, and inspire many other rebels to stand up for their beliefs. Antigone dared to defy the King’s threat of death to bury her brother, and shows true family pride. The people take pity on Antigone, and feel that she should be let alone. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's betrothed, states how the people of Thebes feel. “On every side I hear voices of pity for this poor girl doomed to the cruelest death…for an honorable action-burying a brother who was killed in battle…has she not rather earned a crown of gold” (
Creon, the king of Thebes, was compelled to witness the death of all his family members, simply because of his one oafish decision. The almighty king of Thebes watched the downfall of all of his beloved ones, right before he had the opportunity to prevent it. Antigone, by Sophocles, portrays the courageous deeds of the female heroine, Antigone. Throughout the play, Antigone attempts to avenge her brother, but confronts a series of difficult obstacles, laid out by her uncle, Creon, the antagonist. Antigone, feeling excessively depressed about her life, ends up committing suicide, which leads to a series of events that actually causes the downfall of Creon. Her suicide leads to the death of Creon’s beloved ones, Haemon and Eurydice. Creon ought
He anxiously awaits the day when he can call Antigone his wife, but because she defies King Creon, she deprives him of that opportunity. At first, Haemon tries to be loyal to his father. He tells Creon that he supports his decision to execute Antigone. However, as the conversation continues, he reveals that the community members are starting to renounce Creon’s decision. As the pain of potentially losing his fiancé becomes too much, he also renounces his father’s decision, arguing that the Gods would not condone it. In an act against his father, Haemon hurries to the cave Antigone was exiled to, in hopes to save her, but instead finds her hanging from the veil she was supposed to wear on her wedding day. Instantly overwhelmed with grief, Haemon, “[bewails] the loss of his bride” (Sophocles 152). Similarly, to Ismene’s case, Haemon cannot picture himself living on Earth without Antigone by his side, and commits suicide. In Antigone’s desire to appease the Gods, she abandons her loved ones, and causes them great suffering. This could have been avoided has she not pursued her desire to bury
Antigone was caught and death was the price to pay as ordered by Creon, not to her surprise. Death to Antigone seemed wanted, it was the only thing left as honor for her. Haemon, the son of Creon and Antigone’s fiancé has enough respect for his father that he does not interfere with Creon's decision to put Antigone to death.
When Creon leaves Antigone in the vault to die, she believes “I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death. But if the guilt lies upon Creon who judged me, then, I pray, may his punishment equal my own.”(Antigone 227-228). Antigone sees her actions as only helping a loved one who was in the right deserving a proper burial as much as King of Thebes Eteocles, but if Creon is guilty for his wrongs his punishment should be equal. When Teiresias enters to speak with Creon, Teiresias tells of his vision, but Creon believes his prophet has also been bribed with gold. Putting his foolish thoughts aside Creon learns he must “ free Antigone from her vault And build a tomb for the body of Polyneices.”(Antigone 235). Creon begins to listen to those around him seeing “The laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them To the last day of his life!”(Antigone 236). Creon sees the Gods do impact society and finally realizes listening to them benefits everyone as a whole. Creon arrives too late to save Antigone, who has hung herself and along with her is his son Haimon, who fights with Creon in the vault ultimately kills himself in the process. Creon's wife, Eurydice, founds out of her son's death and also commits suicide. Creon inflexibility within rules have lead to those he loved the most to have passed away. He now has nothing to
Antigone is then charged with her crime and sentenced to a brutal death. Antigone's execution causes Creon's son to kill himself and finally, Creon's wife also takes her own life. Creon is left alone to sulk in his misery. Ultimately, Creon's hamartia is his unwillingness to yield to the virtue of the gods, because it is displayed through Antigone, a female. His non-egalitarian view of women and their role in society caused his demise, resulting in the loss of all of those he held dear.
Despite the warnings from the prophet, Teiresais ; creon continues to believe that " whatever you say you will not change my mind"(line 69). Unlike Creon Antigone showed pride in what was right which was following the divine laws. She refused to "trangress the laws of the heavens" even if the penalty was death. Throughout the play the conflict of his law to punish anyone who buries polynieces distances him from his son. The kings' son Haemon was betrothed to Antigone and was upset that his love was going to die, so he talks to his father who denies his only son's request. Thats when Teiresais warns Creon that he "shall pay back. Corpse for Corpse, flesh of your own flesh" (line 71- 72). After Teiresais leaves the people convince their prideful king to free Antigone but he was too late; Antigone had hung herself in the tomb and with great sadness Haemon " drove half the length into his side" dying next her. Not only did the kings' niece and son die but his wife killed herself after hearing the news
Antigone was a brave woman and knew she was going to be punished if she buried Polyneices, but regardless of the consequences, she did it anyways. "But if I am to die before my time, I count that a gain: for when any one lives, as I do, compassed about with evils, can such an one find aught but gain in death?" Said Antigone. Shortly, after Antigone is sealed in a cave, she commits suicide. The tragic events continue and her fiance, Haemon tries to kill his father, Creon but stabs himself instead. Which leaves Creon, who then is no more than a dead man. His wife, Eurydice also commits suicide after she hears about her son. In the end, Creon is left in distress and sorrow because of his cruel behavior with his loved
Creon wants to bury her alive in the earth and Creon’s son, Haemon, does not want Creon too. Creon tells Harmon to be loyal and obedient to him because Creon sees blood over marriage. Harmon lived by the moral law which is more permanence because he valued the Gods also. Harmon ends up killing himself due to Antigone being buried alive. Evrydice, Creon’s wife kills herself because Harmon, her son killed himself.