Free Essays: Comparing the Themes of Antigone and Oedipus the King

585 Words2 Pages

The Themes of Antigone and Oedipus

Antigone and Oedipus, written by Sophocles, are dramatic plays with a tragic ending. The main theme for Antigone is that people sometimes have to learn the hard way from their mistakes. This theme is expressed in the final four lines of the play. They read, There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise. These lines are an important part of the play. They symbolize Creon's bad decisions he made, his defiance to the gods, the punishment he went through because of his edict, and the wisdom he gained because of all his mistakes. "There is no happiness where there is no wisdom" demonstrates how Creon not using wisdom in his decision affected him. By declaring that Polyneices could not have a proper burial, he went against the gods and the other citizens of Thebes's beliefs. This was not a wise decision on his part, and because of it he lost his wife, his son, and his happiness. Creon also defied the laws of the gods. This is what is expressed in the line, "No wisdom but in submission to the gods." In Antigone, the edict and decisions that Creon made demonstrated that his law was more important then the gods laws. His defiance of the laws eventually made him believe, by talking to Teirisias, that something bad would happen to him, so he gave in to his decision. When he gave into the gods he gained wisdom and learned that his actions would be punished. Creons edict is considered his big words. In the third line it says, "Big words are always punished." Creons edict was punished by his loss of happiness. He proclaimed to his city that Polyneices may not be buried, when he did this he was very proud and demanding about his decision. He was determined not to change his mind for anything. These big words that he proclaimed would bring his downfall. Because Creon locked Antigone up, for burying Polyneices, she killed herself. Creon's son Haimon, who was engaged to Antigone, also committed suicide upon seeing his beloved Antigone dead. Also Creon's wife took her own life. If Creon hadn't gone against what was right, by making his laws more important then the god's laws, and issuing his edict, he would not have suffered the way he did.

Show More
Related

  • Antigone Quotes About Creon

    463 Words  | 1 Pages

    The path leading to where Antigone is staying after Creon found out that she had buried her brother. This path is important because it was showing how sad and scary the path to where Antigone was staying was and how mad Creon was at Antigone.(line 1,100-1,225 pg.369-371). Secondly when Creon loses his wife and son at the end of the poem after listening to the gods he learned that he had used his power to his advantage instead of taking everyone’s options into consideration, but in the end it didn’t work in his favor because he lost all of his family and the little family he has left despises him. In the end he learned that his power is not used for the good instead he has been using it to benefit

    Read More

  • Creon's Tragic Insecurity in Sophocles' Antigone

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    Creon's insecurity blinds his ability to direct order in his country properly. After Antigone buried Polyneices Creon felt he needed to take a strong stand or people would think he would always be lenient toward criminals. However, to achieve this Creon felt he needed to take drastic action against Antigone.  He once even said to his son, Haimon, who was about to marry Antigone, "The woman dies. I suppose she'll plead family ties. Well, let her. If I permit my own family to rebel, how shall I earn the world's obedience?" (19)  This quote shows that Creon feels that to prove himself to the country he needs to earn the "world's obedience".

    Read More

  • How Does Haemon Characterize Creon

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    " This indicates Creon’s decision to punish Antigone was not taken kindly by the gods, but his ego wouldn't allow him to solve that as shown by Haemon, which, again, contribute to his nemesis. This proves by how Creon’s stubbornness isn't liked by the gods establishing him as a tragic

    Read More

  • Compare Antigone And The Bible

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone, as a character, is extremely strong-willed and loyal to her faith. Creon is similarly loyal, but rather to his homeland, the city of Thebes, instead of the gods. Both characters are dedicated to a fault, a certain stubbornness that effectively blinds them from the repercussions of their actions. Preceding the story, Antigone has been left to deal with the burden of her parents’ and both her brothers’ deaths. Merely a young child, intense grief is to be expected; however, Antigone’s emotional state is portrayed as frivolous when it leads her to directly disobey Creon’s orders. She buries her brother Polynices because of her obedience to family and to the gods, claiming to follow “the gods’ unfailing, unwritten laws” (Sophocles 456-457). CONTINUE

    Read More

  • The Source of Conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles' Antigone

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, the gods and the love of her family rule Antigone’s life. Creon’s life is ruled by what he thinks is good for his country and pride. Creon did not change his mind to free Antigone until a prophet told him he would suffer horribly for his actions. However, because Creon was so stubborn for so long and did not take heed to anyone’s advice sooner, he ultimately suffers in the end, as does everyone else in the play. This was all due to a man’s lack of good judgment, his selfish pride and his stubbornness.

    Read More

  • Capital Pusnishment: Crime, Spionange and Treason

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    The death penalty provides the victim’s families closure.[5] While the victim themselves are not alive to gain any closure from the situation, the execution of the perpetrator does bring a feeling of relief at no longer having to think about the ordeal.

    Read More

  • Serfs Dbq Analysis

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    Serfs had gardens where they grow food. Cabbage, turnips, onions, peas, and beans (Doc A). If serfs had gardens that grow food, then they can have extra food if they don’t make enough from the farm. If serfs food supply gets larger the harder they work, then their food supply is in there own hands. On the contrary, the homeless sometimes have to go through trash bins for food or beg for money (Doc B). If the homeless have to beg for money and search trash bins, than they have no food to eat. If they are begging, then their food supply is in the communities hands. Next, Serfs had animals (hens, geese, hogs cow, and oxen) but mostly used them for other things than meat (Doc A). If the serfs had animals, they could get milk, eggs, and other things from the animals. Then they will have additional food to eat. If they are starving and have nothing to eat, then they can use the animals for meat. On the other hand, finding food is a challenge for the homeless. (Doc B). If finding food is hard and one day you didn’t find any food, then you will have to beg for money. If you’re begging your in the communities hands, not in your own hands. The serfs food situation was better because they had more food and the amount of they get was in their own

    Read More

  • No Death Penalty For Minors

    463 Words  | 1 Pages

    Based on the previous information, it is very clear that children especially those under 14 years of age, cannot and do not function as an adult. They have a greater tendency to act on impulse, making unsound judgments or reasoning, and are less aware of the consequences of their actions. In America, teenagers under the age of 18 cannot drink, vote, or sit on a jury, yet they can be sentenced to death if convicted of a crime. What these children need is rehabilitation, guidance and most importantly given a second change to mend what they did as impulsive children.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is unnerving to think that everyday some of the most unspeakable murders and killings take place just under the noses of the authorities and normal people. The killers responsible for these crimes are threats to society and deserve capital punishment. The death penalty is an acceptable and fair method of punishment because it serves justice, provides victim’s families with closure, and increases safety.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Arguments Against The Death Penalty

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many against the death penalty say that the death of a killer is not justice or closure for a grieving family, it is revenge. I disagree, I trust that capital punishment is closure for the families of lost ones. A grieving son of a father who was brutally murdered said ‘my father was in a café when a stranger slit his throat… simply because he wanted to kill someone… this man deserves to die… everyday this man continues to live is a slap in the face to my father and to my family.’ How is it fair that an innocent man does not get to live the rest of his life like he wanted but a brutal murderer is? Imagine the torture for a family to live knowing that the person who killed their loved ones may be released to roam free and rebuild their life under a new identity. Ask yourself, wouldn’t you want justice

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty is a Just and Proper Punishment

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    It can't be disputed sadly, the rich are more likely to get off with a

    Read More

  • Emily Dickinson's Death Poems

    3836 Words  | 8 Pages

    ...ows failed, and then I could not see to see. The speaker anticipates dying so that she may obtain a vision that will a revelation so that she may conceive what is to come, but her hearing takes over and we don't know of any vision. She becomes emerged in the sound of the fly's buzzing representing the hold the living world has on the dying person as it dominates its thoughts even as it welcomes death. It is important to take notice that the fly is the last thing she sees and hears in life because it obscures her consciousness so that she is unable to tell her story from beyond the grave. Dickinson is again unable to use her imagination to place herself outside the world of the living and finally comprehend death and immortality, and she is left on the brink of understanding. It is evident that throughout Emily Dickinson's poetry she searched for the knowledge of what lies beyond life and in the mysteries of death and immortality. The conscious and imagination was used as a tool to discover whatever she might be able to find about life and death. This unanswerable question fascinated Dickinson more than anything did and she embarked upon a journey to answer it through her poetry.

    Read More

  • Why Is Capital Punishment Wrong

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    Capital punishment is not justice for what that person did, but instead revenge. We as a society have to move away from the "eye for an eye" way of thinking if civilization is supposed to advance. The "eye for an eye" mentality will never solve anything. A revenge mentality leads to an endless cycle of violence. No one can blame victims and their families for wanting revenge, including through the death penalty. In their pain and loss, they are blinded by the desire for revenge. However, laws exist to prevent someone from

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty: Inhuman And Wrong

    1626 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since the times of King Hammurabi of Babylon back in the Eighteenth Century B.C. the death penalty has been around. For good or bad, the death penalty was created as a deterrent to end crime through brutal and painful executions such as burning alive, being impaled, drowning, and crucifixion. Over the years, the way the death penalty works has changed and even been abolished by many countries. In America however, the death penalty is a widely discussed issue with many supporters on both sides on whether or not it’s inhuman or necessary. To me, the death penalty is inhuman and wrong.

    Read More

  • The Death Penalty Is Necessary Evil

    959 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, the death penalty should be utilized in cases of crimes that are committed against the defenseless among us, such as our children. An example of this would be the case of the nine-month old baby girl, who was abused so horribly she eventually died. The man who committed this evil is in prison; but is this justice? He took this precious baby’s life away from her, but yet he gets to live his life out to its natural end. Additionally, what of the crime...

    Read More

More about Free Essays: Comparing the Themes of Antigone and Oedipus the King

Open Document