Heroism In Antigone

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The story of Antigone is one most prevalent of its time in providing a background of the destructive times of Thebes. Thebes is considered one of the most influential city-states due to the substantial historical contents it provides of ancient Greece. For example, according to Greek mythology, Thebes was the birthplace of Greek God Heracles and the God of wine and pleasure, Dionysus. Most importantly the resting grounds for mythical king Oedipus whose ' story foretells the importance of Greek prophecies and oracles.The trilogy of Oedipus from Sophocles is a series about a group of plays beginning with Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and ending with Antigone. In the play Antigone Sophocles ' attempts to reconcile the will of gods and …show more content…

"Driven by the familial duty and the wish to fulfill divine laws requiring burial of the dead, Antigone violates Creon 's decree and buries her brother Polynices." (92) It is evident that her actions display characteristics of Arete and Heroism because she does not choose to obey the desires of Creon despite the authority he has over her. Even when her sister Ismene refused to help her in fear she 'd be punished, Antigone stood her grounds and honors the laws of heaven (Divine Law). And in spite of being caught, she is content with herself, knowing she is living to the best of her potential. The characteristics of Arete, defined as one who values their actions for the greater good and that is what Antigone distinguishes through the entire play. "I shall bury him. And if I have to die for this pure crime. I am content........ I have to please the dead far longer than I have to please the living...." (93) Overall Antigone 's courageous acts make her a hero of her time for having the bravery to do what she believes is right in the eyes of religion and divine law. Most importantly, because women in her time had little impact on what was regulated or defined as justly amongst their

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