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Justify antigone
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Antigone is viewed today for many reasons. Antigone teaches about why it is important to stand up to corrupt authority which is relevant to present day life because of police brutality, which appears in the media very frequently. Antigone is also viewed in present day because standing up to authority can be empowering, especially when used for the greater good. Antigone is perceived as a feminist figure because she is a strong female character that displays bravery.
Antoine's brother Polyneices died in war, and Antigone wanted to give her brother Polyneices a proper burial to honor him. King Creon was against the idea, which infuriated Antigone. Antigone went against the law to fulfill her own moral beliefs to make sense of the suffering of the situation.
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Her death proves a point that tragedy gets people's attention and makes people take action against the wrongs in the world. Antigone serves as a very headstrong character just like her father. She acts on her morals and values with powerful courage and presents defiance to corrupt authority.
Antigone is also relevant to the events in Syria because the story can be compared to the women who have lost their families and try to make peace with the suffering and loss they have experienced. People in Syria are coping with the consequences of violence in their area just as the characters in Antigone were. Antigone chose to not be a victim of her loss and died a martyr fighting for her beliefs.
Many themes are examined in the play such as chaos, order, power, and authority. Creon was offended that a woman stood up and questioned his power. Creon allowed his pride and power to get in the way of his authority. Antigone was a courageous female figure that Creon viewed as a threat. This is relevant to present day because women are becoming more outspoken in modern society. Gender roles created conflict in Antigone as well as the struggle for
Antigone, a resolute and heroic female protagonist, pits her individual free will against the intractable forces of fate and against the irrational and unjust laws of tyrannical man like Creon.
Antigone is a tragic play. Tragic plays are dated back to the era, of Dionysos. Dionysos is an ancient religious ritual celebration thee God of Wine and fertility. The celebration because annual festivals were authors coming and display their plays to the city of Athens. The plays were performed on opened- aired theatre with all men performing them. Tragedy plots were inspired from Greek mythology and religion. Religion and the divine Law played a enormous part on Antigone’s actions (Ancient Greek.)
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 has defied the king's edict. However, the edict says that her brother, Polynices, cannot be given a proper burial. The reason given for this is that Polynices is a traitor. Antigone's uncle, Creon, the king, makes this edict after many events happen. Antigone says herself that she has experienced "no private shame, no public disgrace, nothing" that cannot be experienced (Antigone, p. 658).
Antigone is a strong woman. She does what she believes shall be done, whether or not it, in the sense of the law, is wrong. She proves her strength and determination when saying, “‘And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory.’” (Sophocles 1331). This shows how determined she is to what she believes is right, regardless of the outcome.
Antigone was a selfless person with pride as a strong characteristic of her personality. She possibly had feelings of loneliness and anger from the way society has looked upon her family from their past. It took a strong willed person who has no fear of the repercussions to stand up to a king as she did. To make everything all the worst she stood up to a king who was her Uncle and she being a female back in those time, standing up and speaking out for herself was not heard of.
In the play Creon goes against the Gods by making it illegal to bury Polyneices, Antigone’s brother because he is deemed a traitor. The burying of a dead body is seen as a necessity by all of Greece as it is an unspoken law of the Gods. Antigone goes to bury her brother so his afterlife will be better. She does it in spite of the law that Creon has made. “It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands” (192) She tries to explain to her sister, Ismene, that they must bury Polyneices, but even that close relationship has trouble because of the law. Ismene is unwilling to suffer the consequences of the law, to save her brother’s soul “Forgive me but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (192) Even the two sisters who have just lost both of their brothers have different views on the matter. One will not stray from the law and what is deemed right by their king, while the other will accept any punishment, even death just to do what she believes is right.
The sexist stereotypes presented in this tragedy address many perspectives of men at this time. Creon the arrogant and tyrant leader is, the very character that exemplifies this viewpoint. Antigone's spirit is filled with bravery, passion and fury; which allow her to symbolize the very essence of women. She is strong enough to do what her conscious tells her despite the laws of the land. Many examples in the play prove that Antigone's character is very capable of making her own decisions in the name of justice. First, Antigone opposes Creon's law and buries her slain brother; because in her mind it was immoral not to. She does this because she is compassionate and loves her brother very much. Creon, however, believes that his laws must be upheld and would do anything to prevent any type rebelling. He is even more infuriated when he learns that a woman has broken his laws. He tries to show Antigone who's in charge by sentencing her to a life of imprisonment. Secondly, Antigone shows how determined she is by accepting her consequences with pride. She does not try to hide that she is responsible for breaking Creon's laws, moreover, she takes all the credit. All the while she maintains her strength because she truly believes in her actions. These sorts of actions ultimately prove that Antigone is courageous and willing to stand up to men, which was completely against the norm at this time. Her spirit refuses to submit to the role of a helpless woman like her sister Ismene's character does.
Antigone is a play written by Sophocles that ended in tragedy. Antigone arrives to Thebes and learns that both of her brothers are dead. Creon, Antigone’s uncle who has inherited the throne, gives her brother Eteocles a proper burial, but has issued a royal edict banning the burial of Polyneices because he believes that Poly is a traitor. Even though breaking this law can result in death, Antigone buries her brother but is caught afterward. Obviously, Creon found out that it was her and locks her away in a prison with plans to execute her. Long story short, he refuses to obey the prophet, the chorus urges him not to, and he goes to release Antigone and see Polyneices burial but before he can do that he discovers that not only has Antigone killed herself, but his wife and Haemon as well. Their deaths leave Creon in distress and sorrow. Sophocles had some bland characters, and some dynamic characters, but a couple were worth talking about. Antigone was one of the most important dynamic characters, and Ismene, especially was one of the most important static characters.
Antigone, a play that was written 2500 years ago, is still relevant today. It was a play about how a person who goes against the rules of society is treated. Antigone the protagonist of the play is left to die in a cave when she opposes the rule set forth by the king. Antigone, a play which has many themes that are still relevant today. Honor or self esteem is one such theme that goes on in the play. Kreon acts as the one who considers himself above all and makes a law that would not let anyone bury Polynices. He creates a law that is even above the law that is created by God. He is not willing to accept that he is wrong. And that ultimately leads to death of his own family. And if we compare this today, there are many people who don 't accept
rights and everything they believe is correct. Antigone's strong feminist stance in defying a patriarchal tyrant shows how individualistic ideas and actions can be very effectual.
Antigone stood up for her family when her uncle Kreon created a law not to bury one of dear loved ones. Antigone’s uncle Kreon “buried Eteokles with full … lawful honors due [to] the dead” but Antigone’s other brother “Polyneices … [would] stay unburied” (lines 28-31). Anyone who objected to Kreon’s law, will be stoned to death in public. No one dared to disrespect Kreon’s law except for his niece Antigone. The Sentry said that he saw Antigone “[bring] dust, handful by handful” upon her deceased brother, Polyneices (line 523). Antigone gave her fellow brother a proper burial with the offerings as well. Antigone cried at the grave of her dear brother. She could not let her brother remain unburied. Not only did Antigone stand up for her family, she also sacrificed herself for what she believed in.
..., this sense of arrogance angers Creon to a point beyond belief. Antigone’s refusal to cooperate causes Creon to go mad with irritation and frustration. Wanting to show his sense of power, he refuses to back down in fear of losing his position. His stubbornness grows stronger as Antigone continues to disobey his commands. Antigone’s strong and steady foundation helps her show defiance. She is able to overcome the opinions of the people and commit to helping her brother regardless of the after effects. She ignores what everyone says and does only as she wants. She is powerful, both physically and mentally, and is successful in her tasks. Antigone matures into a commendable and respectable character in which she depicts her rebelliousness and bravery, pride and tolerance, and sense of moral righteousness to demonstrate fundamental character development in the play.
Antigone values family loyalty and divine law. After her brother dies, her uncle and ruler of Thebes, Creon, proclaims and edict deeming it illegal to bury the body of Polynices and whoever buries the body will be put to death. Within the first two pages of the play, Antigone decides to break the law and bury her brother anyway. She believes that he should be buried for respect of the dead. Antigone also feels strongly about burying her brother because she cannot be given a new one. Both of her parents are dead, and she understands that she will not have another chance to be given a brother. Antigone states that if it was a son or a husband, she would not bury the body because she can easily marry a new husband and easily have another baby. Although this contradicts some of her beliefs, she still strongly values family. She understands
For example,her courageous nature is displayed in the scene where Antigone is exposed as the one who buried Polyneices. Creon, Antigone’s uncle and the former ruler of Thebes, questions Antigone’s criminal actions. He asks, “And you transgressed the law?” to confirm that is was really her who committed the crime and directly disobeyed his orders. (388) Antigone’s response is one of remembrance, for her statement establishes how the citizens should keep their own morals in mind while making decisions. Furthermore, to warn civilians to not just accept the first thing the state says is law. Antigone goes on to respond, “Your law, but not the law of Justice who dwells with the gods… the unwritten laws of heaven are not of today nor yesterday, but from all time.” (388) The remark made by this strong woman is immaculate and very well thought out due to its pure philosophy. The statement starts by supporting her actions by stating that she did not actually defy the true laws of the gods, but rather the ones made by man. This thought process is reflected by her loyalty and the close relationship she had with her late father. Oedipus’s, her father, whole life and actions were shaped by the Oracle's prophecy. Secondly, her remark about how the true laws are the ones that last eternities and do not come and go with the weekday, show the influence that the power struggle between her brothers had on her. The fight between her brothers over the crown and their rules are indifferent to her, because they are her brothers and the law of justice for Antigone will rule unrelated to who is king. Therefore, Antigone’s thoughts and actions prove her to be a woman of defiance in the name of what is