In the play Antigone, one of the moral lessons that the chorus gives is that hubris, or excessive pride, leads to disaster. Antigone and Creon are good examples to show what I mean by overreaching pride. Additionally, the cause of their downfall is the pride that they possess.
Antigone's pride, in the very beginning of the play, was portrayed when she said to her sister, Ismene, "What, haven't you heard? Don't you see? The doom reserved for enemies marches on the ones we love the most." Her language displayed high love for family, loyalty, and anger at the same time. Antigone was angry because of Creon's decree. Additionally, Antigone was sound grim and dark, and when she was asked for the reason by Ismene, she replied: "Why not? Our own brothers' burial!" Her chosen words typified the strong love she
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had for her family, and how she was feeling defeated and sad for Polynices.
Antigone's pride was made apparent when she clarified to her sister that Creon's laws are nothing, and her language seemed that she mocked man's laws, "Such, I hear, is the material law our good Creon". Moreover, man's laws are senseless compared to gods' laws that urged her to "dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor". She had excessively high respect to the gods' laws, "Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakeable traditions". Antigone was willing to defy Creon's edict in order to honor her brother and follow gods' laws. However, she knew clearly what was the punishment for the one who overrode the decree, but she kept determined and stubborn, "and he won't treat the
matter lightly. Whoever disobeys in the least will die". Her pride came from the convictions and values she possessed, "No one will ever convict me for a traitor", and "he has no right to keep me from my own". She had personal opinion that she did something glorious and honorable. Antigone was blind to the ultimate result of her actions and she insisted on doing what she believed is right. She overlooked in that by her continual stubbornness, she drove herself to her downfall. She didn't give herself a chance to think of what was beyond her brash actions. Antigone showed signs of stubbornness when she failed to be open to all interpretations of this situation. To only her, the process of burying Polynices was the most essential thing, but she didn't think of what it may affect others, like Ismene and Haemon. Her pride made her selfish and look at the situation from one side. Even Ismene advised Antigone not to rush, "why rush to extreme? It's madness, madness". Antigone's arrogance was very obvious when Ismene returned to stand by her side, but Antigone rejected her. Even if Ismene begged her now, she would no longer allow her to help, "I won't insist, no, even if you should have a change of heart, I'd never welcome you in the labor, not with me." Afterwards, when the guards caught her burying her brother for the second time, she claimed confidently, proudly to Creon: "I did it, I don't deny a thing", "of course I did." She felt like a winner and sounded high-hat. Antigone's pride was exemplified when she stated: "I was born to join in love, not hate, that is my nature", and even in the death, she shared love. In the end of the play, the chorus started to blame Antigone and that she herself drove her soul to downfall, "you own blind will, your passion has destroyed you." The chorus emphasized that Antigone's pride left her no choice but to kill herself to her beliefs and values, "Still the same rough winds, the wild passion raging through the girl." The chorus compared Antigone to her father, "Like father like daughter, passionate, wild, she hasn't learned to bend before adversity." She kept steadfast to the end of the play, and she didn't change her heart to the last moment. She committed suicide and left alone. Creon's decree in the beginning of the play and the tone of his speech made it clear that Creon tended towards arrogance and pride, "I have proclaimed just now, the following decree to our people concerning the two sons of Oedipus", "No, he must be left unburied", and "Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot." Creon's outrageous pride was symbolized when he refused anyone to rule him, particularly a woman, "I am not the man, not now: she is the man if this victory goes to her and she goes free", this showed Creon's selfness and pride. His pride blinded him to reality, the fact of the injustice he committed against Antigone, and he ignored the relationship between him and Antigone, "Never! Sister's child or closer in blood than all my family clustered at my altar worshipping Guardian Zeus." Creon didn't want to set her free because if he did, the city of Thebes will believe that Antigone was more powerful. So, Creon's selfishness and preference to be in charge repelled him from doing the right thing. The chorus commented on Creon's actions and claimed that "He was a wise old man who coined the famous saying: "Sooner or later, foul is fair, fair is foul, to the man the gods will ruin", He goes his way for a moment only free of blinding ruin." And by this, The chorus overshadowed Creon's ultimate ruin. Because of Creon's arrogance and stubbornness, he couldn't even back off and his language seemed like he was full of confidence, "I'm not about to prove myself a liar, not to my people, no, I'm going to kill her!" He had a belief that the man who held authority should be obeyed in everything, "but that man the city places in authority, his orders must be obeyed, large and small, right and wrong." Creon was conceited and prideful that he rejected to take Haemon's advice and alleged: "So, men our age, we're to be lectured, are we? Schooled by a boy his age?" As the plot moved forward, Creon met Tiresias and talked with each other. When Tiresias told him that he should bury Polynices and free Antigone, Creon was flooded with anger and rejection, and he accused the seer of lying because he didn't want to believe that he could be wrong about Antigone. Creon thought that Tiresias used his prophetic power for personal advantages, "You and the whole breed of seers are mad for money." Then, Creon asked the chorus whether he should take what Tiresias said into consideration or not. The chorus advised him to do what Tiresias demanded and Creon agreed, "Oh it's hard! Giving up the heart's desire, but I will do it, no more fighting a losing battle with necessity." Even though Creon acted strong and unyielding king, he finally admitted that it's better to follow gods' laws, "it's best to keep the established laws to the very day we die." Creon learned from his mistakes but it was too late, "So senseless, so insane, my crimes, my stubborn." He confessed that he drove himself to his downfall by his stubbornness and excessive pride. Eventually, the chorus represented the most important idea which is that "The mighty words of the proud are paid in full with mighty blows of fate, and at long last those blows will teach us wisdom." The chorus portrayed that the proud words of the greatness are paid with greater disaster.
“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army is in its loyalty to each other.” This quote is by Mario puzo, the family. I think the meaning of this quote is “that you can never break up a family. The family is so strong like an army so it will be hard to break them up. This quote can be supported by “Antigone” because Antigone knew both of her brothers died and only one was able to be buried and honored just because he was in the military. Antigone wanted her other brother to be buried to so she did it herself. She did not want her family to be broken up like that. So she was fixing it.
The gods' laws come before mortal laws in Antigone's point-of-view, which is how I believe also. In death, you will answer to your god and no man will have control of your fate in the world that lies hereafter. Therefore by obeying the gods, hopefully, will result in a happy afterlife, which are what most people strive for in ancient times and now. If man does not honor you for noble efforts, your gods' will. Antigone's act was honorable. She stood up to the highest of powers so she could honor her brother, knowing the consequence would be death. Most likely she figured there is only a certain amount man can do to you, so she might as well stand up for not only her family and beliefs, but her gods as well (lines 377-389).
Creon also defied the laws of the gods. This is what is expressed in the line, "No wisdom but submission to the gods." In Antigone, the edicts and decisions that Creon made demonstrated that his law was more important than 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.
In the greek tragedy Antigone , the author Sophocles conveys Antigone as the tragic hero because she arouses the most fear, she shows both good and bad which is a tragic hero characteristic and Antigone has the tragic flaw of loyalty to her family and to the gods.
Creon is enraged to discover his decree has been disobeyed. When he learns it is Antigone, his niece, he asks her if she has heard the decree. She says yes, that the decree was declared publicly and openly -- she answers that she understands the consequences. Creon further asks Antigone if she is blatantly defying him. She replies that she is answering and obeying a higher law. Creon condemns her, and in doing so violates the unspoken law of loyalty to the family. Creon's will be done!
Pride is a quality that all people possess in one way or another. Some people take pride in their appearance, worldly possessions, or position in society. The story of Antigone written by Sophocles has two characters who have a tragic flaw of pride. I will show how Creon’s pride of power leads to his destruction, and how Antigone’s pride makes her an honorable character who should be treated as a hero.
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.
It is Antigone's morals, which drive her to betray the laws of man, in order to honor the laws of God. Knowing and comprehending the consequences of defying Creon's ruling do not restrain the intensity of Antigone's self will, yet it feeds her hunger to achieve her principles. Losing sight of her future, Antigone allows her stubbornness to consume her life, taking with it, the prospect of marriage, motherhood and friendship. As the story continues, we find that Antigone focuses more on the need to establish her human ethics in spite of Creon, rather than proving the incorrectness of man defying god's laws.
The great Saint Augustine once said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels” (Enchiridion of Augustine chap. 27). Hubris “a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence”. This is a very important word in the play and for the characters. It is displayed in the play because it makes it more interesting in so many ways. Many of the conflicts are caused because of hubris. In a way it is good to have pride, but an excessive amount of pride can be harmful. In the play Antigone, Creon is the one that has the most pride.
Antigone’s opinions are distinctive as she clearly states her beliefs to Creon after being caught for performing her brother’s burial rituals. Antigone strongly believes that law has no validity when laid by a human as she questions Creon saying, “What laws? I never heard it was Zeus who made that announcement” (Antigone 450). This quote shows her reliance on the Gods for moral direction instead of the kings who reign over her. Although she disregards the law, she also accepts punishment; Antigone is able to follow her opinions and independently rule herself, yet also recognize the societal expectations of law and accept punishment. When being taken by Creon with her sister Antigone takes the responsibility of the crime all herself and recognizes what she did despite not being ashamed of it. One of the main views of Antigone that causes her disobedience is the belief that rulers should not keep loved ones from each other. Antigone clearly states, “He has no right to keep me from my own” this shows how she believes the connection between family overpowers that of a law passed by a vengeful king (Antigone 48). Antigone’s opinions contrast to those of Creon who is a gender biased ruler who sees women as lesser as he states “I will not be ruled by a woman” (Antigone 24). This shows his belief in who is credible within law. Not only does he have opinions on who
In the beginning of Antigone, we see Antigone struggling with the conflicting expectations between divine law and man’s law. The problem throughout the play is Antigone is a believer in divine law while Creon is a believer in man’s law. In the first scene, Antigone tells her sister that she will defy Creon’s law and bury her brother. Antigone says, “He has no right to keep me from my own” (Sophocles 1008). She believes in divine law even if it means breaking man’s law. Creon commanded no one to bury her brother. Antigone knows it is not the right choice according to divine law and she should be able to bury her own brother, but Creon believes no one should break the law he has put before everyone. Ismene replies, “ The law is strong, we must give in to the law, in this thing and in worse. I bet the dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (Sophocles 1009). Antigone ...
Having already been through public disgrace, when her own father, Oedipus found out that he was to fulfill a prophecy; he would kill his father and marry his mother, and this caused Antigone to be full of resentment toward her city. Both of her brothers die in a battle and, Creon, the king of Thebes forbids the burial of one of her brothers, Polynices. This must have driven Antigone to follow her moral law. Considering the love she had for her family as well as her God, she felt that you react upon morals not upon the laws of man. That morale law was to honor her brother and give him the respectful and proper burial that he deserved just as her other brother was given. The love she had for her family was the only thing she had left to honor. Ismene, Antigone’s sister was more fearful of the king’s law then the way her heart was leading her. Her values were slightly distorted.
When it comes to pride, when do we know that we have too much? A perfect example of having too much pride lies in the Greek tragedy, Antigone. In my opinion, it is the perfect example because the main character, Creon, is dealing with all the things that are happening because of Antigone’s decision to go against his law and many people are telling him that he is wrong, but he is too confident in his own choice that nothing bad will happen.
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.
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is courageous due to the fact that she altruistically lays her brother to rest regardless of the consequences she knew would follow. Creon is a tyrannical king who has issued a decree forbidding anyone from burying Polyneices who has betrayed his kingdom and family. In this despotic world Antigone endures many hardships revolving around her cursed family. Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor and author of Night and his quote indicates that we as people must take a stand to right the wrongs of this world. In “Kansas City woman plans to defy Church, become a priest” Georgia Walker is a woman who plans on becoming a priest. In doing so she will be excommunicated under the ruling that female priests aren’t