Similarities Between Antigone And Odysseus

An extraordinary power is within all of us. When the heart desires something it will push the mind to do whatever it takes to capture it. In Sophocles' Antigone and Homer's Odyssey, Antigone and Odysseus are two characters who were on a divine journey to fulfill their meaning in life. Both featured in Greek plays, Antigone and Odysseus went through a series of challenges. They both struggled in their own right, but no matter what obstacle was in front of them their will forced them to persevere and fight for what they could not live without.

Antigone finds herself in extreme agony when she hears that her ruler, King Creon will not allow the burial of her brother Polyneices. King Creon rules off his principles regarding friendship and loyalty

stating, "Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied" (Sophocles 7). As a woman in ancient Greece, Antigone is expected to be mutely obedient. When she consults with her sister, Ismene, she tells Antigone "We are only women, we cannot fight with men" (Sophocles 40). Ismene believes Antigone has gone mad and that even entertaining the thought to bury Polyneices is an absurd one to have.
Challenging King Creon is putting her life at high risk, but this does not stop Antigone from following her heart, "But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy" (Sophocles 4).

Antigone senses a deeper meaning in the mist of it all and believes that the laws decreed by the gods are stronger than Creon's laws, "They are not merely now: they were, and shall be, Operative for ever, beyond man utterly" (Sophocles 14). Given this, Antigone is driven to bury Polyneices and in the process she disturbs the calm waters of King Creon's sea. When Creon catches Antigone trying to bury Polyneices he strongly rebukes her. Creon's reaction shows his expected anger, "Go join them, then; if you must have your love, Find it in hell!" (Sophocles 17) leaving Antigone feeling hopeless. Antigone becomes isolated in a cave distant from her sister, future husband, and home. To escape reality and to put fate in her own hands, Antigone decides to hang

herself.
The ending to Sophocles' Antigone is tragic, but still efficacious. Antigone's motive was to stand up to Creon and fight for Polyneices burial regardless if she died for it. Even though Antigone was gone before she could see her impact, she knew she had to challenge Creon or nothing would ever change. Antigone was not of the norm and did what no other woman would have done by defying the law. She was at peace of mind knowing that she did everything in her power to try to defeat Creon's cruelty and please the Gods. Her bold actions led to the burial of Polyneices, the defeat of Creon, and the transforming image of women in Greek society.
Homer's Odyssey is another Greek play featuring a character who goes through an immense struggle to achieve what he dearly wants. After defeating Troy in the Trojan War, Odysseus is eager to return home to Ithaca to reunite with his family. Onward in their expedition, Odysseus and his men find themselves cursed by Poseidon going in misdirection surrounded by grey skies, "The wind carried me from Illium to Ismarus, city of the Cicones"(Homer 138). Odysseus longs to be home and is now becoming quite weary and discouraged given the misfortunes he has been encountering, "Nevertheless I long—I pine, all my days— to travel home and see the dawn of my return. And if a god will wreck me yet again on the wine-dark sea, I can bear that too" (Homer 84). However, he stays in good spirits and continues to focus on his journey. From the shipwrecks, to the storms, to the Cyclops' Cave, Odysseus endured through all the obstacles leaving him in utmost fulfillment.
After being lost at sea for twenty years, Odysseus finds vindication in the end. He safely makes it back to Ithaca and is able to reunite with his wife, "The more she spoke, the more a deep desire for tears welled up inside his breast—he wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last" (Homer 388). Odysseus is also overjoyed to be able to reunite with his father who he has not seen in twenty years. To finish his duties and obey Teriesias' prophecy, Odysseus feels the need to lastly restore peace in Ithaca.
There are a lot of comparisons in Homer's Odyssey and Sophocles' Antigone. In both plays there is a divine power at work effecting the plot and the main character's journey. In Antigone divine power encourages Antigone to stand up to Creon and fight for Polyneices' burial. Creon remains stubborn and cruel throughout the play and in result the Gods punish him leading to his downfall. In The Odyssey, at the beginning of Odysseus' journey, the God Poseidon poses as a threat to Odysseus, "Then every god took pity, all except Poseidon. He raged on, seething against the great Odysseus till he reached his native land" (Homer 3). On the other hand, the god Athena helps Odysseus find his way back to Ithaca and defeat the suitors who took over his palace.
Sophocles' Antigone and Homer's Odyssey share many Greek beliefs and ideas. Both Odysseus and Antigone portray strong and clever figures. Defying the law and influencing Greek society shows the strength of Antigone. To defeat Poseidon and the multiple suitors, Odysseus was looked at as the prime example of Greek strength and cleverness. In both plays there is a strong sense of loyalty. In Antigone, Antigone remains loyal to her family, particular Polyneices, and to the Gods. In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his wife stay loyal to each other throughout their twenty year separation.
There are a myriad of differences separating the plays of Sophocles' Antigone and Homer's Odyssey.

The Odyssey was written most likely between 750 B.C and 650 B.C. The Odyssey was set in Mycenaean Greece during the 12th century which was known as the bronze age. Antigone was written in 441 B.C. and was set in Thebes. Antigone was composed as a tragic, while the Odyssey was an epic. Having said that, the resolution in Antigone was saddening leaving readers in a sense of pity, while the Odyssey had a favorable resolution leaving readers in rejoice. The most glaring difference between the two plays are the main characters, Antigone and Odysseus. Sophocles' Antigone was the first play to feature a heroine who fights against male power. In the Odyssey it is the typical Greek male who presents himself as a warrior with admirable

strength.
Divine power has an important factor in the ability and reasoning behind the human mind. Sometimes one can sense when they are meant for something or someone, as it is almost a sign from the Gods. This was a common thread wired within Antigone and Odysseus. At the core of her, Antigone knew she had to obey the Gods and do whatever it took to get Polyneices buried even if she defied the law. Odysseus knew that life was not complete until he got back to Ithaca to restore peace and to reunite with his loved ones. Their will and the divine power of the gods supporting them helped them prevail leading them to the fate they were always destined to.