The Similarities Between 12 Angry Men And Antigone

Blood and bodies laid on the ground as the Parisian revolutionaries stormed the French fortress of Bastille on July 14, 1789. This revolution exemplifies one of the many that occurred in history against absolutist rulers. Citizens rebelled and died for causes they deemed worthy. Although revolutionary acts still happen in today’s society, they more commonly appear through entertainment and literature. Recent young adult novels, such as The Hunger Games and Divergent portray characters who rebel against the government and even die for the prosperity of future generations. However, older texts also illustrate this constant cycle. In the plays Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose and Antigone by Sophocles, each author illustrates how one main character’s

ultimate power can lead to rebellion and martyrdom amongst the other characters.
In the beginning of each texts, the leaders Creon from Antigone and Juror Three from Twelve Angry Men style of ruling becomes apparent. After the resolution of Oedipus in Colonus and Oedipus the King, Oedipus banishes himself from Thebes and Oedipus’s sons kill each other. Creon is now “next in kin to the dead, [he] now possess the throne and all its power” (Sophocles 188-193). As ruler, he makes it clear that any citizen of Thebes who violate the law will face severe punishment. Antigone feels that Creon abuses his power because he does not let her bury her own brother. Similarly, Juror Eight “is a humorless man who is intolerant of opinions other that his own, and accustomed to forcing his wishes and views upon others” (Rose 4). Jurors, such as credulous Juror Two, find it difficult to stand up to Juror Three because of the powerful exterior he exudes. Both Creon and Juror Three demand things of the people around them like a tyrant “…because [they] cannot resist the temptations of power” (Winnington-Ingram). Many rulers and leaders hold people they control under tight restraints. Creon and Juror Three do this through their harsh decrees and their egotism. For instance, Creon declares a harsh punishment against anyone who attempts to bury Polynices, and Juror Three shows his anger against anyone who rebels. Internally, many people want to rebel, but they fear the punishment that leaders have. Few, however, are brave enough to rise against their ruler.
Because Creon and Judge Three exert their power, other characters such as Antigone and Haemon from Antigone and Juror Eight from Twelve Angry Men find their leadership unfair; therefore, they show their discontent through rebellion.

Creon became furious when the Sentry informed him that Antigone broke the law and buried her brother. Antigone explains her reasons when confronted by Creon: “These laws – I was not about to break them…But if I had allowed my own mother’s son to rot, an unburied corpse – that would have been an agony!” (Sophocles 509-522). Although Antigone knows the possible consequences of her actions, she goes through her rebellious act. Kirkwood states, “Her first reaction is a personal one; the matter is one of family loyalty, where, she feels, Creon has no right to intrude.” Antigone not only rebels against Creon’s harsh laws. She first and foremost rebels for the sake of her brother. If she did not bury her brother, who would? Haemon, Creon’s son and Antigone’s future husband defends Antigone by threatening his father–if Antigone died at his father’s hand, then so would he. Although Juror Eight does not have anyone supporting him in the beginning, he explains Juror Three that “There were elven votes for guilty – it’s not so easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first” (Rose 15). Juror Eight rebels against the other Jurors by presenting new and provoking evidence. He constantly battles with Juror Three who repeatedly presents the same evidence. The whole jury has already heard the evidence a few times, but the only Juror who demands for it to be said again is Juror Eight. In many cases “where a lone juror opposes the majority, the holdout is unlikely to resemble Juror Eight in Twelve Angry Men, who is devoted to justice and acts with integrity” (Aubrey). The jury constantly pressured Juror Eight to give up and conform, but Juror Eight’s rebellious nature and ethics lead him to fight against the lead

Juror. Antigone and Juror Eight strive to martyrdom in the end, each of their fates take a different course.
The rebellion of Antigone and Juror Eight results in them being the victor of the situation they believed in; however, whereas Antigone perished to save Polynices, Juror Eight held a strong argument to achieve an innocent verdict. In her discussions with her sister Ismene, Antigone declares that she will bury her brother, even if she dies. Unfortunately, because of her cruel uncle Creon, she faces death in the end. Before leaving she proclaims, “O tomb, my bridal-bed…I’ll soon be there…But now, Polynices, because I aid your body out as well, this, this is my reward” (Sophocles 978-993). Antigone accomplished what others feared to do. Creon frightened Thebans with harsh laws. Even her own sister Ismene refused and warned Antigone. On the other hand, Juror Eight gives a man possible justice without enduring death. Before Juror Three complies and reports the boy not guilty, Juror Nine says to Juror Eight, “It takes a great deal of courage to stand alone” (Rose 63). There were eleven other Jurors in the room, but Juror Eight was the only one who thought of saving a boy from a fate he did not deserve. Juror Eight is “…motivated only by a desire for justice, and [he] would gradually, through [his] integrity and persistence, persuade the other eleven jurors to adopt [his] viewpoint” (Aubrey). He derives his viewpoint from evidence, and he shares this with the others. Gradually, others realize that there is a reasonable doubt.