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Creon in antigone character traits
Creon antigone character analysis paper
Creon antigone character analysis paper
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In Sophocles play Antigone, Antigone is contrasted with creon in the play because everyone knows that Creon and Antigone had their differences about the burial of her brother, “Creon: yes, he will, if you give equal honors to a wicked man. Antigone: But the one who died was not some slave — it was his own brother. Creon: who is destroying this country — the other one went to his death defending it. (Lines 587-591) In that quote it’s saying that Creon doesn’t support the burial of her brother because in his mind he was destroying the country, and he didn’t want him going to the afterlife, but that’s what Antigone wanted. Ismene didn’t want Antigone to go behind Creon’s back and bury him anyway. Ismene didn’t want Antigone to go behind Creon’s back to bury …show more content…
Set your own fate in order. Ismene: Make sure you don’t reveal to anyone what you intend kee closely hidden. I’ll do the same.” (Lines 97-105) What Antigone and Ismene were talking about was that Antigone …show more content…
“Antigone: look — what’s Creon doing with our two brothers? He’s honoring one with a full funeral and treating the other one disgracefully! Eteocles, they say, has had his burial according to our customary rites, to win him honor with the dead below.” Antigone was saying how it’s not right that he is respecting one brother and not the other brother. Creon feels as if that one brother was destroying his country instead of defending it, the other brother worshiped it and adored it. Ismene felt bad and she wanted to help her sister and be there for her, “ oh poor sister, if that’s what’s happening what can I say that would be any help to ease the situation or resolve it?” (Lines 48-50) Ismene said that to because she wants to help her sister anyway possible, she doesn’t want her sister to die or doesn’t want anything bad to happen to
Antigone is the niece of a king and goes against her uncle’s command when he says that Polyneices isn’t allowed to have a soldier’s burial and his body must be left in the desert to rot. Antigone decides to bury him anyway because she values god’s law of burial over her uncle’s rule. Antigone tells her sister “Ismene, I am going to bury him. Will you come?... He is my brother. And he is your brother, too… Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way” (Sophocles 694). Antigone values her brother over her uncle & she believes in god’s law over Creon’s decision. King values equality and common law. He dictates “It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city’s white power structure left the
Although it was against the law, her burying Polyneices proved just how loyal she was towards her brother. Her loyalty was what had justified her reasoning behind her actions. Antigone stated, “But my nature is to love. I cannot hate” (598). This depicts Antigone’s true nature. It shows that she is good at heart and what she had done was purely in her morals and not solely for defiance. When Antigone asked her sister Ismene to accompany her in her plan, Ismene refused with fear of defying the law. When Antigone was caught, Creon was quick to assume that Ismene was an ally to Antigone because of their relation to each other. Ismene was brought in during Antigone and Creon’s interaction and Ismene admitted and supported Antigone; she had no true part in Antigone’s actions. Antigone, being loyal and trustworthy, stated, “No, no - justice will not allow you to say that. You didn’t want to. I didn’t work with you” (616-617). Not only was her loyalty towards her brother, but towards everyone she cared
At the beginning of the play, Antigone brought Ismene outside the city gates at night for a top secret meeting. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polyneices' body because even though he died in dishonor he was her brother. Ismene refused to disobey the king which is also their Uncle Creon, and she failed to talk Antigone out of doing the act herself. "Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses..Then, mother...did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords. Third, our two brothers, on a single day...Each killed the other, hand against brother's hand." (Antigone, Lines 59-65) In this quote, Antigone justified her reasons for going against the law describing how her parents went through so much, how their father was banished and due to this their mother had committed suicide because her reputation went down to the drain, even after all that their two brothers went into battle against one another and died in the process. Ismene was sympathetic, but still she was noble and afraid of Creon so she did not offer her help to Antigone.
Due to the actions she took based on her emotions, Antigone suffered a far worse fate than Ismene. During her conversation with Ismene, Antigone says: “Ismene, I am going to bury him” (Sophocles, 3). To this Ismene replies with: “Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it” (Sophocles, 3). This is the first time we experience the difference in the sisters’ behavior. Antigone has decided to bury Polyneices, although Creon’s new law forbids it. She believed that the God’s proclamation means more than Creon’s, and tells Ismene: “I will bury the brother I love” (Sophocles, 4). Ismene, on the other hand, knows that this action is forbidden by Creon’s law and isn’t willing to break it. She says: “But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do! [...] Think how much more terrible than these our own death would be if we should go against Creon and do what he has forbidden![...]The law is strong, we must give into the law in this thing, and in worse. I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business to be always meddling” (Sophocles, 3-4). Ismene clearly respects the law and knows the repercussions of breaking it, something that Antigone chooses to ignore.
Antigone shows the attribute of boldness. She is constantly going her own direction. She is a leader, not a follower. "Ismene: What? You'd bury him when a law forbids the city? Antigone: Yes! He is my brother and- deny it as you will- your brother too."(61). This is where Antigone's boldness begins to surface. She is expressing her disagreement with King Creon's law. This is extremely daring of her to do because she is defying the law of the land. On the other hand, Ismene displays the quality of being a coward. She says, "Remember, we are women, we're not born to contend with men."(62). On the contrary to what Ismene's brain tells her to do, her heart is screaming to go and bury her brother, and defy Creon's dishonorable law. It is not until the middle to end of the play that Ismene's true self emerges and she agrees with Antigone. This is just one of the ways Antigone and Ismene are the same at heart, but take different paths to get to their real inner person.
She reminds Antigone that they are the only family members left and pleads with her not to commit such a crime, but Antigone refuses to accept the logic in her sister’s argument and will not be swayed, even though the idea of her death clearly upsets her sister. Ismene later has a change of heart and wishes to die alongside her sister in order to honor the dead as well, she even confesses to Creon, but Antigone rejects her idea of being a martyr, saying that her own death “will suffice” (Sophocles 136). Ismene then imagines life without her sister. The idea of losing the only kin she has left on Earth terrifies Ismene. She pleads to Antigone, “what life is dear to me bereft of you?” (Sophocles 136). Ismene would rather die than live without Antigone. In deciding to give her life for her brother, Antigone neglects her sister, and acts selfishly. She therefore should not have signed herself over to death as it has severely negative effects on her only living
...assistance, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. Ismene feared helping Antigone bury Polyneices but offers to die beside Antigone when Creon sends her to die. Antigone, however, refuses to allow her sister to be killed for something she did not have the courage to stand up for.
In the beginning of the story Antigone went to Ismene to warn her about the new decree of King Creon. King Creon had sworn that no one was to bury him or even mourn for him. Antigone then told Ismene of her intentions of going against the new law and giving their brother the burial he deserved. Antigone then gave Ismene the choice to prove herself loyal to her family or betray it. Ismene stated that she could not go against the law of Creon. She felt that they could not go against Creon because they were only women and she was afraid of what their deaths would be like. At this point in the story Ismene was not willing to sacrifice her life for her brothers honor. She still wanted to help, but she was too afraid of what the punishment would be. For example Ismene stated, “I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority.”
In the prologue Antigone tries to convince her sister, Ismene, to help her bury Polyneices. They go back and forth arguing. Antigone calls her sister a traitor to their family, and how the law Creon made was a mortal law and she follows the laws of the gods. This is where the reader first meets Antigone and her belief. In this scene, her belief and rebelliousness are heavily contrasted with Ismene’s lawful and peaceful attitude. In Scene II Antigone is brought before Creon by a sentry. Creon accuses Antigone of defying his law, she responds with a comment about how it was not a proclamation of the gods, but merely a mortal law. And says that she will die for this if she has to and that she would rather die than have let her dead brother suffer. Antigone is willing to be condemned for her actions because she is not ashamed of what she did. Her belief allows her to face Creon and possibly death. Also in Scene II Antigone controls the scene saying that others do agree with her but that Creon has silenced them. In addition, she tells him that he has no right to judge what is wicked and that the gods are the ultimate judges. Antigone stands up for herself and her beliefs. Belief gave her the power to overpower the voices of
Creon states, “Whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing.” Therefore, he does not allow the burial of Antigone’s brother because he did not place the good of his country first. He was a traitor. Creon makes this law for the good of his country. The following statements that Creon makes exemplify this: “I could never make that man a friend of mine who menaces our country”, “never will the traitor be honored a...
We come to know of Antigone's plan to bury her brother in the prologue. She confides to Ismene that she knows of Creon's edict, but that she intends to defy it. At Ismene's protests of not defying the king's orders, Antigone states that there are higher obligations to the dead and the gods. She points out (lines 85 - 91): "I will bury him myself, and even if I die in the act the death will be a glory. I will lie with the one I love and loved by him - an outrage sacred to the gods! I have longer to please the dead than please the living here: in the kingdom down below I will lie forever. Do as you like, dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor." Antigone feels it is her duty to bury her brother and is in her view fulfilling a higher law. She believes that she is acting according to her religious duty and that she cannot dishonor the laws the gods have established. Here Antigone appears to be a selfless and compassionate individual, willin...
Although both sisters have lost their brothers, Antigone is the only one who will go against her king to do what she knows is right. When Antigone asks her sister if she will help her bury their brother Polyneices, Ismene responds with, “We are only women; we cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong; we must give into the law…” (Ismene 774). Naturally, Ismene should be afraid for herself, as well for the safety of her sister because what Antigone is asking of her will mostly likely cause them both to be killed. However, she should be braver like Antigone, and realize that she must do what is morally right for their family, and give her brother the proper burial that he deserves. Afterward, when Antigone has already been captured, Ismene then comes forth to try and share the punishment that has been given to Antigone, but Antigone tells King Creon that she has done nothing. In addition, when Creon asks Ismene if she had anything to do with the crime, and Antigone denies it, Ismene then replies, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here to join you, to take my share of punishment” (Ismene 785). Although now Ismene feels like she needs to stand up to the King and do what is right for her
Choosing to follow authority and the law is admirable and important in order to have a stable society; however, prioritizing family over all is imbedded in humanity. Family is part of one’s identity and greatly affects one's morals and opinions. If a person solely lives a rigid life, following authority over family, then compassion and the ability to be flexible is lost. Sophocles poses if authority or family is superior through the characters Antigone and Creon as their actions and opinions drastically contrast. Creon puts more importance on his rule and the law, while Antigone emphasizes the devotion to her bloodline and the gods. Antigone, although depicting that authority and the king’s rule is important, puts more importance
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.
Antigone feels as if Ismene is betraying her and their family since she will not consent to help her bury their brother. Towards the end of the play, Ismene changes her mind and tries to claim that she helped Antigone bury Polyneices so that she can die with her sister. Antigone became furious, “Don’t try to share my death or make a claim to actions which you did not do. I’ll die, and that will be enough” (Sophocles 625). Antigone is upset that Ismene wouldn’t help her in the first place, but she wants to take the blame now. She feels as if Ismene has been disloyal to her and their family; therefore, she does not forgive Ismene for what she has done. This is considered a symbol from when Ismene denied Antigone. Now Antigone is denying Ismene. On the other hand, Creon adores Ismene for staying true to him and his rules. Creon realizes that she was very obedient and appreciates that. At the end of the play, he decides to spare Ismene instead of killing her with