Theories on Tragedy in Antigone

Theories on Tragedy in Antigone

Many dramatic theorists have documented their opinions of Sophocles' tragic play

Antigone. They have presented their interpretations as to the motives and moral

character of Antigone and Creon. I will attempt to encapsulate the basic logic behind the

arguments of the critics Brian Vickers, A.C. Bradley (who interprets Hegel), and H. D. F.

Kitto, and venture my own humble opinion as to their validity.

Brian Vickers clearly favors the character of Antigone. He challenges Hegel and

Hegel's view that both Creon and Antigone were essentially right in their beliefs. Vickers

sums up Hegel's theories in a single diagram (Vickers 526), showing Creon and Antigone

as forces in antithetical opposition. I believe that Hegel's theories of tragedy, as explained

by A.C. Bradley, encompass much more than a simple diagram. Hegel thought that Creon

and Antigone represented these forces, but not necessarily that they were diametrically

opposed. Hegel thought that the tragedy of Antigone was that the beliefs of Antigone and

Creon forced them into opposition, because their beliefs were valid and just, though they

did not go about practicing their beliefs in a valid and just manner.

Vickers presents the notion that Sophocles himself favored the character of

Antigone, since Sophocles never criticized her. With this I must disagree; there were

many aspects of Antigone's character that Sophocles would not have included had he

viewed her as above reproach. For instance, she is dreadfully overbearing and righteous.

While Sophocles clearly showed he could paint the picture of a sympathetic character if

he so chose in Oedipus the King, I believe that...

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... believed that the tragedy of Antigone lies in the conflict between the

rules of the state and the rules of man. It is unfortunate that these two forces must be in

opposition, and therefore their practitioners or champions in this particular case have to

be in opposition as well. I agree with this; the tragedy is in the circumstances that pit two

essentially "right" forces against each other. The morality of the characters determines

the course of the tragedy, and their personalities and convictions determine the emotional

power for the reader.

Bibliography:

Vickers, Brian. Towards Greek Tragedy: Drama, Myth, Society

Bradley, AC. Oxford Lectures on Poetry

Kitto, HDF. Greek Tragedy, A Literary Study

4. Knox, Bernard MW. The Heroic Temper: Studies in Sophoclean Tragedy

Sophocles. "Oedipus the King"

Sophocles. "Antigone"