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Main theme of antigone
Antigone literary elements
Essays about pride in the play antigone
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Main theme of antigone
Antigone literary elements
Essays about pride in the play antigone
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Recommended: Main theme of antigone
One could argue that Antigone did not act for the benefit of her society. She ignored Kreon’s proclamation that prohibited anybody from burying Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, challenging his authority, and was more focused on doing what she believed was right, burying her brother and giving him the proper burial rites, and relinquishing herself of any possible guilt for not doing so. However, one can further argue that, even though Antigone’s primary intention was to revere her brother, she did act for the benefit of her society, as she indirectly fought to preserve her society’s value of honoring the dead. Antigone does realize that she has the people’s support for her actions, as she says, “my action pleases all of them, if fear did not lock up their tongues” (Sophocles 40). The latter part of Antigone’s statement suggests that people do not reveal their disapproval of Kreon’s proclamation, due to his authority and power.
Antigone died with great honor and pride with aside her brother, she succeeded in being a
I don't deny a thing” (Sophocles 81). Antigone was never ashamed to stand up for what she believed in, especially when it came to the loyalty between herself and her endeared brother. Antigone did not find much value in laws set in place by mortals, instead, she obeyed those put in place by the gods. When she was interrogated, she told Creon that she simply would not listen to him because, “It wasn't Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation– not to me” (Sophocles 82). Antigone respects
To continue, Antigone is faced with a lot of pressure and disapproval from other people after she went against the law to bury her brother. When Creon questioned Antigone asking, “So you chose flagrantly to disobey my law?” Antigone responded explaining how she knew about the law but felt it was wrong to not bury her brother. She then stated, “For this, I have no twinges of regret,” (Sophocles 210). Through Antigone’s confident thought through response to the king, readers can infer that unlike Creon, Antigone is proud of what she did.
Pride can be one of man's strongest qualities. In Sophocles' play, Antigone, the Theme of pride becomes the cause for destruction for both Creon and Antigone in the play.. Creon's Pride blinds him to the injustice he commits against Antigone and the gods. Antigone's pride leaves her no choice but to be killed because of her beliefs. They Both automatically surrender to their own hubris and demonstrate how uncontrolled pride leads to personal downfalls and destruction in Antigone.
Thesis: Sophocles, in Antigone says, if we cannot control our fate we should live with the wisdom to focus on bettering ourselves as individuals, in order to obtain happiness no matter the unpredictable circumstances; by willing to yield to the helpful opinions of others, and putting our pride aside. Once someone begins to carry themselves with pride, it begins to lay a ground of irrationalism and arrogance in the way one thinks and processes, causing people to get hurt. Creon in the beginning of the play carries himself in a high and mighty manner in order to show his kingdom that he’s a fit ruler. This leads him to become blinded to the reason of others and causes him to make irrational decisions. Creon continues to ruin himself and those
The first individual that is to blame is Antigone, who is prideful and is very arrogant. For instance this can be seen when Antigone compares herself to the daughter of Tantalus by saying, “I’ve heard about a guest of ours, daughter of Tantalus, from Phrygia— she went to an excruciating death in Sipylus, right on the mountain peak. The stone there, just like clinging ivy, wore her down, and now, so people say, the snow and rain never leave her there, [830] as she laments. Below her weeping eyes her neck is wet with tears. God brings me to a final rest which most resembles hers.”
Antigone Paper “The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron cracks first, the wildest horses bend their necks at the pull of the smallest curb” (2.77-79). Though pride can be a good thing, once pride overrides reason it can be dangerous, it can destroy those who are not willing to listen. Pride can take over the noblest humans. There is nothing wrong with having pride in what you do or who you are; pride is what pushes everyone forward when they are down and feel like giving up. In Antigone pride is a constant characteristic; whether it comes from the king's unreasonable behavior or the way men think of women.
What is more powerful, pride or stubbornness? In Sophocles’ tragic play, Antigone, Antigone is fighting against Creon because of the edict to not bury Polyneices. Antigone is headstrong and stubborn, while Creon is prideful and unreasonable. Sophocles uses these character flaws to show the people that excessive pride and stubbornness will lead to their downfall. Antigone feels love for her brother and is passionate and stubborn about burying him.
Throughout the story, Antigone was given and took the opportunity to protect her personal dignity. “I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, it will not be the worst of deaths-death without honor” (1024). Antigone defends herself in conversation with Ismene by choosing to die by honoring their brother Polyneices. “I should have praise and honor for what I have done. All these men here would praise me, were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you” (1036).
Would you follow a law if it serves no purpose to you or others? or if you felt that it was wrong to a certain group or ethnicity? Many people know the story Antigone by Sophocles, a kingdom set in ruins as two brothers end up killing each other over a land given to them by their father. As said in lines 165-175 Creon states “Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied.” Being as how both brothers fought fighting for their beliefs they should both get a proper military honored burial as believed by their sister Antigone.
“Humble yourself or life will do it for you,” is a common quote used by many. This idea of being humble to avoid consequences applies well to the book Antigone by Sophocles. It shows how if one has too much pride, they will be humbled in one way or another. In Antigone, Creon had tunnel vision, not listening to anyone. His fatal flaw was hubris, ultimately leading to the downfall of him.
Another way this quote can relate to the book is Antigone goes through great sacrifice in order to bury her brother. For instance, if she gets caught Creon will punish he for the crime. During a conversation with her sister Ismene, Antigone says “I never did a nobler thing than bury my brother Polyneices”(Sophocles 32). This quote means that despite the fact that she can be punished, Antigone is still proud of what she did. Creon had threatened to bury Antigone to death but she did not let that stop her
Women are viewed as lower class, or “slaves”. So when Creon heard of Antigone’s actions, he is in disbelief and thinks her actions should be punished by death. In response to Creon ordering her to her death, she sneered, “Then I beg you: Kill me… I should have praise and honor for what I have done.” She has accepted consequences and is welcoming her fate of death. She is proud in the fact she buried her brother
She does not understand why she is being treated so unjustly for trying to do the right thing. The chorus in the play tries convincing Antigone that justice is behaving in accordance to Creon’s laws but Antigone is stubborn and sustains to her convictions. Even though Antigone ends up dying she dies achieving her goal of wanting to bury her brother properly. Mostly everyone in this play goes against what the main character feels is justly because they want to follow the kings laws and they believe she is acting immorally. Antigone is not acting immorally, she is doing the right thing to follow the law of the gods.