ipl-logo

Authority In Antigone

270 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Main theme of antigone

Sophocles addresses the issue of government authority over the people of Antigone through his incorporation of continuous unsuccessful as well as unjustifiable acts of power. Throughout the tragedy, Sophocles strongly exposes the lack of political authority at the time through his depiction of what he advocates as a corrupt monarchy. Considering Creon’s unceasing disregard for the opinions and desires of those around him, including his son Haemon when it came to Antigone's situation, his known brutality caused his citizens to obey him strictly out of fear of the potential consequences, such as when Ismene's obeys his edict is because she fears death. In addition, Sophocles addresses the issue of government authority by including the role
Show More
Related
625 Words | 3 Pages

Sophocles explores the nature of leadership by making Creon a ruler who rules out of fear, demands complete devotion no matter the circumstance, and is unable to accept advice. These flaws in his character will evidently leave him bemoaning his decisions at the end of the play. Creon's ideology of ruling out of fear is prevalent in the first few pages of the play. In the beginning, Creon proclaims his edict by saying Etocles will have a proper burial but because Polynices fought on the opposing army he will be left for, "birds in search of

Read More
837 Words | 4 Pages

This is especially true in the way Ismene reacts to the laws Creon puts in place. Under Creons authority, she refused to help even her sister bury her own brother. She was so obedient to Creon she wouldn’t even help her own family. Even when Antigone tries to tell her about how they were family and her brother deserved a proper burial, Ismene said: “They mean a great deal to me; but I have no strength. To break laws that were made for the public good.”

Read More
871 Words | 4 Pages

In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles, the question of whether loyalties to family or loyalties to authority are more significant is brought up when personal matters are intertwined with legal affairs. Antigone is persecuted and punished severely by King Creon because she buried her brother, Polyneices, whom the king believes to be a traitor to the city and outlawed any burials or honor for the fallen man. In this situation, Antigone is right in going against the king’s law because in burying her dear brother, she honors the promise she made to him before he died, she pays respect to the laws of God and not the laws of mere mortals, and she shows her commitment to family by displaying her unwavering loyalty towards them, even in death. Antigone is right in crusading against Creon because in essence, he is unjustly punishing her in trying to punish her brother, Polyneices.

Read More
644 Words | 3 Pages

Creon:“I killed you, my son, without intending to,/ and you, as well, my wife,” (Lines 1486-1487). Antigone is the story of a girl who defies the king of Thebes in order to honor her dead brother, Polyneices, who is not allowed to be buried. When the king decides to punish her, his inability to listen to reasoning and resistance to change backfires on him in a deadly way. In the play, Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon, the play’s tragic hero, brings suffering to others, such as causing the death of Antigone, his son, Haemon, and his wife, Eurydice, which contributes to the tragic vision of the play as a whole because it shows how stubbornness brings pain for others. To begin with, Creon brings suffering to Antigone by refusing to change and

Read More
694 Words | 3 Pages

Creon Sophocle’s play Antigone suggests that a good leader should provide loyalty and trust, and through actions Creon, shows many reasons to be a loyal character in the play, Creon has good rational reasons for his laws and punishments that he believes that will help him as a king. Even though Creon has a hard time listening to anyone, which makes him stubborn and his pride to increase he is actually doing something that can help his people, Creon and the citizens of Thebes respect the law, which shows loyalty to the state. In the play Creon states “ For me, a man who rules the entire state and does not take the best advise there is, but through fear keeps his mouth forever shut, such man is the worst of men- and always

Read More
602 Words | 3 Pages

Leaders who have absolute control tend to take their power too far, which in turn, could make things difficult for everyone. As shown in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, The leader takes his power too far, and while doing so, his kingdom, and life, starts to crumble In Antigone, the character Creon could be considered immoral because of his unwillingness to listen to others opinions and beliefs, and because he takes his power too far; but, also how he eventually makes others feel sympathetic towards him due to the loss of a few of his loved ones. Creon makes everyone aware of his ignorant and immoral ways by not listing to the beliefs of others. When it came time for him to test out his new position as ruler of Thebes, he makes a harsh decision,

Read More
606 Words | 3 Pages

In the tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is an authoritative and wise ruler. For example, when Creon addresses the Chorus, he says, "...and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare -- I have no use for him either" (1.23-25). Clearly, Creon informs the Chorus that he has "no use" for anyone who practices favoritism, and he makes it clear that he expects each of his officers to act professionally and responsibly. Though this lack of tolerance may seem cruel, it only helps Creon to assert his authority over the others; but one could argue that this quality is necessary to maintain order in one's kingdom. Obviously, as stated by Creon earlier that, "no ruler can expect complete loyalty for his subjects until he has

Read More
1786 Words | 8 Pages

and she kills herself. Meanwhile, not realizing Antigone’s death, the blind prophetTiresias, Haemon (Creon’s son) and the Chorus pleaded with Creon to release Antigone and change his laws. Creon finally agrees, but in an untimely manner, finds Antigone dead in the cave. Out of despair, Haemon and Creon’s wife killed themselves, and Creon is left destress and miserable. Kings four nonviolent direct action steps to change unjust laws can be used to analyze Antigone 's actions against Creon 's laws in Sophocles play,

Read More
704 Words | 3 Pages

She dares to challenge the arrogant tyrant Creon by expressing her points bravely and furiously, trying to warn him that women do not always have the obligation to do what men command; she dares to protest the balance between duty and law, “…for it was not Zeus made such a law; such is not the Justice of the gods.” (Antigone), making her decisions in an equitable way and promise to find the real justice so as to give respect to her brother, Polyneices’ burial. Even though in the end Creon tries to give Antigone a lesson by putting her to prison, Antigone did not escape, for she understood that her action and pride would bring about these consequences, and she did not regret for doing this. In addition, we can also observe women power by seeing Creon’s words and behaviors. Creon’s hubris as a men affects how he thinks about women, he considered women as secondary creature.

Read More
1078 Words | 5 Pages

Everything that makes man's life worthwhile-family, work, education, a place to rear one's children and a place to rest one's head -all this depends on decisions of government; all can be swept away by a government which does not heed the demands of its people.” (Kennedy 379). Citizens must not only speak up; they must also be heard by their government as well. Creon enacted a law that he felt was just however, he did not listen to Antigone when she was explaining why she had broken that law. If Creon would have listened to Antigone and taken into consideration the reasons for her unlawful actions, he would have saved himself and his nation from the wrath of the

Read More
860 Words | 4 Pages

In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone, a woman’s individual conscience trumps state law when Antigone displays time and again that she values her divine motives higher than those of the state throughout the tragedy. Her continued defiance of the state’s authority marks the importance of her individuality through various scenes in Antigone. Knowing full well her role as a woman in a patriarchal society, Antigone goes beyond the powers of the common man to carry on morals of herself and family exceeding beyond immortality and death. Engulfed in the menacing misogyny King Creon set forth in the state, Antigone is determined to thrive and keep the sacred deeds of herself and family in tact despite the fate it bears. The character of Antigone exhibits

Read More
837 Words | 4 Pages

In the play, Antigone, Sophocles reveals a story of a character who responds significantly to an injustice. After a war between brothers’ Eteocles and Polyneices, both brothers are slain, but Creon, Antigone’s uncle, refused to bury Polyneices due to him fighting against the city. Antigone, the main character, decides to bury her brother against Creon’s orders, resulting in a conflict between the already cursed family. With the unjust refusal from Creon to not bury Polyneices, Antigone decides to stand up against this injustice, even if it means losing her life. Sophocles writes about a stubborn Antigone who believes she is following God’s law, in order to create justice between the cursed family and solve the unjust created by Creon, to

Read More
734 Words | 3 Pages

Leaders are powerful people who prove their ability to assist others. Throughout the years, humanity attempts to have an upright, yet rigorous, rule. Great leaders have induced goals that represent the needs of both the leader and their people. In Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, the examination of the legitimacy of Creon’s rule, shows that Creon is not an effective leader through his inability to listen to his people, his rule through fear, and incapacity to support his family or people.

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

In the play Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates the conflict between family and God through the characters of Antigone, Ismene and Creon. Antigone being ambitious and strong willed throughout the play, fights for his brothers honor and proper burial while Ismene on the other hand, is more timid fears the consequences that may occur if the laws are broken. For Creon he is the King and holds most power, until the Gods feel he is incapable. Antigone, Ismene and Creon all use logical and emotional appeals to achieve a compromise to either bury Polynices or not.

Read More
882 Words | 4 Pages

In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, Creon’s deadly stubbornness and selfishness in ignoring the pleas and

Read More

More about Authority In Antigone

Related Topics

Open Document