Consequences Of Conflict In Sophicles 'Antigone'

Caroline Kalinowski

Moran

English 10 HN Period 7

February 1 2023

Creative and Interesting Title

Have you ever been faced with conflict and wondered what the benefits of cooperation would be, in opposition to the consequences of choosing conflict with the opposing viewpoint? Antigone by Sophicles is a play which tells the story of Antigone and Ismene, who are faced with a devastating fate for themselves and their family. With an irate father, Creon, and dead brother, Polyneices, Antigone faces dangerous backlash while Ismene keeps secrets. The theme that although everyone has individual and personal values, cooperation should be chosen over conflict is shown when Creon lashes out at Antigone and when Ismene chooses to refrain from burying

To begin, Creon, the king and Antigone’s father, was very forbidding of even the idea of burying Polyneices, Antigone’s brother. Creon believed it was a challenge to his power. In response to hearing Antigone had buried Polyneices he bitterly forces Antigone into a cave as punishment, and explains that “no woman while (he) live(s) shall govern (him)”(Sophocles 214). Throughout the play the reader can interpret Creon is very egotistical and is assertive of showing and maintaining his power and has no remorse for family. When he learns Antigone disobeyed his rule, and the gods, he grows irate and voluntarily chooses to create conflict between not only him and his family, but also his kingdom, who valued Antigone's persona. If Creon had chosen cooperation with Antigone, they could have come to an agreement and kept peace in their family and their kingdom. Additionally, when Creon found out Antigone buried Polyneices, he revealed more of his very egotistical character. Haemon explains when Creon chose conflict he became a villain to his family and the public when

For example, when Antigone first introduces her idea to bury Polyneices, Ismene disagrees with her in a peaceful yet disserting manner. Ismene tries to talk her out of it by stating the dangers and asking her to “remember how (their) Father died hated in self-disgrace, self-dismantled in horror of himself” (Sophocles 193). This shows how even though Ismene knew the danger of letting Antigone follow her morals and bury their brother, she cooperated with Antigone's wishes and kept quiet about her plan, even though she didn’t partake. Moreover, towards the end of the play, it is revealed Ismene regrets not helping Antigone and disregarding her fear of others opinions toward her if she had helped bury Polyneices. She tells Antigone, “Sister, do not scorn me; let me share your death and holy homage to the dead” (Sophocles 215). After keeping Antigone's plans private and seeing how supporting Creon's burial lightened the hearts of the people in their kingdom and the rest of her family, Ismene felt remorse for Antigone. She wished she’d done more to help Antigone, because cooperating with her taught Ismene how and why Antigone felt sorrow for Creon, and she began to feel the same. In summary, when choosing cooperation over conflict when faced with a disagreement,