Examples Of Antigone As A Foil To Creon

Character Assumption When we watch a performance, we try our best to associate with one of the many characters on stage. At least that’s what I do. If we cannot find any resemblance within a character we judge them quickly on what we do know. For example, we judge people on appearance by how they dress, how they walk or talk, and how they act around others. In the chapter of ‘Characters and Persons’ it discusses the aspects of characters such as, if they are simple or complex and if its more than just appearance and demeanor. By comprehending what foil, hamartia, and character delivery mean we can understand the subtext within a character. In “Studying Plays” the book defines foil as a point of comparison or a point of reference. Usually

In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone and Creon both serve as a foil to each other. Antigone is considered a foil to Creon because she encourages his stubbornness by not following his law. He announces to the chorus that “Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied; and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like.” (Antigone, Sophocles, ln 170). Antigone is loyal to her family even though Polyneices her brother was on the opposing side. Family is still family and because of her family devotion she continues to give her brother a proper burial despite Creon’s decree. Since he is the ruler and his village should listen to him, Antigone’s opinion doesn’t matter and also her being a woman gives him more of a reason to not listen to her. He abides the law of the government and because of his pride not the break the law, he refuses to listen to reason from Antigone and Haimon until Tiresias curses him. Creon is Antigone’s foil as well

Antigone opposes what he says, according to her no one should follow orders of someone who isn’t a god. Antigone is family devoted and ethical while Creon is law abiding and believes in the strict laws of the government. The only similar trait between them is their stubbornness. Another example of foils in Antigone is between the characters of Antigone and her sister Ismene. Antigone demonstrates power and control over her own fate while Ismene shows weakness and the inability to take life into her own hands. A perfect example of Ismene’s incompetence is when Antigone asks Ismene if she will help bury their brother and Ismene responds with “But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do!” (Antigone, Sophocles, ln 34). Her