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Examples Of Characterization In Antigone

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Antigone uses characterization to help the readers better understand his characters. An example of how Sophocles presents the character's traits, is through dialogue. Dialogue is a discussion between two or more people. The beginning of the play begins with Antigone talking with her sister, Ismene. Antigone is adamant on burying her brother, Polyneices. However, she is resolute in her answer no matter Ismene´s efforts to convince her to do otherwise. Antigone says, ¨But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy¨ (4). The author immediately starts the book by showing the readers how strong headed and determined Antigone is. The reader gets an insight to her personality. She also says, ¨...It will not be the worst of deaths ––death without honor¨ (5). Since Antigone is the heroine …show more content…

The story takes place in the city-state known as Thebes. The setting helps the readers figure out the hows and the whys of this specific location and the significance behind it. The play mostly takes place in front of the palace. Everything takes place in front of the palace for a reason. Sophocles places the scenes in front of the castle to show the audience that what Antigone does is not unnoticed by Creon. However, it also shows how much power Creon holds. As he says to Haimon, ¨My voice is the one voice giving orders in this City!¨ (23). Then Haimon responds back by contradicting him and saying, ¨It is no City if it takes orders from one voice¨ (23). And since the readers know Creon is the King of Thebes, the audience can infer that the setting is surrounded with sentries that report back to him. Thebes is controlled by Creon. Sophocles wanted the readers to understand this so the audience could better see how this a very one sided quarrel. Thus the stark reality is that the setting is not the most ideal place for the heroine but for the

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In Sophocles Antigone Creon’s fatal flaw is his overabundance of arrogance. Over the course of the play Creon’s own pride distances him from his loved ones, his subjects, and ultimately from his own mind. During the play, Sophocles utilizes varied literary techniques such as exposition and dramatic irony to express his own view of mankind. For example, in Antigone, Sophocles expresses the idea that hubris, or excessive pride is the key element in self destruction. For the duration of the play, Sophocles builds the character of Creon, the tyrannical king of Thebes, who seems to embody this particular flaw.

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In addition, Antigone has her own struggle, faceing her uncle King Creon, by herself. Moreover, Antigone was declared the death penalty, on behalf of giving her brother funeral honors. This is a very unruly move, because her brother is considered a traitor to the king and people, which ultimately means he shall not be buried. However, it shows King Creon that Antigone would do anything to modify the law, as well as taking her own life, just so her brother has a proper funeral. To emphasize, Antigone responds to King Creon, “ If I die young, I say I’d gain something” (Sophocles 20).

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After Creon declares the entombment of Antigone for attempting to bury Polynices against the declaration of his edict, Antigone laments her consequence of death. She displays a change in trait from her hubris as she expresses sorrow in her recognition that she will die at young age and never be able to marry or have children. The Chorus, in return provide their final judgment to Antigone as they state, “Your own blind will, your passion has destroyed you.” (Chorus, 959). Although the Chorus is sympathetic to Antigone’s sorrow, they remind her that she faces her death as a consequence to her negligence to overruling state power.

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We are only women, We cannot fight with men Antigone!” (Prologue Lines 45-47). While Ismene would gladly obey the laws set forth by her Uncle, Antigone would rather die than let her brother’s body be desecrated. She refused to give up no matter the obstacle in her way. At the end of her crusade, Antigone is condemned to be buried alive in a tomb by Creon.

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Later on, Creon says, “If we must lose, let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (Sophocles 539-540). This quote once again points to the societal perception of women as inferior and weaker. After reading Singh’s article, it is clear that Antigone’s refusal to bow down and accept her place as inferior is a motivating factor in her punishment.

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She is being sentenced by Creon to “Living in a vault of stone. She shall have food, as the custom is, to absolve the State of her death” (776. 155-156). This means that she is to live in solitude with food to last her a little while but she will eventually starve to death and since she was given food, it will not be on the state’s record from the Gods. Antigone firmly believes she hasn’t done anything wrong and states “I have not sinned before God.

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line 52 scene two antigone is confronted about burying her brother polyneices and says. “I do,i deny nothing.” in the story both Antigone and creon have the same tragic flaw which is their stubbornness which would lead to Antigone's death and creon's downfall. What makes Antigone the tragic hero is that Antigone only tried to follow the laws of the gods and bury polyneices. As the story continues antigone will kill herself as a result of her stubbornness.

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Antigone is a play written by Sophocles that focuses on the consequences of Antigone's decision to defy her uncle the king and bury her brother Polyneices. The play presents Antigone as a brave and noble character who is willing to sacrifice her life to bury her brother, which is a death sentence. Although her uncle, King Creon, sees her decision as treasonous, Antigone's actions are justified when she honors her brother in ways only known. First, it is important to note why King Creon feels guilty about Antigone's actions. Creon makes it clear that the body of Polyneices must not be buried because he is a traitor and an enemy of the state.

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“But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me.” (Prologue 2. 57-60) Antigone’s willingness to die for her cause enables one to believe that her actions show strength and courage. However, her prideful spirit still prevents her from listening to her sister Ismene’s voice of reason. Antigone does not fully see the extent of her actions and who they could affect.

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However, Antigone’s ruthless and independent characteristics prevail as she states coldly to her sister “Your choice was to live… mine to die”. (389) This act of truthfulness and willingness to die by herself for her own actions makes Antigone even more respectable. The statement also proves that she knew what the consequence of her crime would be. And rather than try to hide or run from her actions she faced them with certainty which is something most could not say.

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She will only accept complete or no help at all, demonstrating how her decision is made in absolutes, with Antigone considering no other factors or consequences that may come as a result. Antigone demonstrates her resolve and her solitary motivation, as she brushes Ismene off harshly at any hint of hesitation. To do that indicates that she tolerates disloyalty to an extreme level, even if it comes from another member of her immediate family, even her own sister. This also reveals the fatalistic nature Antigone, as she says she is ready to die by breaking the law.

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Later in the argument, Ismene comes up to them to try to take responsibility in the act with Antigone. Then, Antigone interjects saying, “No, you may not die along with me. Don’t say you did it! You wouldn’t even touch it [The plan to bury their brother]. Now leave MY death alone.”

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Antigone, My heart turns into a calmly erupting volcano at your thoughtfulness, my dear sister. Your audacious determination to live by “the laws of the gods”(Antigone, line 65) is the of the utmost admirable. I understand you perceive the burial of my very soulless body against the words of our own blood, Creon, and city to be a “crime that is holy”(58) in both the eyes of the gods and your own. I can not express the very fondness I feel for you as I helplessly watch over you in the underworld of Hades.

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Antigone being the one to fight for her beliefs and obeying the god's laws attempts the burial of Polyneices and goes against Creon’s law to prove to him that he’s in over his head that he has too much pride in himself, in lines 15-35 Antigone claims that she is going to go

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Jaanvi Shah Mr. Eyre English 9 March, 2015 Literary Analysis of Antigone John Foster says, “pride comes before fall.” As the action of the Sophocles 's Antigone unfolds, it is clear that the protagonist Creon has all the six characteristics of a tragic hero. Teiresias interactions with Creon help to demonstrate three of those typical traits: Creon’s noble stature, his tragic flaw of having pride and arrogance, and his free choice that makes his downfall his own fault. Creon, the King of Thebes, accords with Aristotle’s theory of a tragic hero beginning as powerful distinguished and important person.

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