Fate or Free Will? Does life pass on by the people’s decision? Or do the gods decide on the events in everyone’s life?
In the book Antigone, the author ,Sophocles, goes from fate to destiny countless times. Antigone, his main character, is depicted as a defiant, determined, stubborn woman ends up doomed to her fate by the her act of free will. The situation begins with Antigone being outraged by her uncle’s choice in giving her brother, Eteocles, the heroic burial and not Polyneices, her other brother. Creon, Antigone’s uncle and ruler of Thebes, commands everyone to leave Polyneices rotting as the result of a traitor. Of course, Antigone defies his order by burying her brother in broad daylight. She encourages Ismene, her sister, to join her. During her conversation with Ismene, Antigone makes it clear that burying her brother is her own choice. “I will go and heap a burial mound over my most dear brother.” (Sophocles pg 5) “I shall detest you soon’ and you will justly incur the dead man’s hatred. Suffer me and my unwisdom to endure the weight of what is threatened. I shall meet with nothing more grievous, at the worst, than death, with honour.” (Sophocles Pg 6)
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He decides this on his own, even with the pleading of Ismene, Haemon, and Tiresias. The person who reveals Creon’s fate is the prophet, Tiresias. He approaches Creon with a supplication of possibly allowing Antigone out of her tomb. If he were to go against this, the gods shall release a punishment onto Creon for his actions. “For thou hast made Life join hands with Death, and sent a living soul unworthily to dwell within a tomb, and keep’st a corpse here, from the presence of the powers beneath, not for thy rights or any God’s above...” (Sophocles pg 57-58) Ignoring the advice, Creon ejects Tiresias out of his palace. Creon did this out of his pride and stubbornness. “_____”