More handpicked essays just for you.
How has greek literature influenced modern society
Greek mythology and greek culture
Greek mythology and greek culture
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
After her brother’s death, Antigone wanted to bury his body since no matter what her brother had done, he was still her brother. However, if she did bury him, it would be breaking the law King Creon had set up. Ismene kept telling and trying to persuade Antigone not to bury him but Antigone calmly tells her, “I will bury the brother I love. (Prologue, 69)” Even though Ismene told Antigone about the consequences of her planned action, Antigone was completely fine with
The burial of Polyneices is viewed nobly, yet Antigone is not faultless in that act. One of Antigone’s largest mistakes is that she burns bridges with those that care about her. Pleading with Antigone, Ismene laments “why would I care to live when you are gone?” (548). Antigone dismisses this heartfelt plea by deferring Ismene to Creon, thus isolating herself from her only kin.
Antigone, who feels the same love for both her brothers, decides to bury her Polyneices, even though Creon will put anyone to death that tries to. She tries to get Ismene involved, but she refuses to break Creon’s law. Antigone gets caught in the burying of her brother and Creon sends her to
1. In the play Antigone why is Ismene’s idea of justice (justice is obeying the laws of the land made by the king) wrong? Ismene’s idea of justice is very wrong.
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.”
“How could I live on alone, without my sister.” (Sophocles, page 32) She tries to take credit for the burial with Antigone. Ismene is distraught when Antigone rejects her and so she tries to appeal to Creon, asking him how he could kill his son’s bride-to-be. When Creon brushes off her pleas, he sentences her to be sent to the dungeons with Antigone.
(pg. 3, lines 54-55) This implies that Ismene also thinks that Antigone is crazy for going against her own city, zbut Antigone shows that she is not afraid of danger even if it is death. She does not fear the impossible
When people defend what they believe in or who they love that is sacrifice. In order to be certain that her two brothers she loved had a proper burial and that their souls could rest, Antigone sacrificed her life. Regardless of the potential outcome; even if that means that she was going to have to challenge her uncle (King Creon), she plans on pursuing her quest. Polynices and Eteocles killed each other in battle for control over Thebes, leaving the city to the new King, Creon Jocasta’s brother and Antigone’s uncle. Because of the actions that Polynices took during the war, Creon labels him a traitor and halts any burial process, leaving his body for the animals (222-234).
CreOff There are many influential leader in this world that make excellent decisions and laws for their countries. But would you listen to a god or just another human? There are 7 billion people on Earth and there are different religions that believe in different gods but there are still only a few gods or lords. Why would you follow a law created by your fellow human beings when a god wants you to do something else?
Creon has officially made the decision that he is not going to bury Polyneices which angers Antigone. Antigone needs help to reach her goal and she says to Ismene, “You may do as you like, since apparently the laws of the Gods mean nothing to you (Sophocles, et al. 192).” Ismene is hesitant to agree with Antigone and join her in this task because she does not want to break the law and go against Creon’s words. Antigone is making Ismene feel
In the beginning of the controversy between Antigone and Ismene, Ismene chose to be loyal to Creon and repeatedly telling her sister that she should not go through with the plans she has created. In the middle of the argument Ismene decides to be loyal to her family and help with the burial. At the end of the play of Antigone, three people are dead: Antigone, Haemon or Haimon (Antigone fiancé also Creon’s son) and Creon’s wife. Ismene is assumed to be alive, Sophocles ignored her fate. It is as if she just disappeared.
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.
Ismene trembles in feat because her life could also be in danger for being the sister of Antigone. Throughout all the family drama if Antigone dies Ismene will be the only descendant from Oedipus alive. Ismene is worried and says, “Antigone I am so afraid for you” (3) because she knows Antigone will die soon. Ismene tells Antigone to be intelligent about her actions and not eager to respond to situations.
The Burial Rights of a Traitor Both in fiction and in present day reality, controversies regarding the treatment of enemies and traitors exist on a large scale. Whether the person betrayed his family and friends or whether she broke the king’s law, there are consequences to actions. The specific consequences differ according to an individual’s worldview and his or her position in society. Such arguments are present in an ancient Greek drama, Sophocles’ play Antigone (442 BCE), and were debated in 2013 regarding the burial of a suspected terrorist bomber, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, in Boston, Massachusetts. In Antigone, the problem arises when Antigone attempts to bury her brother, Polyneices, who King Creon had declared as unworthy of burial.
“I shall be hating you soon,” (193). Antigone then transitions into a more emotional form of persuasion, by threatening the relationship between them if she is to not join in on her plan. This targets the guilty conscience of Ismene which is normally what tends to push people to agree with the arguer, although it can be seen as a slightly manipulative tactic. Despite Antigone’s passive aggressive argument with Ismene, she fails to convince her to join the burial and carries out her mission on her own. However, the sentry Creon sent to spy on the grave spots her and brings her to Creon as the guilty
