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Personal Dignity In Antigone

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Throughout the story, Antigone was given and took the opportunity to protect her personal dignity. “I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, it will not be the worst of deaths-death without honor” (1024). Antigone defends herself in conversation with Ismene by choosing to die by honoring their brother Polyneices. “I should have praise and honor for what I have done. All these men here would praise me, were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you” (1036). Antigone points out to Creon that he has risen fear against him, and the fear is stopping the citizens of Thebes from agreeing with her on what she believes is right. Having her beliefs and opinions in mind, Antigone protects her actions against Ismene and Creon to further secure her personal dignity. …show more content…

“yes save yourself. I shall not envy you. There are those who will praise you;” (1039). Receiving the information of Antigone’s death, Ismene enters to die with her sister. Knowing that Ismene had committed no crime, Antigone refuses to allow her to suffer the punishment of death along with her. “Where Persephone welcomes the thin ghosts underground: And I shall see my father again, and you, Mother, and dearest Polyneices-” (1050). With or without her family alive, Antigone remains faithful and loyal to them as she prepares herself to reunite with them after her

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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

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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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On the other hand, Antigone may be prideful, but not like her father; instead she is more arrogant towards her actions that she thinks is just. For instance, in the illegal act of burying her brother, Antigone doesn’t show any guilt as to committing the offence, she instead tells her uncle “I should have praise and honor for what I have done. All these men here would praise me were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you.” This is a bold statement said by Antigone as she tells her uncle that he is wrong, for leaving her brother unburied and that she acted in virtue not haste for what he had done. In saying this Antigone shows that she is prideful in what she had done and that others will agree with her upon it.

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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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Ismene tries to share the blame of the burial, but Antigone will not allow this, saying that Ismene, “[does] not share [blame] with [Antigone] nor did [Antigone] grant [Ismene] partnership” (361). Antigone is both noble and filled with pride in this action; Antigone wants her sister to know that she did something wrong and does not want Ismene to be punished. Although Ismene went against Antigone, Antigone is still trying to protect her from being punished. At the same time, Antigone is showing that she is not ashamed of what she did, though the diction of “grant” and “partnership”. Antigone treats the blame of the burial as something one needs to earn or be granted.

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In the play, Antigone’s upbringing was surrounded by her royal family, causing the bond between them to be strong. Antigone broke King Creon's edict and went to bury her brother Polyneices. She was well aware of the edict made by Creon, like the rest of the kingdom. However, her tragic flaw of loyalty would not allow her to do anything about her brother being left for the dogs and birds, even if she risked her own life. Along with risking her own life, her loyalty to Polyneices blinded her from considering her sister Ismene’s emotions in her sister sacrificing her life.

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In the preface of Antigone, she says to her sister Ismene, “ So gracing him among the death below. But Polyneices, a dishonored course ,... No man may bury him or make lament- Must leave him tombless and unwept…”(Sophocles). Antigone is showing the differences in treatment between the burial of her two brothers due to the decree put in place by Creon and this caused her to take a stand. Another quote from the story says, “But by the death commended; and with them I shall abide ever.

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In the scene in which Creon will not allow her brother to be buried. This goes against her personal beliefs she confronts Creon when she says “if I had allowed my own mothers son to rot, an unburied corpse that would have been an agony.” Creon wouldn’t allow Antigone brother to be buried even tho Antigone felt it was the right thing to do. Antigone is talking to Ismene about burying her brother but Ismene tells her to keep the idea a secret but Antigone disagrees and says “But I know I’ll please the ones I’m duty bound to please.

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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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When Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, her intention to bury their brother against the orders of their uncle, Ismene states that she will “. . . obey the men in charge. My mind / Will never aim too high, too far” (pg. 3). Antigone is a stark contrast to Ismene, who wishes to stay within the bounds of traditional society by staying obedient and submissive to men. Antigone has her own mind however, and is not afraid to make her own decisions.

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This shows that Antigone is following her own moral code rather than what someone else decrees her to do. Antigone confides in Ismene to join her in fighting for a proper burial, but Ismene refuses because of her fear of speaking

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Some people may argue that Creon was justified in punishing Antigone although she is his direct relative. Those who defend Creon’s actions say that maintaining order in Thebes is more important than loved ones. This is an understandable concern, however, in obtaining the so-called “order” in Thebes, Creon faces a punishment far worse than death. Additionally, the people in Thebes do not agree with their ruler: “the city mourns for [Antigone],” and they believe that she deserves “a golden crown” for her demeanor (775, 782). Antigone, Haemon, the people of Thebes and the Gods all have one thing in common; they all disagree with Creon’s decree.

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Antigone’s actions are motivated by her allegiance to her family, moral conscience, and religion amid Creon’s political injustice and tyranny. Antigone’s actions motivate her to demand Ismene to prove whether she is “a true sister or a traitor to your family” (26-27). Antigone maintains loyalty to her brother despite his actions which threatened Thebes. Her inability to bear the thought of her brother’s corpse being picked apart by animals and not being honored with proper funeral rites forces her to act. Antigone’s fierce allegiance to her family is laid bare as she is willing to sacrifice her life to honor her brother and defy the law in an act that she believes is morally just.

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Women are viewed as lower class, or “slaves”. So when Creon heard of Antigone’s actions, he is in disbelief and thinks her actions should be punished by death. In response to Creon ordering her to her death, she sneered, “Then I beg you: Kill me… I should have praise and honor for what I have done.” She has accepted consequences and is welcoming her fate of death. She is proud in the fact she buried her brother

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She does not understand why she is being treated so unjustly for trying to do the right thing. The chorus in the play tries convincing Antigone that justice is behaving in accordance to Creon’s laws but Antigone is stubborn and sustains to her convictions. Even though Antigone ends up dying she dies achieving her goal of wanting to bury her brother properly. Mostly everyone in this play goes against what the main character feels is justly because they want to follow the kings laws and they believe she is acting immorally. Antigone is not acting immorally, she is doing the right thing to follow the law of the gods.

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