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Sacrifice In Antigone

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In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, burial customs of the ancient Greeks play an extensive role. The women of the family perform the burial rites, and believed that if their distinct methods were not followed, the soul is destined to suffer between worlds until the correct rites were performed. Antigone, the sister of Polynices and Eteocles, is aware of this and is not going to stand by and let her brother, Polynices, linger between worlds in pain, after being killed by Eteocles. With her ambition and determination she does the deed, and of doing so she follows the god's laws, but breaks Creon’s laws in the midst of it. Creon is also aware of the burial rites but still decides, through his stubbornness, that Polynices shall not be performed these rites, because of his actions against Thebes. Haemon, Creon’s son, knew that his father’s decisions are not in the best interest for Thebes, so he tries sharing his perspective in the most respectful way, but ends up failing to get through to him. Sophocles portrays Antigone’s ambition, Creon’s stubbornness, and Haemon’s perspective, indicating that “unshakable …show more content…

These characters show unshakable willpower in different ways, but all end up with devastating results. Antigone’s ambition shows her passion for what she believes in, but still ends up committing suicide. Creon uses his unshakable willpower in a selfish, non heroic way and ends up alone. Haemon, a loyal and confident man, speaks his voice to save Antigone and lead Creon into making the right decision for Thebes, but also ends up committing suicide after seeing Antigone dead. Antigone and Haemon are honorable for their actions, but still did not get the positive turn out that they are searching for. They all use their unshakable willpower in different ways but still end up with a downfall of either dying or losing their loved

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Haemon In the end these conflicting reasons develop Creon as a tragic hero by showing his breakdown and the character interaction leading the plot to create the theme by keeping a climax in the story to make the story seem interesting and keep you all into it. Haemon’s words, behavior, and thought, converse with Creon’s character to the point of these two characters having clashing reasons make the of insanity, animosity, and discourtesy to be brought out within Creon’s character. Creon’s absurdity is examined when Haemon starts an disagreement in abutment of Antigone. Creon vigorously denies to listen to Antigone's side of the story.

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“Persuasion is often more powerful than force” once stated by great greek fabulist Aesop, Many of the characters follow this advice throughout the story (“Aesop Quotes”.). As Creon gives a speech to his city he uses ethical appeals in hope to assert his power and make himself look like a trustworthy leader.. Antigone does not listen to this and decides to disobey her uncle, sister Ismene tries to plant logic into her head not to disobey in fear that her sister may end up dying in result. Haemon being both the son of Creon and the fiance of Antigone he should have a hard decision to make but he cannot get behind his father in putting his future wife to death. Ismene, Creon, and Haemon all use the rhetorical appeals of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos to be persuasive towards their goals.

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These conflicting motivations cause the characteristics of anxiety, anger, and selfishness to be highlighted within Creon’s character. Ultimately, these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by giving Creon his free choice that makes his downfall exclusively his own fault and the character interactions advance the plot by pushing King Creon to insanity and showing that even the King’s own family was trying to urge him to change his decree, and develops the theme of love and loyalty by showing the struggle between faith and family. Through the words, actions, and ideas of Haemon, the visible contrast between Creon’s character and Haemon’s character are present. Creon’s inner anger, anxiety and selfishness cause him to lose sight

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In Greek culture, it is a custom to bury the dead to please the gods. The Greeks also believed that when you don’t bury someone they will wonder the earth. Antigone wanted to give Polynecies a proper burial because it is right in the god’s eyes. She also wanted him to have an afterlife. She never lied to Creon when she was caught burying the body.

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In Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, there more than a couple of characters that carry a slew of traits that which I posses. However, one I believe I portray the most is Haemon, Antigone's fiance. In this play Haemon is seen as faithful, loyal, and a man who stands up for what he believes in. To demonstrate such, Antigone, his soon to be wed, is already set to be exiled by his most fearful father, King Creon. Rather than just accepting the fact that his love is being given the death penalty and scout for a new, he decides to argue with the higher authority, and beg for her life.

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Being a good citizen often includes doing something out of the ordinary in order to help others and sometimes that may involve going against the will of others. In Sophocles’ Antigone becomes a hero with noble qualities of mind, heart and soul because she is willing to sacrifice her own life, doing what she believes is the right thing. Antigone believes in the authority of religious law and tradition. Although King Creon has ordered that the traitor Polynices should not be buried, Antigone insists on following the religious law requiring that females bury the deceased of their family. Antigone says herself that she has experienced “no private shame, no public disgrace, nothing” that cannot be experienced (Antigone, pg.

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In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon, the king of Thebes, best represents a tragic hero. Creon demonstrates goodness in his intentions for Thebes as well as his fragile state due to the fact that he recently lost several family members. Creon, newly named king, finds himself as highest ranking official around, showing superiority. Creon often acts stubborn and prideful, his tragic flaw. And lastly, he must come to terms with the fact that he caused the death of his wife, son, and niece.

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Haimon , Creon’s son warns him that the people of Thebes sympathize with Antigone. Haemon tells his father, I beg you, do not be unchangeable: Do not believe that you alone can be right. The man who thinks that, The man who maintains that only he has the power To reason correctly, the gift to speak, to soul–– A man like that, when you know him, turns out empt.

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In literature, the theme of duty and sacrifice is a common element explored in various ways and genres. It is a theme that raises ethical questions about the morality of one's actions and often emphasizes the idea that sacrifices should not be made lightly. Duty must be balanced with morality; blindly following tradition or authority can lead to tragedy. Through a close examination of various literary works, such as "Antigone," "The Lottery," "Dulce et Decorum Est," and "The Things They Carried," this essay will explore the different ways in which the theme of duty and sacrifice is portrayed and how it highlights the importance of considering the morality of our actions. In "Antigone" by Sophocles, the conflict between Antigone and Creon raises questions about the morality of following duty versus following personal beliefs.

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In “Antigone,” we are introduced to many different characters. Each is unique and have their own personality and traits. Some characters, however, hold important traits that shape the storyline. Haemon shows that the truth triumphs over allegiance and power. He shows that one can rebel against their own side and that not only the truth hurts, but logic too.

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759 Words | 4 Pages

In Antigone, there was two brothers who shared being the King and one of the brothers, Polynices, wanted to start a war with the kingdom because he wanted to be the main ruler. Polynices and his brother Eteocles fight and they both end up killing each other. Their Uncle Creon, who takes position as King when they are both killed, decides that only Eteocles will have a proper burial and Polynices will be left to rot. Antigone, Polynices and Eteocles sister, thinks that Creon’s decision is unfair and takes upon herself to give Polynices a proper burial. When their other sister Ismene finds out, she is stuck between helping her sister bury their brother and following Creon’s demands.

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1403 Words | 6 Pages

The burial ritual was very important to those who believed in mythology, as it was what allowed them to cross over into the afterlife. According to tradition, an entire body must be preserved or it cannot cross over. Creon wanted to leave Polyneices’ body to be eaten by wild animals so he would be unable to cross over. Antigone buried her brother anyway and when Creon found out, he threw her in prison. As the story goes on, the general opinion begins to change and more characters begin to side with Antigone.

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763 Words | 4 Pages

In Antigone Creon broke the tradition of burial when he didn't bury Polyneices. In the prolog of Antigone Antigone shows us that Creon broke the tradition when she says “Creon buried our brother Eteoclês With military honors, gave him a soldier’s funeral, And it was right that he should; but Polyneicês, They fought as bravely and died as miserably,-- They say that Creon has sworn No one shall bury him, no one mourn for him, But this body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure For carrion birds to find as they search for food. That is what they say... I am going to bury him” Antigone protest over Creon breaking tration by buying Polyneices and in the end dying for her beliefs.

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483 Words | 2 Pages

Antigone believes she should have the right of her brother’s burial. Creon states, “No one shall burry him, no one mourn for him” (Sophocles 2) illustrating that Polyneicis is irrelevant in the city of Thebes. The law in Greek society is a female should not have power or freedom over any circumstance. Antigone demands rights over her brother and will not accept

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Fate Against Power “Father, the gods instill good sense in men, the greatest of all things which we possess.” (Lines 776-777) Haemon attempts to persuade his father to do the right thing by involving gods in his plea, which were perceived to have valuable opinions by the people. In Antigone, by Sophocles, a rather large disagreement involving Creon’s belief of putting Antigone to death as a resolution for her breaking his law and Haemon’s claim that it is wrong to follow through with such a severe punishment for such a minor crime, comes between a father and his son, emphasizing the characteristics of cruelty, arrogancy, and sensitivity that prove Creon as a tragic hero, thus advancing the plot of the play.

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