Similarities Between Macbeth And Antigone

In Macbeth by ShakesSpeare, and Oedipus Rex by the great Greek Tragedian Sophocles, the argument between Antigone and Ismene is the most convincing. As Macbeth begins talking to the hired killers being sent to take away Banquo’s life, Macbeth uses different tactics in order to convince them to go through with the deed. In the play, it states, “Do you find your patience so predominant in your nature, that you can let this go? Are you so gospelled, To pray for this good man and for his issue, whos heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave, and begarred yours for ever.”(Macbeth 3.1 43) Macbeth tries to get the men’s anger and resentment towards Banquo to convince them to do this harsh deed. Macbeth continues his convincing by trying to explain why it is completely necessary for Banquo to be killed. “ Have you considered my speeches? Know that it was he in the times past, which held you so underfortune, which you thought had been your innocent self.” (Macbeth 3.1 40) He continues to rekindle the two murders' hatred towards Banquo, and make sure they feel

“But you Ismene, you can choose whether or not you want to dishonor those things that are honored by the gods.”(Sophodes 3) Antigone tries to say that she would rather disobey the current laws then disobey what the gods or higher ups would want her to do, making her sister feel as if she's making a mistake and disappointing the gods if she doesn’t help her. She continues to persuade her sister by pointing out the burial of her brother is worth the punishment. “My death will be sweet once I bury him, because I will be lying next to him in the underworld, having committed sacred blessed crime.” (Sophocles 3) She uses honor and nobility in convincing her sister that she would rather her death be worth something then let her brother go