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Antigone analysis essay full
Sophocles portrayal of antigone
Literary and critical analysis of Antigone
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Antigone analysis essay full
Sophocles portrayal of antigone
Literary and critical analysis of Antigone
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
After Creon declares the entombment of Antigone for attempting to bury Polynices against the declaration of his edict, Antigone laments her consequence of death. She displays a change in trait from her hubris as she expresses sorrow in her recognition that she will die at young age and never be able to marry or have children. The Chorus, in return provide their final judgment to Antigone as they state, “Your own blind will, your passion has destroyed you.” (Chorus, 959). Although the Chorus is sympathetic to Antigone’s sorrow, they remind her that she faces her death as a consequence to her negligence to overruling state power.
The tragic play “Antigone” written by Sophocles, follows after the war between Thebes and Argos. In the war, the two sons of Oedipus, Eteokles and Polynices fought for the throne; however, as a result, both sons die. Due to the brotherly feud, Eteokles and Polynices uncle, Creon becomes the king of Thebes. The new king Creon then passes on a law to not bury Polyneices the exile who rebelled against Thebes, but honor Eteokles who defended the country. He then stated, if the body were to be buried by someone, the burier must be executed.
Have you ever believed in something so much that, you would kill in oder to honor it. In they play Antigone, there is two main characters, and they have a disagreement about what each of them believes is right. Antigone’s brother had been killed and left in a field and she feels she should honor him by giving him a proper burial. Creon, the antagonist character in the play, thinks that Antigone deserves a punishment because she is breaking a law by burying her brother. The conflict between the characters goes almost throughout the entire play until creon locks up Antigone until she dies.
Creon shows an extraordinary amount of stubbornness throughout the story. An example is seen when Antigone wishes to give her brother, Polyneices a proper burial so he can have a pleasant afterlife with the Gods. Creon, as king wishes to have him rot in the fields because he turned his back on the state in which the events occurred.
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.
In the play Antigone, Sophocles tells the story of the titular character as she buries her traitorous brother in defiance of a tyrannical despot. Through this action, the play asks the question of whether the laws created by one man “could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions,” (504-5). Some may argue that Creon's decree is merely one of necessity, an unavoidable evil to allow the city of Thebes to heal and unite. He is a patriot holding his city together in times of strife. While Creon may believe this, saying "our country is our safety" (211), it is actually his lack of love that causes him to deny Polynices his burial.
In Sophocles’ devastating ancient Greek tragedy Antigone, the life of Antigone, a brave independent woman who is forced to question her morals, drastically changes due to fate and crucial decisions that are made. When Antigone’s brother Polyneices is killed at war, he is not given a proper burial, nor is he allowed to, according to Antigone’s uncle and the King of the state, Creon. Antigone wants to bury him, therefore causing the characters to struggle with the decision of who is morally correct. This theme of choosing between following one’s individual conscience or following the state’s law is seen throughout the entire play, and the three main characters who struggle with this decision are Antigone, Creon, and Ismene. Antigone, the brave female protagonist in the play, is determined to
“Not so self-centered that you never listen to other people” (Hugh Hefner). In the story of Antigone, Creon shows the characteristics of a tragic hero, as he is the king he shows his self-confident and he does not recognize his flaws until the end of the story. All of this leads into his downfall in the tragedy and causes him to realized what he had done. Creon is a tragic hero because of his self-righteousness, his excessive pride, and he does not listen to the opinion of others.
In the play, Antigone, daughter of Oedipus learns about the death of her two brothers (Eteocles and Polynices).Creon, the new king of Thebes passed a decree to the city on the burial of the two brothers. In the decree, Creon declares that Eteocles body should be buried with honor and fame for his courage of saving the city from the enemy. Whiles Polynices body is left unburied and rotting for beasts to feed on because he came to destroy the city and enslave the people. Antigone defies Creon 's decree, buries Polynices body and gets caught. Creon imprisons her
In the classic play by Sophocles, Antigone is a tragic story of the bold Antigone who defied her uncle, King Creonʻs, edict by burying her brother, Polyneices, who died attacking the city of Thebes, trying to take the power away from their brother, Eteocles, who refused to share the throne with Polyneices. Even though Antigone knew that going against Creon and burying her brother would not end well for her, she still choose to risk her life to do what is right. After being caught breaking the law, Antigone is appointed to be locked away, isolated in a cave until she dies, but she hangs herself at the end. At the same time, things for Creon are not looking good, as everyone around him seems to be against him in his decision for punishing Antigone. Everyone Creon cares about kills themselves from a curse that is put on Creon for not following the Godsʻ laws.
In this brief text, we see Creon has decided to lock up Antigone instead of what the law foretells. In the eyes of Creon, this is a righteous act saving Antigone from stoning but still maintaining justice. However, this ends poorly for Creon causing him to lose his family. Another characteristic that a character must portray is being hubris. Creon throughout the play has excessive pride; from Creon not listening to his sons to endangering his family as a whole to stand by his laws.
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.
Antigone is the daughter of the late king Oedipus, and Creon is the king of Corinth. The conflict that these two face is the burial of Polyneices, who was Antigone’s deceased brother. Creon was not allowing Polynices to be buried, because he had fought against Athens. To Creon, this was correct: “And yet you dared to overstep these laws?” (Sophocles Line 458)
Antigone and the city’s rights are not made fairly and obeyed equally by all people. Creon uses his power to make choices that put him above everyone. Antigone’s rights and fate depends on Creon’s actions and proclamation. In Sophocles Antigone, Antigone faces harsh consequences for her actions throughout the story.. Why is Antigone going to lose her life?
Creon, the antagonist of the play, implements a decree to minimize betrayal from the people of Thebes. The order states that his nephew, Polyneices, may not have a proper burial due to his acts of treason; anyone who defies this rule will be punished. The eponymous character of the play, Creon’s niece, holds a different opinion and gives Polyneices the burial she believes he deserves. Sure enough, Creon catches Antigone and executes her by attempting to starve her to death. Overall, Creon’s demeanor does not work in his favor because the gods give him a fate worse than death.