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Why Is Antigone Still Relevant Today

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Recommended: How does antigone defy traditional gender roles

Neva Perrine
Mrs. Cain
W4
February 8, 2023

Abstract Antigone is a beautiful story still prevalent in society today even though it is old. Women’s rights, or the lack thereof, was discussed in detail. As well the effect activism can have on society. Another big point was power and who should truly have it. Quality of life was also something spoken on, and how it can change depending on what you are experiencing. Antigone is helpful to understand civilization today.

Introduction Antigone was written by Sophocles in 441 BC, and even though it is such an ancient text it still holds prevalence today. It discusses many social issues including treatment of women, death, politics and power, and many others. History …show more content…

This is an important piece of information because it shapes many aspects in the narrative including the treatment of women. The quote, “I’m not dishonoring anyone! And even still, I’m just a woman! Only men get a say in how the city is run, you know that.” (Sophocles 441BC), shows in its pathos that women were held in much less regard than men. The women in this period did not have the ability to make political decisions and were more so just forced to follow what men said. Antigone showed how little women were able to make verdicts in Ancient Greek society, and how there are similarities still present …show more content…

There is a central idea that no one truly wants to die, but some causes and events make them impartial to it. The excerpt, “Who would end their dying song if they knew that the final note would be their last?” (Sophocles 441BC) through its pathos shows that people don’t need to worry about death, and instead live. People need to have full lives before they are ready to die. If society constantly fears or longs for the end, they will never truly live but instead just exist. To add, another overreaching theme is religion. What the gods want and how they would react to things. An excerpt that illustrates this is, “Who knows what the gods consider holy” though its Kairos it shows how big of a point in society it was then. This is still an issue today through religion. People will kill others for not staying in what they find holy, but they forget to ask themselves if this would please their

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