Analysis Of Fagles 's ' Antigone '

At the very beginning it starts off having Antigone and her sister talking about how she had heard they had a new rule that was going around. They are trying to talk in private with each other because her sister hasn’t heard anything yet. After Antigone has told her sister everything that she has heard she then tells her to tell everyone in the streets and to spread the news out to everyone because they needed to be warned.

While one can argue against the law of the gods and the laws of man, there is never a clear answer, as to which one is superior. In defense of her position, Antigones decision to bury her brother was justified because the laws of the gods, as well as respect for the deceased, triumph over the laws of the state. Morals are often independent and separate from human laws, but they should always be followed. Creon had no right to give an order for Polynices to go without a proper burial. Antigone’s choice to choose her morals, which were established by the Gods were honorable, and are not deserving of punishment. Antigone’s actions were right, and Creon was wrong for ordering such a decree, for man cannot stop the will of the gods.

While Antigone represents a full devotion to humanism, her sister, Ismene, represents not only the rejection of it, but also passivity towards the notion of morality which, in a sense, is equivalent to Creon’s treachery towards what we hold morally sacred. Ismene has long been used as a symbol of both anti-politics and anti-humanism, which creates a dynamic plot by contrasting the cowardly fear to stand up for one’s concept of what is right with a brazen display of self-fulfilled justice. (2) What’s worse may be Ismene’s knowledge of her cowardliness and complete complacency, as seen when talking to Antigone about her plan to bury their slain brother when sharing her fear of punishment, " Think how we’ll die far worse than all the rest, if we defy the law and move against the

By choosing this path she did not only choose her life/future but she also the rest of her family’s. Her whole family will be affected by her choice of following her father’s fate, either now or in the future. Antigone and Ismene have a very in depth conversation before it takes place. Ismene is somewhat upset about the choice Antigone is about to make not only for her sake but also her own destiny.

Antigone was a Greek tragedy that ended in Antigone’s death along with her brother’s. In the beginning of the of the tragedy we learn of her brother’s death “Creon buried our brother Eteocles with military honors, gave him a soldier’s funeral, and it was right that he should; but Polyneices, they fought as bravely and died as miserably, they say that Creon has sworn No one shall bury him,” (LN 15-20). King Creon’s decision for not giving Polyneices a proper burial is because he was a traitor. However, that was Antigone’s brother and she felt besides Polyneices actions, he still deserved a burial. Antigone has lost her parents and just has her sister Ismene left so, despite the order handed down by Creon, Antigone feels that it’s still appropriate to give her brother a proper burial.

Antigone is salting the wound here by suggesting that Ismene does not love her brother as much she does. Antigone is using Ismene's emotions and questioning the love that ismene had for her brother implying that Ismene is a horrible sister and would rather let her brother get eat by vultures and wild dogs then risk getting in

The novel In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez and the play Antigone by Sophocles, both include similar characters, situations, and actions that react to the idea of a dangerous growing authority. The characters Dede from the Time of the Butterflies and Ismene from Antigone both strive to stay out of trouble with the government; however Dede’s approach is more effective as she becomes an oracle character by the end of the novel, for she lives to tell the story of the Mirabal sisters. Dede uses her relationship with her sisters, as well as her own family to survive through the dangerous reign of Trujillo. When facing a regime such as Trujillo's regime, the survivors who live to tell their story, like Dede, are crucial to understanding and analyzing important historical moments. These survivors live through real tragedies, so they are primary resources with personal opinions and experiences.

Ismene wants peace for women, and the gods. She would rather avoid conflict than helping fight for women's equality. Antigone and Ismene argue because they have different views of women’s roles. Ismene explains she disagrees with the gods, but that she does not want to fight when she says,“I do dishonor them, but to do this against the state- I have no strength for it” (Ant. 16). Ismene gets into an argument regarding women’s roles with Creon. Creon wants to kill Antigone because of her views of women’s roles. Ismene mourns over the thought and asks Creon, “What would life be for me alone, without her?” (Ant. 34). Sophocles reveals that Ismene is a weak character by showing Ismene’s rational side of

Ismene isn't such a great amount of apprehensive of bad form as she is scared of her own downfall - and she can't stand to bring about the fierceness of men inspired by a paranoid fear of being sentenced to an indistinguishable destiny from whatever is left of her family. Subsequent to watching her dad and siblings bite the dust, she trusts that the best game plan is to hide and comply. On account of Ismene, it appears inaction is fixing to fear-at any rate until the point that she enthusiastically offers to bite the dust by Antigone, and soon thereafter we understand that she isn't such a great amount of idle as she is uncertain of her place as a lady. Subsequently, while Ismene is a figure described essentially by question, Antigone is one who dives ahead simply on self-conviction and her firm feelings about good and bad. At last, at that point, as a result of these major contrasts in reasoning, they can't bite the dust together, however Ismene needs to. Antigone precludes it - she can't stand to have her sister follow along when Ismene from the beginning is in the camp of the patriarchs, in spite of her eleventh-hour move.

First, Ismene is empowered to overcome her fear of disobeying Creon’s law as a result of watching Antigone act boldly to do what she thinks is right. At the beginning of the play, Ismene, Antigone’s sister, is obedient and shy. Ismene is fearful of the consequence of burying their brother, Polyneices, but Antigone helps her see what is right. After seeing Antigone willingly accept punishment for burying Polynices, Ismene has a change of heart. She tells her sister, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here To join you, to take my share of the punishment”

Throughout the play, Antigone is contradicted by her sister Ismene. Where Antigone is stubborn and hardheaded, Ismene is more obedient; Where Antigone is not afraid of going against the roles set for her gender, Ismene believes that they should be followed. When Antigone tells her sister of her plans to continue with Polyneices’ burial despite Creon’s orders, Ismene tries to reason with her, saying that because they are women, they shouldn’t disobey Creon’s proclamation. The equal value placed upon the views of both women is expressed in Antigone’s conversation with Ismene, in which she tells her sister “to those who agree with each, each of us was right,” (685-687). The play points out that at times, being obedient to the law even if one does not agree to it may be wiser than being stubborn and hard headed, even if it’s for a good

The beginning of the play begins with Antigone and her sister, Ismene. Antigone presents her plan of burying their brother, Polynices, whose body had been denied a proper burial by their uncle, King Creon, since in his eyes Polynices had been seen as an enemy to the city. Antigone wanted Ismene to accompany her, but Ismene immediately refused in fear of the consequences. Ismene states “We are women and we do not fight with men/ We are subject to them

In contrary Ismene is docile and someone who follow the laws at all costs. She said, “we are women” stating a woman’s position in society and obligated to obey by the law. She doesn’t agree with her sister Antigone, since is prohibiting for women to have a voice during those times. Ismene believe that women should never violate the laws of man who were guide by the gods. Antigone will carry out the forbidden burial alone, nevertheless she seeks futilely the complicity of her sister Ismene. Ismene without endorsing the established power by King Creon, discreetly folds to it, became a passive collaborator of the system implemented by him.

The topic I chose to write this essay on is about the examination of the central conflicts that are taking place in the story “Antigone”. Throughout the story and what seems to be the start of many conflicts to come is, Antigone the main character having hard time fathering the fact that she’s not allowed to bury her other brother Polynices. Due to orders given by her uncle Creon. Essentially in the story Antigone struggles with fighting against the social customs of the time, disputes with her sister Ismene, and Creon who represents the state or government and the ultimate enemy.

In Jean Anouilh’s version of the play, Antigone, the protagonist, Antigone, is interpreted as a member of the resistance to despotism that parallels the antifascist French resistance against the Nazi occupation. Anouilh’s controversial play was performed in 1944 under Nazi-controlled Paris, so when Antigone sacrifices her life to defy the oppressive ruler Creon, Anouilh makes Antigone not only a heroine, but also a symbol for resistance. Anouilh based his playwright on Sophocles’ version, which was originally written in 442 BC in Ancient Greece. However, Anouilh uses different literary devices such as anachronisms, allusions, similes and symbolism to relate the story to the most disturbing dilemma during his time in the 1940’s. He writes his play to show the importance in joining the French resistance, but he must also make his play acceptable to the controlling Nazis. As such, the play Antigone can be interpreted as a political allegory of Vichy France.