Antigone's Beliefs

Sometimes the law is not on our side and we have to choose whether to abide by the government’s rules, our religious beliefs or our personal morals. In Antigone, Antigone decides to disregard the law and do what she, and the vast majority of the people in the city, believe to be right. From the onset of the play, we are shown that Antigone does not fear authority and is wholeheartedly willing to die for her brother. Antigone says, “At least he is my

In Sophocles play Antigone he uses nomos, physis, and hubris to create conflict between the characters. Antigone is a character that has very traditional or nomos beliefs. This becomes a big part in the play after the death of her brothers Polyneices and Eteocles. Creon, the new king and her uncle, decides not to bury her brother Polyneices because Creon believes he is a traitor. This goes against Antigone’s nomos beliefs.

Antigone did her "wrong-doing" in honoring her family," This death of mine is no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered."(Act 1. Scene 2. Lines 69-71), she shows King Creon that her brother's corpse meant more than her life and that if she didn't do her action, she would be dying in guilt. She shows the King and the people of Thebes that she valued family and that nothing was going to stop her, while also showing the King that the citizens of Thebes have values of their own. Antigone knew the laws of the gods and knew the new rule was wrong, " It was not God's proclamation. That final justice that rules the world below makes no such law." ( Act 1. Scene 2. Lines 58-59) She tells Creon that the Gods would not make such a law as not to bury one's family member enemy or not. She states that Creon's law did not come from the gods themselves, but it came from Creon's morals and ethics as a king. Antigone stands as a citizen in Thebes and shows that people know the laws of the gods and have their self-beliefs, morals, and

such as Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Poseidon, and Ares, or following the man-made law by that of King Creon. Throughout the scenes of the play, Sophocles makes use of the Choragus to push the beliefs of the gods onto the citizens of Thebes. Sophocles does this in order to make the play directly apply to Ancient Greece, and to provide cultural insight. When Antigone makes the decision to bury her brother, Polynices, she is going against the man-made law of Creon and following the religious beliefs of the Gods. To summarize Sophocles’ Antigone, a tragedy, would include the introduction of Antigone's two brothers, Eteocles, and Polynices, who came into rule of Thebes after Oedipus, their father's death, both brothers received a prophecy predicting the two will

What guides your confident decision to follow the rules or break established rules? In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone was confident about her decision to bury her brother even if that meant that she would break the laws. By examining conflicts that pertain to characters, it can be confirmed that a theme was beginning to form. The author’s purpose for creating this play was to create purpose and meaning towards real life scenarios. A theme that is established in the play is that no matter what, you should stand up for what you believe in, even if that means you’ll face consequences due to your decisions.

Moreover, Antigone’s ability to follow her own beliefs results into the heroicness and tragic death of Antigone. Antigone is from a royal family and has the power to do what she believes in. She believes in following traditions and exercises that power when she says, “I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that the crime is holy: I shall lie down With him in death, and I shall be as dear To him as he to me” (694). Antigone follows her beliefs in following tradition and by doing what she feels is best. Antigone does this because she knows she is doing the right thing and knows that she will be repaid in some way. Furthermore, Antigone justifies her actions by telling the reasons that motivated her to do it to King Creon. She refuses to give in to the beliefs of King Creon and continues to think her own separate way. Antigone takes a stand to Creon when she says, “ Think Death less than a friend? This death of mine Is of no importance, but if I had left my brother Lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not. You smile at me. Ah Creon , Think me a fool, if you like, but it may well be That a fool convicts me of folly” (709). Antigone believes what she is doing is correct and proves that to Creon , but he is still not convinced. It is important for Antigone to do what she believes is so that she will be pleased and satisfied with the outcome. Antigone’s ability to pursue her goals and to what she wants

She knowingly sacrifices her own life so her brother can be honored appropriately. When Ismene tries to take part of the blame with her, Antigone denies her. She does this partly because she is hurt Ismene wouldn't originally help her, but she also does not want her sister to die. She doesn't do what she does to gain anything herself. She does it knowing she will be killed for it, but also that is the right thing. When Ismene asks if she can do anything Antigone says “Yes. Save yourself. I do not grudge your escape.” (page 34). Antigone is saying that she should pay for the crime and will not be upset at her sister for not paying the price as well, for she knows she will reap rewards in the

The opening events of the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, quickly establish the central conflict between Antigone and Creon. Creon has decreed that the traitor Polynices, who tried to burn down the temple of gods in Thebes, must not be given proper burial. Antigone is the only one who will speak against this decree and insists on the sacredness of family and a symbolic burial for her brother. Whereas Antigone sees no validity in a law that disregards the duty family members owe one another, Creon's point of view is exactly opposite. He has no use for anyone who places private ties above the common good, as he proclaims firmly to the Chorus and the audience as he revels in his victory over Polynices. He sees Polynices as an enemy to

Antigone’s motivation is love for her family- she puts it above all else. In fact, she is willing to sacrifice her life to defend that love. Antigone goes to great lengths to bury her deceased brother, who according to an edict issued by King Creon, died in dishonor, consequently making it illegal for anyone to bury his body. Through her actions to comply with her motivations, it is revealed that Antigone’s actions are also fueled by her strong beliefs that, first, the gods’ laws

Sophocles, a great tragedian, was the one who gave Greek tragedies their traditional form. An important part of traditional Greek tragedies is the presence of a tragic hero. All tragic heroes should have the characteristics of rank, a tragic flaw, a downfall, and a recognition of mistakes. The seemingly tragic hero is Antigone. She wants to bury her brother Polyneices even though this would be going against Creon, who is her uncle and the king. When Antigone buries Polyneices Creon sentences her to death because of it. In Antigone by Sophocles the tragic hero is not Antigone because she only meets the characteristic of a tragic flaw, hers being pride, but doesn 't meet the other three characteristics of a

As the tragedy concludes, the chorus issues its final words: "Pray for no more at all. For what is destined for us, men mortal, there is no escape," demonstrating how justice remains impartial to the prejudice of men; those who make imprudent judgments will ultimately suffer from the consequences of their actions. In Sophocles' Antigone, these prejudices notably surface in the form of paternalism as demonstrated through Creon's government, highlighting the importance of gender roles throughout the play. Therefore, analyzing the motif of gender roles and its effect on the definition of justice through the perspectives of Ismene, Antigone, and Creon enables the audience to understand how Sophocles' macroscopic analogy to humanity's

Throughout time society has developed a system from which humans are able to define good and bad, Ethics. Although Ethical norms have been adapted throughout the passing of time, its most intrinsic values have prevailed, enabling individuals to agree on standards of what good and bad are built on their moral standards. Morals are what give the individual the capacity to distinguish good from bad. In the ancient Greece morals were indeed the individuals perception of good, and bad however, these perceptions were greatly abided and driven by the divine laws imposed by the gods. In Antigone, a tragedy written by Sophocles, we see the how the main character defies the kings rules and stands for her own perception of what she believes is the rightful thing to do .We are able to able to see the decision chosen by the two main characters, Creon and Antigone are the ones to define and condemn their faith and the one of those who live around them. In Bernard Knox’s Introduction poet T. S. Eliot states, “Antigone did the right thing for the wrong reason”(pg53). I believe that Antigone by deciding to mourn for her dead brother does indeed the right things but for the wrongs reasons. Through her actions she evidently follows the ethical norms imposed by the Greek divine laws, but it is her moral judgment the one to ambiguously expose her true reasons, the fulfillment of an unalloyed lust, creating a rupture beyond the scopes of rationality by incarnating the simple desire of taking upon

Many famous stories have underlying meanings that are meant to express either a political or social issue that has occurred in the time period that the work was written in. For example, the story Animal Farm is meant to represent Russia/Soviet Union while under the Communist Party's control. Even stories written long ago possess these hidden meanings, including the play Antigone by Sophocles, which holds the second meaning that "the law of the gods was superior". In this story, the title character, Antigone, defies a law placed by the king, her uncle, in order to follow the superior law of the gods instead. As punishment, the king, Creon, wishes to put Antigone to death no matter what anyone else says, including the gods. However, this

Antigone, on the other hand, is the maverick who dares to defy Creon, initiating the spiral of events that cause both his downfall and realization of his misdeeds. Antigone rejects Creon?s authority in favor of the higher Divine law, telling her sister Ismene, ?I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death? (Sophocles 192). When questioned by Creon as to why she breaks the law, she asserts, ?It was not God?s proclamation. That final Justice that rules the world below makes no such laws? (Sophocles 208). Antigone is unafraid of her punishment claiming, ?this death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered? (Sophocles 208). She remains steadfast in her beliefs, never compromising her principles to escape her uncle?s wrath. In her final address to the people, she proclaims, ?you will remember what things I suffer, and at what men?s hands, because I would not transgress the laws of heaven? (Sophocles 228). This indicates that she, alone, has chosen the righteous path.

Being that Antigone is the protagonist, her character is important in the play. She made the decision to bury her brother knowing that it was against Creon’s law. Ismene refused to help Antigone, which left her angry, yet still determined to bury her brother. She knew that burying her brother could lead to her own death, but she continued to show courage, strength, and determination throughout her role. In the beginning, Antigone says, “Dear god, shout it from the rooftops. I’ll hate you all the more for silence/ tell the world!”(17,100-101). This was said to Ismene, when they were discussing burial plans and Ismene was telling Antigone that she was against the plan. Antigone’s dialogue shows that she is not worried about being punished or worried about who knows what she has done. It is clear that Antigone is sincere about honoring the gods, her actions show that she feels that she is pleasing the gods and that is all that matters to her. “These laws/ I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods.”(30, 509-511). This demonstrates how she feels about man’s law vs. divine law. In the plot, there was not one time where Antigone denied