Free Will In Sophocles 'Antigone'

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

One has the capability to determine from right and wrong and having the determination to stand up for what one believes in, no matter what the price is. In Sophocles’ Antigone, a written dramatic play, Sophocles portrays the theme that at times of one’s life, it is necessary to follow moral law and ignore political law. In the play, a determined and courageous woman named Antigone is loyal to her beloved brother by granting him a proper burial and having to suffer the consequences for revolting. Throughout Antigone, several incidents occurred where the political law was of no importance to the individual. Conflicts between Antigone and Ismene and then with Creon and Antigone are examples of the theme. The theme also ties with the

Within the first few hundred lines of Antigone, Sophocles shapes the reader’s perception of Antigone and her philosophical beliefs. When speaking to her sister, Ismene, about her plan to bury their brother, Antigone states “I’ll do what’s honorable, and then I’ll die” (Sophocles, 750). Antigone’s willingness to die for a cause that she feels is honorable and right demonstrates a particular value in regards to her philosophies on right and wrong. Antigone demonstrates that the conflicting nature of her beliefs and the king’s beliefs on the right way to deal with Polyneikes’ death will not hold her back from doing what she believes is right.

With that being said, Antigone is having more of an internal battle, which later becomes an external as well. Antigone loses her brothers, and she feels that she must take measures to make sure her brothers both equally receive the proper burial. “Listen, Ismene: Creon buried our brother, Eteocles, with military honors, gave him a soldier's funeral, and it was right that he should--but Polyneices, who fought as bravely and died as miserably--they say that Creon has sworn no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him, but his body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure for carrion birds to find as they search for food. That is what they say, and our good Creon is coming here to announce it publicly; and the penalty--stoning to death in the public square! There it is, and now you can prove what you are: a true sister, or a traitor to your family” (Sophocles’ Line 9-14). Antigone is struggling to cope with the perception that her own uncle is choosing to go against the family will. Antigone fairly declares her opposition to her sister, but she finds herself standing alone through her journey. Creon can restrict her life, because he is the overhead of her. Even though he is her uncle; he can still take away her freedom, because he is king of Thebes. Similar to Thoreau’s hardship, Antigone is convinced that the supervision

Ismene and Antigone or both sisters to Polyneices, but their reaction to his burial ban is completely different. “Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it… But think of the danger! Think what Kreon will do!” (Prologue, 33-34, 37-38). This shows that Ismene is being logical and cares about her own well-being which adds to her overall character. Antigone on the other hand seems to be in such despair that she does not care what happens to her as long as her brother is at peace. “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (Prologue, 55-56); Antigone is showing her steadfastness and saying she has made up her mind and nothing can change that. This adds important characteristics to her character that the reader would not have without Polyneices. Kreon’s character also gains development through Polyneices because of how quickly he makes the burial of Polyneices against the law and puts Antigone to death. Both of these people were basically his children whom he promises Oedipus to protect, but to him the crown is more important which shows his hubris. Finally, the development of these characters would not have been as interesting, and the play would have not been as remarkable without the role of the “insignificant”

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”

In Sophocles’ play “Antigone” she has heard the news that both of her brothers are dead. She has also learned that her brother Polyneices has not had a proper burial. The new King of Thebes, Creon has decreed Polyneices an enemy of the state a traitor. Polyneices and his brother Eteocles fought over the kingdom of Thebes and died at each other’s hand. King Creon wants Polyneices body to go unburied, to rot in the sun for the animals to have their way. Antigone’s asserting the supremacy of divine law buries her brother Polyneices. She is willing to speak out against injustice, not adhering to conventional restrictions and inflicting laws. Antigone’s civil disobedience resembles twenty-century Martin Luther King, Jr., who also stood up for injustice. Antigone’s like King took the law in their hands and because of what they believed went against authority.

The character of Antigone in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, is one of the most controversial tragic characters in classic literature. The war in her city has torn her family apart, caused the death of both her brothers, and created a reason for her to fight against the King, her uncle. Her uncle, Creon, makes a ruling that her brother, Polynices, is not to be buried because he is a traitor, but according to her religion, her brother’s soul will not go to the afterlife until he is buried. In defense of her brother, she buries his body illegally and is subsequently sentenced to death. With her complex patterns of thought, bold actions, and the end she encounters, the character of Antigone causes debate among critics as to

Antigone got out and stood out for what she believed in, Antigone claims “He [Creon] has no right to keep me from my own” which meant she will be burying Polynices despite what law the king has set. Ismene thought otherwise, she says to Antigone, “O think, Antigone; we are women; it is not for us to fight against men; our rulers are stronger than we, and we must obey this […] I can do no other but as I am commanded”. Ismene is characterized as “feminine”, a hopeless and helpless woman that has no business in political authority. Ismenes words did not make Antigone happy, she fights back, “No; then I will not ask for your help, nor would I thank you for it, if you gave it. Go your own way; I will bury my brother; and if I die for it, what happens!”.

The actions presented by Ismene convey the importance of family to Sophocles. For example, Antigone argues the proper burial for her fallen brother, Polynices, to her sister Ismene who, “cannot act [a]gainst the State” (128). While Ismene is initially siding with authority, she eventually converts to family. After Antigone is caught in the act of burying her brother and is sentenced to death, Ismene, “can [not] bear to live, if [Antigone] must die ” (141). If Sophocles believed authority held more importance, Ismene would not feel guilty for

At the beginning of the play, Antigone brought Ismene outside the city gates at night for a top secret meeting. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polyneices' body because even though he died in dishonor he was her brother. Ismene refused to disobey the king which is also their Uncle Creon, and she failed to talk Antigone out of doing the act herself. "Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses..Then, mother...did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords. Third, our two brothers, on a single day...Each killed the other, hand against brother's hand." (Antigone, Lines 59-65) In this quote, Antigone justified her reasons for going against the law describing how her parents went

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

However, there was a shift in society after Antigone’s struggle. Ismene initially was against her sister’s actions and tries to make her see why she was “mad” (11) . However, Antigone’s opposition persuaded Ismene to have a change of heart and declare “I’ll go [bury Polynices] tomorrow!” (49) within the earshot of Creon. She was willing to die because Antigone’s passion was so persuasive. Ismene symbolizes the status quo, showing their development from naysayers to the rebel’s strongest supporter. Rebellion’s infectious allure brought in Haemon as well, to a different extent. Haemon opposed his father’s inhuman decision and took his life, cementing himself as a rebel against the throne. He remained loyal to his fiancee, who he couldn’t

This story is marked by tragedy after tragedy; Antigone and Ismene are presented with a father, that dare to killed his father to married his own mother. Two brother that followed the similar example, and consequently killed each other to for throne to have power. We don’t know what age they were when her parents died, but by inference we can argue that they were young. Although, Antigone and Ismene experience some life-hard moments together, their view on certain situation are shaped differently throughout the play. Antigone, see the situation with her brother Polynieces as outrageous offense to her and her family values, especially after being an active member of leadership in the city of Thebes. Antigone, experiences had made her a stronger than other women, she doesn’t fear man, and is

Even though Antigone has familial love toward her brother, she expresses sympathy toward him. Antigone does this by telling her sister that Creon “Promotes one of them and shames the other” by denying his burial rights (22). In this part of her speech, Antigone chooses her words carefully to describe the situation to her sister and express the sympathy she has for Polyneices, especially when she uses the phrase “shames the other” and “miserable corpse” (22-26). Antigone is sympathetic of her brother Polyneices because he is not given a proper burial and is left to the “vultures, unwept, unburied” like he is forgotten (29). It is also intriguing to see how Antigone’s sympathetic response to the lack of her brother’s burial is actually the familial love she has for him. Because she loves and considers him a part of her family, she is emotionally sorrowful for the way he has been treated.