Antigone Essay In the story of “Antigone” Antigone wanted to give her brother a proper burial that was a law King Creon had made. Antigone loved her brother and was not satisfied with her brother’s improper burial. Even though if anyone in the city disobeys Creon’s law will be immediately punished, she did not have concern for herself only for her family. Creon was acting out of hatred and humility and did not have any concern for his new law that most did not agree with. When comparing Antigone and Creon it is apparent that Antigone is the stronger one of the two because she is able look past herself and do what was right for her family. Antigone is much more stronger and powerful than her new king, Creon because she is able to put herself aside and think about someone else. Antigone did not think that it was right for her brother to not be able to be buried after his death. When she got caught trying to him she did not deny anything towards the burial because she was brave enough to not deny what she did, “‘And you, Antigone, You with your head hanging––do you confess this thing? ANTIGONE: I do. I deny nothing. … CREON:Tell me, tell me briefly: Had you heard my proclamation touching this matter? ANTIGONE: It was public. Could I help hearing it? CREON: And yet you dared defy the law. ANTIGONE: I dared.’” She was unconcerned for her well being and possibly being sent to death for the burial of her brother. She has loyalty to her family unlike Ismene who was able to not
Does Creon’s pride overlook Antigone’s wants? Antigone is the sister of her two brothers Eteocles, and Polyneices, but Creon only gives one of them there proper burial. Antigone does not like the decree of the king, Creon and rebels towards him and others, from Polyneices not getting a proper burial. Antigone does not listen to anyone and buries him herself and Antigone gets punished from not listening, but Antigone does not care because both of her brothers should have had the proper burial in their honor. Antigone has not listened Ismene her sisters’ advice, rebels against Creon, after it all she kills herself and causes many death from her outcome.
Creon vs. Antigone In the play Antigone written by Sophocles, Antigone’s decision to override her Uncle, Creon’s edict and bury her brother is rational because Antigone believes that he is too proud and arrogant and he is overstepping his boundaries as a leader. Creon doesn’t want anyone to bury Polyneices’ body because he believes that Antigone’s brother, Polyneices was a traitor, and Creon doesn’t believe that a traitor's soul deserves to be put to rest. Antigone goes against Creon’s law because she knows that Polyneices only made a mistake, and deserves to be buried because making mistakes is a part of life.
The play Antigone is about two brothers who kill each other in battle, one is buried one isn’t and laws are placed in order to prevent it from happening. A sister comes in to bury his brother despite the laws and risk potential death in the process. The person who put these laws into place is called Creon, who wants the person who buried the body to face justice. The sister who committed this crime is Antigone, who is also the character that I’m contrasting with Creon.
First off, Ismene, Antigone’s sister, actually was the one that incited Antigone's actions that led to everything else that happened in the story. Without Ismene, there would not be a plot. In lines 52-59, Ismene said to Antigone “What? You'd bury him— when a law forbids the city?” Antigone replied “Yes! He is my brother and—deny it as you will—your brother too. No one will ever convict me for a traitor.” Ismene said “So desperate, and Creon has expressly—” and Antigone interrupted with “He has no right to keep me from my own.” Here Ismene is telling Antigone that her actions are not something that are legal and that comply with Creon’s laws. Antigone, being hard-headed, decides that she is not going to let a law determine what she does for
Antigone’s stubbornness and loyalty to her brother led Creon to become very prideful, as he would not change his mind about Antigone’s punishment. Although Antigone knew it was against Creon’s order to bury her brother, she insisted that she would bury him to prevent being “caught betraying him” (Sophocles, 58). When Creon found out that Antigone had disobeyed his order, he became very upset and prideful, as he was a new king and wanted to look as if he had his kingdom under control. Thus, Creon wouldn’t change Antigone’s punishment, insisting that “no woman’s going to govern” him (Sophocles, 600) and ordered her to death as a punishment.
In the play of "Antigone" by Sophicles, sisters of a royal bloodline head back to Thebes, in which they they then find out both of their brothers are deceased. Creon- the main antogonist in the play- has arranged a proper burial for one the brothers but has banned the other one of a burial. This becomes the main protagonists goal- Antigone- to bury her other brother.
Throughout the novel Antigone, Antigone is portrayed as a rebellious anarchist who is not afraid to defy king Creon's strict orders. After the death of her brother Polyneices, who Creon believed was a traitor to Thebes, Creon gave specific orders that there should be no proper burial for such a renegade. Knowing the consequences, Antigone willingly disobey Creon’s commands and performed a proper burial for her deceased brother. When Creon heard of this, he became furious and sentences Antigone to death. Antigone denied nothing and accepted the punishment.
Her blatant disrespect and sarcasm toward Creon shows how she really feels toward him. Antigone does not respect Creon as the king of Thebes. This gets further proved when Antigone says, “It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation–not to me” (Sophocles Antigone, 499-500). This is a very telling moment for the reader, Antigone is saying she did not listen to Creon’s decree not only because she does not respect him, but also she will only listen to the gods rules. This moment tells Creon that Antigone will never respect him as a ruler. Antigone is very stubborn, and when she is very passionate she will speak her mind, “And if my present actions strike you as foolish, let's just say I’ve been accused of folly by a fool” (Sophocles Antigone, 523-5). In these few lines she is talking to Creon about how she does not regret burying her brother. She tells Creon, the person who holds her fate in his hands, that he is a fool. Antigone’s hubris finally comes back to ruin her, “We took his orders, went and searched, and there in the deepest, dark recesses of the tomb we found her… hanged by the neck in a fine linen noose” (Sophocles Antigone, 1344-7). The ‘her’ the messenger is speaking of is Antigone. Antigone is so prideful and spiteful her last act on Earth was a smug reminder to Creon that if she was going to die it would be on her own terms, by her own hand. Antigone is one character that perfectly showcases how hubris can lead to ultimate demise.
Throughout the context words of Creon and Antigone contrasts their perspective on their belief. Creon would often decide all the rulings of his country with no hesitant because of his strong pride being a King. On the other hand, Antigone’s strong bond, love for her family, commitment to bury her brother which objects the rule against Creon. In disobedience towards Creon, Antigone says her “...honours for the dead must last much longer than for those up here” (Sophocles, 275), as well as speaking that “there’s nothing shameful in honouring my mother’s children.” (Sophocles, 273). Antigone’s words expresses her love and the
even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory” (Sophocles 926). At this moment, Antigone was willing to risk her own life by putting her respect for her family member first. Creon, on the other hand, seems to hold more interest in Thebes and his own image in front of its people. He would put his own niece to death for disobeying him and his laws over allowing her act of defiance to slide.
Antigone believed that the actions she took were done for the right reason, because they adhere to the law of the Gods. In opposition to that, Creon believes that the actions he had taken were in fact the right ones, because he believed that Polyneices was a traitor to the land, and that anyone who should give him a proper burial would suffer the penalty of death. So, the actions that were taken by both of them individually were the right ones, in their own minds at least.<br><br>Antigone, in her plan to give her brother Polyneices a proper burial, kept in mind the consequences that she would suffer for having followed through with the plan. This doesn't necessarily mean that Antigone does not obey the human law that is set up by King Creon, it just means that this particular rule conflicted with the law of the Gods, something that Antigone believes highly in obeying, especially when it deals with her family. Antigone disregards the Olympian Justice that governs the land and also presides over the set laws that make civilized life attainable (Segal "Antigone" 172).<br><br>Antigone goes up against human law, by burying her brother Polyneices, knowing well that she will have to sacrifice her own life. She does this only because it is morally and ethically right, and this is why she stakes her life based upon her strong beliefs (Segal
If I shall die before my time, I count that a profit.”(pg 198) Her reaction to all that has occurred shows how strong of a person she is. Antigone never forgets who she and what matters most to her. Ismene would never be as strong and persevere as her sister does. There are two quotes in the tragedy that exhibit what type of a person Antigone is and why she upholds and acts with her morals. “There is nothing shameful in honoring my brother.”(pg 200) Anyone put in Antigone’s situation- facing life and death- must battle with what is moral. Is her life worth more than being faithful to her brother or should she just let her brother’s body be desecrated? Antigone has already lost her mother and in a sense lost her father with all that fate has served them. Antigone has seen what life has done and accepts all of it. Her whole purpose is for everything to be fair, just, and accept what life hands her. Her trust remains in the gods and the gods will protect her. “The god of death demands these rites for both.” (pg 201) Antigone refers to her brothers. As said before, everyone deserves the right to have the proper burial. The gods never deny someone of that right. There is love for everyone, not hate- which is what Creon does not believe in.
Throughout this play Antigone's core values are often influencing her choices. One of her predominant core values is to have loyalty to her family. In the play when Antigone is faced with the conflict of Polyneices’, her brother and former prince of Thebes, burial she doesn't hesitate to do what's right. She says “Ismene, I am going to bury him.” This quote shows how Antigone’s core value of loyalty to her family helps make her decisions because it proves how valued her family is to herself. When Antigone chooses to bury Polyneices she's not worried about the consequences that may come. For she believes that what's she's doing is right, and it’s what her family would want. This quote is then followed by another, which reads “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.” This quote also expresses her loyalty because it shows her determination to fulfill the duties that would please her family. It also shows how she's not afraid of what Creon, king of Thebes, may do and that she most definitely values her family over herself. Antigone’s loyalty then causes her to evidentially do what she believes is right for her family, and bury her brother. Based on this evidence, Antigone’s core value of loyalty to her family is most certainly factored into her decisions.
In contrast to Creon’s opinion that ultimate authority rests with the king, Antigone believes that everyone, even the king, should follow the gods’ laws first. She does not want to betray her brother or “be a traitor…to the gods” by not burying him (line 48). She follows up with this assertion saying, “He [Creon] has no right to keep me from my own” (line 50). These statements demonstrate that her priorities lie first with the gods and second with her family, both of which she places above the authority of the king.
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