Elizabeth Heeb
Doctor Pratt
Intellectual Heritage I (IH 851)
28 September 2017
Moral Conflict and Internal Change in Antigone
Beliefs are not always based on facts that you would find in a textbook-they are something that one believes is true. When I first read Sophocles’ play Antigone, my initial impression of Creon was that his beliefs of the law and the state were rational because of his role as a ruler. But as the play progressed, I began to disagree with his behavior and his values because he only focused on his own moral beliefs rather than considering the beliefs of other people, which could have resolved conflict. Throughout the play, the theme of authority of the state and religion is represented through the individual beliefs of
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I strongly disagree with Zizek because she is viewed as promoting an authority of herself only because of the gender conflict between men and women. Because of Antigone’s role as a woman in the Theban culture, she is viewed as demanding and stubborn against Creon’s order. But if it were to be a man who opposed Creon, he would be seen as courageous and assertive. Additionally, Antigone justifies her position by claiming that it is her moral duty to bury Polyneices because the last of her kin are gone. She accuses Creon by calling him a tyrant: “I never heard it was Zeus Who made that announcement. And it wasn’t justice, either. The gods below Didn’t lay down this law for human use. And I never thought your announcements Could give you—a mere human being— Power to trample the gods’ unfailing, Unwritten laws,” (450-456). By Antigone burying Polyneices, she gains the respect and support of people who also believe in honoring the dead and respecting the gods.
After Eteocles and Polyneices die in battle, Creon was the next of kin to rule the people of Thebes. After rising to power, he immediately undergoes the destructive effects of power. As a result of this, he becomes irrational in his thoughts and decisions and consequently, he abuses his power. For instance, Creon arrests Ismene solely based on the reason that
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
The major moral conflict in Antigone by Sophocles is the conflict over which value is most fundamental. The play presents the moral conflict over whether the god's law or the city's law is more powerful. This seems to be the most prominent theme. The conflict arises mainly between the tragic heroes Antigone and her uncle-in-law Creon, King of Thebes. The city of Thebes had been through a war in which Antigone and her sister Ismene have lost both of their brothers to it, Eteocles and Polyneices. Eteocles's fighting for Thebes was buried and honored as a hero. (lines 24-26) Polyneices was left unburied and dishonored because he is considered an enemy of the city. (lines 27-32) Creon edicts that whoever broke the law by burying
The play entitled Antigone was written by a man named Sophocles, a scholarly author of philosophy and logic. The play Antigone is probably one of the most prominent interpretations of a tragic drama. The two main characters of the play are Antigone and Creon. There is much conflict between Antigone and Creon throughout the play, both of them having their own ideas and opinions regarding divine law versus human law. The theme that I am going to analyze is the conflict of divine law vs. human law. The reason for this is because this theme seems to control the whole play. It is an issue of which law is the "right" law, and if Creon's and Antigone's acts were justifiable.<br><br>The play Antigone can be summarized by the following: King Creon
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
As King of Thebes, Creon is forced to make difficult decisions. As a new ruler, he feels it is necessary to prove himself to his citizens, therefore he rules his state with a firm hand. He believes that Polyneices should not be buried because he was a traitor to his country and family. Creon knew this decision would be hard on some
The play “Antigone” is a tragedy by Sophocles. One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader parts of the form through different characters.
Antigone eventually got tired of listening to King Creon talk because he just wouldn’t listen to what she had to say. It even got to the point where she was begging to be killed. Religious beliefs
Creon is first portrayed as a leader with rational laws and consequences for breaking them. But by the end of the play, Creon is a completely different character; he has let his excessive pride and hubris take over him. He doesn’t realize his change in character until it is brought to him through the prophecy of Teiresias, when it is already too late. Creon can be identified as a tragic hero because he shows great signs of stubbornness and pride. Considering he is the King of Thebes, he follows his rules and laws without listening to his citizen’s concerns, nor does he care about the gods wishes. His role as a hubris influences many of his choices, he believes in only his own thoughts and wishes. Creon abuses his power just because he can, without thinking of the consequences.
The play,”Antigone”,written by Sophocles and translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald, is a tragic fictional play about Antigone arguing with Creon about burying Polyneices.However,Creon argues that Polyneices should not be buried because of the acts he did to the city of Thebes.This eventually leads a disunity between Creon and his family and many of them murdered themselves.Both actors bring up good points as to why they should or should not bury Polyneices.Even though Antigone brought up good reasons why to bury Polyneices,I believe Creon’s argument is more convincing that Antigone.Creon, ruler of Thebes, may have been wrong in the beginning, however he argued reasonably unlike Antigone.Antigone argued by using her emotions and morals
Creon is an insensitive leader, who is blind to the feelings of his family and to the people of Thebes. Having assuming power after the deaths of the two kings Polynices and Articles, Creons first priority was to simply retain power, and keep the faith of the of the theban people on his side. In order to do this, Creon had
Antigone’s opinion was Creon should have buried Polyneices not just because it's the right thing to do but also that's what the gods wanted. Creon’s opinion is that Polyneices shouldn’t be buried for the things that he did. Antigone wanted to bury Polyneices because it’s her brother and that’s what the gods wanted. Creon thought Polyneices shouldn’t be buried because he tried to become king by fighting he brother for it. These are they things the Creon believed and what Antigone believed
Those who do believe that Antigone was meant to be the true tragic hero argue against others who believe that Creon deserves that honor. They say that the Gods were against Creon, and that he did not truly love his country. "His patriotism is to narrow and negative and his conception of justice is too exclusive... to be dignified by the name of love for the state". These arguments, and many others, make many people believe the Antigone is the rightful protagonist.
Creon should allow Antigone to bury Polyneices by the law of God. Creon’s laws are going against the Lord’s teachings where every man should be forgiven for his sins. Antigone asks Creon “what do you want more than my death”, Creon responds,”Nothing. That gives me everything¨. At that point Antigone tells Creon to take her life because their conversation isn’t going anywhere, and she does not want to live on an evil earth. There is a turning point in the argument when Creon tells Antigone she is the only who believes his laws are unfair, Antigone responds that the others would
After Eteocles and Polyneices die in battle, Creon was the next of kin to rule the people of Thebes. After rising to power, he immediately undergoes the destructive effects of power. As a result of this, he becomes irrational in his thoughts and decisions and consequently, he abuses his power. For instance, Creon arrests Ismene solely based on the reason that she is related to Antigone, which leads him to suspect that she was either involved in the burial of her brother
In the text, Antigone wants to bury her brother, Polynices, after hearing about what occurred with their brother, Eteocles. Polynices and Eteocles had an argument over who should be the king and they ended up slaughtering each other to death in a battle for the throne. Polynices is looked at as a traitor. Antigone did not care and still wanted to bury him. The obstacle in the way her uncle Creon. Creon was the king and he proclaimed that the body of Polynices shall not be buried. Both Antigone and Creon followed separate rules and laws. That causes the difference in viewpoints between the two. With Antigone, she believes that it would be right to bury him, so she did. Once Creon found out, he was very angry. With the body of Polynices being banned due to the proclamation