Antigone Chorus Essay

fate. Similarly, Antigone has been oppressed by Creon and prohibited from burying her brother. However, they each differ in the reasons for imprisonment and reasons for actions, which don’t align with that of Antigone at all. For example, Danae was imprisoned due to a prophesy, while Lycurgus was motivated and kept down because of his hubris. The Chorus, in trying to fit Antigone’s situation into any familiar pattern of reference, reveals how they still don’t understand why Antigone did what she did

Although Oedipus Tyrannus was written more than a decade after the Antigone, it still reflects many of the themes and motifs through some of the same characters. Oedipus, the present king of Thebes finds himself attempting to solve the riddle that is his life; Antigone, the daughter of the former king must decide between following divine or man made law. Although both title characters face separate conflicts they both reflect similar traits at differing times in their respective plays. Alongside

Irony in Antigone When one begins to read Antigone, they may find it very easy to recognize the use of irony throughout the work. The author, Sophocles, was known to work his plots into lines in which tragic irony would occur over and over. He would then bring lines that had been spoken previously in a play in later to form a climax of the drama (Johns). Sophocles used "tragic irony" often in Antigone, along with other plays that he has written. “‘Tragic irony’ whereby a character's words carry

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

nothing that the gods demand” (1349-1350). Sophocles’ Antigone takes place in a trying time for the city of Thebes, when Oedipus, their king, and most of the royal family have died, and Creon has just been appointed the new king. Throughout the play, Creon tries on his power as the new ruler, and seems to believe that the gods will not be angry with some of his choices as king, even though they directly violate the divine law. However, in Antigone, when there is a conflict between the divine law and

play begins as Antigone and her sister Ismene speak of the death of their brothers Polyneices and Eteocles. However, it is important to note that what events precluded this scene, which was sparked by Eteocles's taking reign of the Thebes after Oedipus had died. It ultimately caused Polyneices to wage a battle against his former city and drove the two brothers to kill one another (Sophocles 8). Thus, leaving Creon who was both of brother's uncle in control of the city of Thebes. Antigone and Ismene discuss

Sophocles’ Antigone, although Antigone initially feels self-pity over her impending death, she later realizes that there would be no difference between being dead and being alive in a world of hate. She expresses her unhappiness at the control others have on her life and death and attempts to gain sympathy from others. However, she later realizes that the dissatisfaction she has with life is reason enough to die, and accepts her death. In response to a lighthearted statement about her death, Antigone asks

In Sophocles’s Antigone, one of the central storylines situates on interplay between human laws and divine laws. Although divine characters do not directly appear in the play, their rules and regulations soundly affect characters’ behaviors. This is clear throughout the play. The expressions of the characters in the play, as well as the thematic ending of the play that featured the realization of King Creon over his decisions against divine laws requiring every deserving man’s burial, apparently

important. Antigone herself understood how imperative this tradition was. Antigone made her case as to why Ismene should help her bury their brother Polyneices. Burying Polyneices went against the ordinance Creon gave, therefore, Ismene was against it. With a strong sense of loyalty to her brother, Antigone would do everything in her power to help Polyneices after his death, even if it meant going against a powerful man--Creon. The thought of Polyneices going unburied was torturous for Antigone; she refused

as he was collapsing /His arms still clung to the girl and blood came spurting…” (Sophocles 68). Antigone, a story of both heroism and death, a play kept alive over thousands of years due to the strong lessons it teaches its readers. The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles’ Antigone, translated by Seamus Heaney, is one of the best constructed and complex plays written by Sophocles. The play Antigone tells the story of her conflict between family, the law, and King Creon. Creon ruled death upon