Antigone Character Analysis Essay

Antigone Character Analysis Essay
In Antigone, Antigone braves through all of her hardships and decisions with her morals and set of values. She dies with pride and no regret for she
died because she acted doing what was morally right. Many Greek writers disagree with these traits that Sophocles has given her but it is appropriate
because she needed these traits to show defiance and be able to stand up for what is right. Antigone is a tragic heroine who believes in her duty to her
family and is willing to sacrifice all things to do what is morally right.
Antigone's powerful foundation of her morals and values keep all who try to stray her away from her task powerless. When Ismene tries to persuade
her sister into staying away from burying polynices her...show more content...
However she earlier did not feel a lot of regret for what she did because she was doing what she was obligated to do. It was to her "meaningful"
because she had given up her life for what her brother deserved and was the will of the gods.
Such strong emotions create a sense of feminism, which in respects to the time of this play was outrageous and not accepted. The image of
women in plays and stories at the time were weak and powerless girls. Antigone's representation of feminists broke all the images of play writers in
Greece and her strong characteristics defy the inappropriateness of her nature.Her boldness, bravery and , unyielding morals are all extremely
important to her role in the play. Antigone has been given strong characteristics in her story and because of this she does not stand around while and
Creon's unjust law insults Polynices. Her death was preferred because it was glorious and stoic. She was buried for doing what was right and what
she was obligated to do. She not only prefers this but her bravery, obstinacy and other traits destroy the image of the weak girl who is powerless to
everything. Antigone's strong characteristics and representation of the current day feminists were all necessary to her role as
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Essay about Antigone
Antigone;
The Tragic Hero
Antigone is a classic work that never ceases to be analyzed by critics and students around the world. The debate over who is the real tragic hero of
Sophocles' play Antigone is a topic that is heavily discussed. To this day there is still no agreement. Some people believe that Antigone is thereal tragic
hero of this tragedy, while others believe that the hero is in fact her uncle, Creon. It is logical to say that Antigone is the tragic hero of Antigone more
so than Creon because she is a likeable character, extracts pity from the audience, and her plight affects many.
To begin, Creon's character is less likeable to the audience. From his very first...show more content...
Secondly, Antigone does a good job at extracting pity from the audience. She appeals the sense of emotion with heart felt dialogue. One of the
most pitiful points in this play is when she makes her last speech. She then looks back on what actually occurred. This is the first time that
Antigone actually realizes her own sorrow. Earlier on she is still blind to the fact that this is the end for her. She will not get to have a life. She
will not get to give life to someone else. "...see what I suffer, and from whom, because I feared to cast away the fear of Heaven!" (Oates 291). Here
she is appealing to the gods. She is basically saying, "Look, I am suffering because I so longed to please you (gods). The audience feels sorry for
Antigone because she is the accused. Many will side with the accused because their future is doomed. Not only does Antigone extract pity from the
audience, she extracts it from other characters in the play. Ismene has always been sympathetic of her plight and shows this by trying to share the
blame. The chorus is also sympathetic and so they try to persuade Creon that punishing her may not be the best thing. Lastly, Creon is sympathetic
toward Antigone. When he first becomes aware that she is the culprit, he tries to give her a way out. "...knewest thou that an edict had forbidden this?"
(Oates 282) This line implies that if Antigone denied knowing, she would have

Essay on Antigone
Family is supposed to be the ultimate support, everlasting, and always ready to forgive. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is immersed in a "power
trip" that alienates and even kills his family. He caused his son, Haemon's death, his wife, Eurydice's death and Antigone's death. Creon views himself
as the perfect leader, believes he is always correct, and in turn has to live with the guilt of three deaths that were his fault.
Antigone goes alone to bury Polynices and deliberately disobeys Creon's law. Antigone not only lost her two brothers, but she will lose her respect for
her family and the gods if she does not bury Polynices. When Creon finds out that Antigone has disobeyed him and only wants to die, he...show more
content...
Creon does not let his relation with Antigone as her uncle affect his dealing with Antigone in any way. He swears to punish her even if she is family.
His job is to protect and uphold the laws of the state. If he does not punish Antigone he will look as though he is a weak ruler. Since Creon is related to
Antigone, he must carry out the punishment of Antigone so the people of Thebes will see him as a strong and powerful king.
Haemon does not want to Antigone to die for what she has done. He attempts to convince his father that he should change his view about Antigone
going against Creon's decree. Creon tells him that he young and has lost his "sense of judgement over a woman"(93). Haemon does not want to
displease his father, but he is not willing to back down from what he believe is right. Creon gets angry and says, "bring her out, that hateful–she'll die
now, here, in front of his eyes, beside her groom"(99). Haemon leaves his father's side and dies beside his true love, Antigone.
When Eurydice enters the palace she is faced with the news of her son's death. She demands that the messenger tell her "...the news, again, whatever
it is...sorrow and [her] are hardly strangers"(121). Eurydice blames Creon for the death of her son. She is so alarmed with the death that she kills
herself. Creon returns with the body of Haemon only to find "a new corpse rising before [his] eyes"(125).

Antigone Essay
Antigone
It takes a lot of courage to stand up and defend an action or idea that is forbidden by society. This is what Antigone does in Sophocles' story Antigone.
She clearly disobeys King Creon's order that no person should bury Antigone's brother, Polynices, which is punishable by penalty of death. In this case,
though, is Antigone's decision the correct one? Her actions affect many of her other countrymen negatively; they cause problems within the royal
family, disagreement among the people and directly relate to the death of three people including her own.
By burying her brother Antigone knowingly and willingly went against royal orders and in doing so chooses her own death. She knows as well as
anyone in the town that death would...show more content...
It must seem inconceivable to Creon that the gods would ever want a traitor like Polynices buried, let alone with the same ceremony as his brother
Eteocles. Creon believes in the gods of the country and he is sure that he is acting in the best interest of Thebes. For if he had decided to bury
Polynices it would show him and his country as being week. It would send a message that Thebes is a country that honors its traitors. This could put
the country in jeopardy of another attack.
One can argue that it is hypocritical for Antigone to walk knowingly into her death when in the previous storyOedipus at Colonus she begged
Polynices not to go to war when he knew that he would die fighting Eteocles. Now her sister Ismene is doing the same thing by begging her not to
act foolishly. Antigone could have easily prayed for Polynices at her lonesome, and many catastrophes would have been averted. Antigone, however
reflecting the stubbornness of her father Oedipus fails to see the flaws in her thinking. She also must have known, or was unable to see through her
clouded mind, that whatever she was to accomplish by burying her brother was sure to be erased. More specifically as soon as the body was buried,
Creon would decree that it should be uncovered. Would it be worth it for her to risk her life just so that her brother could be buried for a short amount of

antigone
Pre–AP English
6 February /2013
Aristotle's Tragic Hero
In order to fulfill the requirements of a tragic hero, a hero or a heroine must have certain characteristics. For example, they are required to be a
member of royalty, be neither completely good nor completely bad, they have to be responsible for their own downfall due to a hamartia and lastly
they need to realize their mistakes and accept their consequences. In Antigone, there are two main characters that fit the criteria of a tragic hero, but
only the protagonist, Antigone meets all of the conditions.
Antigone meets the second requirement of a tragic heroine, by fulfilling the criteria of being neither entirely good nor completely bad. In the opening
of the play, Antigone...show more content...
She believes that her, "blasphemy of my birth has followed me"( iv, 44). By her using this quote, she reveals that if it weren 't for her being born
into incest, her family wouldn't be cursed as they are. Furthermore, she argues, " No more, Ismene. You are alive, but I belong to death" (ii, 146).
This Quotation reveals Antigone accepting her consequences that she has to die due to her act. Furthermore, realizing that his judgment was unwise
Creon changes his mind from the harsh punishment of public stoning to her being locked in a cave with a limited amount of food. Antigone shows
she is accepting her consequence by responding, " Then let me go, since all your words are bitter, and the very light of the sun is cold to me. Lead
me to my vigil, where I must have neither love nor lamentation; no song, but silence" (iv, 282). This quote reveals that Antigone no matter what she
did took her consequences and realized that burying Polynieces was all worth it. Overall, we see Antigone fulfilling her requirements of accepting her
consequences of what she did. From the time she was caught to the time she was given her sentence, she never denied nor took back what she had done.
Although both Creon and Antigone fulfill the requirements of being a member of royalty, being neither completely good nor bad, being responsible for
their own downfall due to hubris and lastly recognizing their own hamartia

Sophocles' Antigone Essay
Sophocles' play "Antigone" illustrates the conflict between obeying human and divine law. The play opens after Oedipus' two sons Eteocles and
Polyneices have killed each other in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. Oedipus' brother in law Creon then assumes the throne. He dictates that
Eteocles shall receive a state funeral and honors, while Polyneices shall be left in the streets to rot away. Creon believes that Polyneices' body shall be
condemned to this because of his civil disobedience and treachery against the city. Polyneices' sister, Antigone, upon hearing this exclaims that an
improper burial for Polyneices would be an insult to the Gods. She vows that Polyneices' body will be buried, and Creon declares that anyone who
...show more content...
Creon has no toleration for people who place personal beliefs over the common good. He believes that government and law is the supreme authority,
and civil disobedience is worst form of sin. The problem with Creon's argument is he approaches He approaches every dilemma that requires judgement
through descriptive generalizations. In contrast to the morality defined by Aristotle in his Nicomachaean Ethics, Creon shows that he is deaf to the
knowledge of particulars––of place, time, manner, and persons, which is essential for moral reasoning. In short, he does not effectively bring together
general principles and specific situations Creon does not acknowledge that emotion, and perception are as critical to proper moral consideration as
reason. This explains why he does not respond accordingly with the reasoning of the guard, Tiresias the prophet, Antigone, her sister Ismene, or even
his own son Haemon. Throughout the whole play, Creon emphasizes the importance of practical judgement over a sick, illogical mind, when in fact it
is him who has the sick, illogical mind. He too exhibits pride in his argument. To Antigone and most of the Athenians, possessing a wise and logical
mind means acknowledging human limitations and behaving piously towards the gods. Humans must take a humble attitude towards fate and the
power of the gods, yet Creon mocks death throughout the play. He doest not learn his lesson until the end of the play when he speaks respectfully of

Antigone Essay
I. SUBJECT Antigone is a play about a woman who disobeyed the King's order to not bury her brother. The play was written by the famous Greek
tragedian, Sophocles, in 441 B.C. The story took place in the city of Thebes and the time period is not mentioned. The main characters introduced in
the play are of Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon. The primary focus was centered on Antigone and the consequences she faces after breaking the
King's orders. In the beginning, the author introduced Antigone and her sister, Ismene, and their argument about their recently deceased brother. The
argument involved Antigone wanting to bury her brother and Ismene encouraging her to obey the King's orders. Antigone ignored her sister's advice
and chose to...show more content...
Sophocles believed that it was significant that the law of a persons conscience supersedes the law of the state. Antigone overlooks the law of the
state and follows her heart to do what she knows is morally right, opposed to a law created by a human with high authority. She understands that
the consequences are heavy for the act, however, she courageously concluded that the importance of the act was greater than the consequences. In
the play, Haemon is brought to his father to be informed off the news of his soon to be wife. In the discussion between Creon and Haemon, they
speak of Haemon's obedience and Antigone's disobedience to Creon. Creon says, "So I must guard the men who yield to order, not let myself be
beaten by a woman. Better, if it must happen that a man should overset me. I won't be called weaker than womankind" (Sophocles 211). Creon
makes it clear that his reasoning relies on sexism and not what is truly just. Women are often downgraded to the status of a secondary role as shown in
the story. The argument between the law of the state and the law of the gods, or religious, is mentioned many times throughout the story. Creon refers
to Antigone's brother as one who betrayed his city and he upholds an order for Thebes, forbidding Antigone's brother to be buried. Antigone refers to
burying her brother as a moral responsibility. Creon is astonished when he finds that she has disobeyed his

Essay on Antigone
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
Some of the times the Chorus speaks in this drama, it seems to side with Creon and the established power of Thebes. The Chorus's first speech
(117–179) describes the thwarted pride of the invading enemy: The God Zeus hates bravado and bragging. Yet this encomium to the victory of Thebes
through Zeus has a cunningly critical edge. The Chorus's focus on pride and the fall of the prideful comments underhandedly on the willfulness seen in
Antigone and will see in Creon. In Creon's first speech, where he assumes the "Now here I am, holding all authority and the throne, in virtue of kinship
with the dead" and reiterates his decree against the traitor Polynices (191–192). In lines 308–309 the Chorus says to Creon "My lord: I wonder, could
this be God's doing? This is the thought that keeps on haunting me. The Chorus is questioning Creon if it could be the doing of God who buried
Polynices, Creon replies; "Stop, before your words fill even me with rage that you should be exposed as a fool, and you so old. For what you say is
surely insupportable when you say the gods took forethought for this corpse" (310–313).
Even though Antigone exhibits a blamable pride and a hunger for glory, her disobedience is less serious than those of Creon. It is evident that
Antigone's actions are driven by a love for her brother, and a desire to please the gods. While Creon's actions are

Antigone Theme Essay
In the story Antigone by Sophocles, the theme guilt and innocence, as wells as morals play a huge role between characters, specifically the female
character Antigone, the ruler of the city, Creon, Antigone's sister, Ismene, and Antigone's husband, Haimon. Antigone and Haimon represent innocence
for many reasons. Their morals lead the two in a direction to honor Antigone's brother, Antigone protects her sister from certain death, and the lovers
commits suicide for the sake of innocence itself. Creon on the other hand represent guilt by his unjust laws of his city, his unruly dictatorship, and
putting the blame on everyone but himself for his own actions. Ismene is also guilty in the story by not standing with her sister at the beginning to
Leading to Creon's realization to his guilt.
Creon represents guilt by his unjust laws of the land and forcing the people of the city to abide by them. As he forbids anyone to mourn a past king,
he strike fear into the people and causes mistrust against himself. As Haimon, the son of Creon explains to his father, " You are not in a position to
know everything / That people say or do, or what they feel: / Your temper terrifies–" (Scene III: 57–59), Creon is in disbelief. Creon has obtained a
sense of dictatorship ever since Oedipus has died. He had seen the way Oedipus had ruled over the city and deemed it reasonable to have one opinion
in the city alone, his own. Creon proclaims his "just and unjust" ways with the city, " I have no dealings, / Whoever is chosen to govern should be
obeyed– / Just and unjust!" (Scene III: 33–37). Blame is the final reasoning for his guiltiness is the story. He will always claim he is right and will
never take blame for his own laws. Haimon has confronted Creon about his blame, " Do not believe that you alone can be right. / The man who thinks
that, / The man who maintains that only he has the power" (Scene III: 74–76). As soon as Creon realizes that none is to blame, only himself, he admits
to his dead son, " My own blind heart has brought me / From darkness, to final darkness. / I was a fool, not you; and you died for me." (Exodus:
87–92) and once more, like

Essay on Introduction: Antigone and Creon
INTRODUCTION
Antigone
Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, the king that married his own mother, Locaste and unwittingly killed his father, Laios. When he learned what he
had done, he blinded himself and left Thebes, voluntarily went into self–style exile and died over there. Antigone and Ismene are siblings, the only
surviving children of Oedipus. The other two brothers Polyneices and Eteocles quarreled and killed each other in a battle when Polyneices returned to
assault Thebes, then Creon, Antigone uncle became the king of Thebes being the only heir in line to the throne. Creon ordered Polyneices be left to rot
unburied on the battle field as a traitor but Antigone could not see reason to let her brothers body rot unburied. Antigone...show more content...
She valued family pride over the authority of the king. Leaving the dead unburied is against the natural laws of the gods, she then chose to disobey
the Kings law by attempt to bury her brother, Polyneices. But I will bury him; and if I must die Literature for Composition 462.55
Creon on the other hand, though he installed himself as king, he then put himself in a position to have known better the laws of the gods. Perhaps, this
could have been one of the snares in the process that awaits any unqualified person who tries to be king. A true heir to the thrown should have in–depth
knowledge about the community law and the laws of the gods; therefore, he would have guided against either avoiding making laws that runs
contrary to the laws of the gods or by putting himself in an uncompromised position. He could have been briefed of most of the rules and regulation
as a formal process before a prince is allowed to ascend the thrown. In absence of that, the office he occupied justify that he knows the law. I am aware
of course, that no ruler can expect complete loyalty from his subjects until he has been tested in office. (Literature for Composition.464.17)
Affinity for disobedience
Laws are made, whether written or unwritten to

Essay about Antigone
Antigone
"Make these excuses, I will heap/ The earth over my brother's body" (63). Although no one would help her, Antigone took a stand against injustice
and honored her brother by burying him, even though Creon said this act would be punishable by death if anyone committed this act of
insubordination. Especially in the age that Antigone lived in, it was considered foolish to simply go against a man's orders, let alone the Kings. Not to
mention that Antigone was related to the King, making the situation even worse. She committed a supremely precarious action, especially for a
woman. Not only does she bravely follow her morals, but she does a great job of justifying them in her arguments. Antigone was a civil disobedient by
disobeying...show more content...
She does not make people pity her, but rather honor her actions because of how she is willing to die defending her brother's honor. The way that she
explains her cause makes everyone but Creon admire her for disobeying the law and doing the right thing that no one else had the courage to do.
The last example of Antigone's pathos is her last statement before she dies. This statement is the best use of pathos in the entire play. It is here that
Antigone really grips your emotions and latches on to everything that she can to make you pity her and want to slay Creon instead. By the way that
she appeals to how she will never be able to have a family, enjoy marriage, or happily end her life. She then throws in the question of what law she
broke and asks what she did that was so wrong to deserve death. These last statements really impact Antigone's pathos and make the reader sympathize
with her stance as the right one if they had not already been convinced.
Antigone's great claims and support also make her argument the best. The first argument that she gets into is with Ismene about why she is
disobeying Creon's orders by burying Polyneices body and how she would be disgracing him if she did not. Ismene's defense does nothing to sway
Antigone, as she is set in her ways to do good, and Antigone does a great job of explaining her case as to why she believes it is her duty to bury her
brother. She does such a great job, in fact, that Ismene really has nothing else to counter

Creon's Struggle In Sophocles Antigone
Antigone
Antigone, by Sophocles, is a story about the struggle between Antigone, who represents the laws of the gods and Creon, who represents the laws of
the state. The play takes place circa 442 B.C. in the city–state of Thebes. The story revolves around the burial of Polyneices. Polyneices led an army
against his brother, Etocles, the King of Thebes. They killed each other in battle and the new king,Creon, made a decree that only Etocles was to be
buried because Polyneices was his rival. Antigone, sister of Polyneices and Etocles, feels that she needs to bury Polyneices in accordance to Zeus' law,
but this went against Creon's decree. Also, Antigone has to bury Polyneices without the help of her sister...show more content...
After Creon's wife, Eurydice, found out her son was dead, she stabbed herself to death.
Creon is not wholly wrong in forbidding people to bury Polyneices. His intentions are good because he wanted to show how evil Polyneices was in
attacking the city and that in order for the government of Thebes to work, they have to stay united. According to Creon, "For I– be Zeus my witness,
who sees all things always– would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, coming to the citizens; nor would I ever deem the country's foes a
friend to myself; remembering this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only while she prospers in our voyage can we make true
friends"(Sophocles, page 121).
Creon justifies his position to the others in the play by stating that Polyneices was evil and it would be unjust to Etocles, who died with honor, to
share a spot in the earth with an evil person like Polyneices.(Sophocles, page 129). Creon states, "...Polyneices, who came back from exile and sought
to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the shrines of his fathers' gods, sought to taste of kindred blood and to lead the remnant into
slavery..."(Sophocles, page 121). Creon also states, "A foe is never a friend–not even in death"(Sophocles, page 129).
I think Antigone is a righteous martyr for wanting to bury her

Essay On Antigone
(At the studio "The Kingdom"...INDIA sits in her chair saying her original quote to start the show while the audiences are applauding.) INDIA: Wow,
I'm looking around at the audience and I can't help but think...., I see some queens and kings out there, just beautiful people. You know what that
means.., you've guessed right, you 're on the royal family show. (Audiences applauses again, INDIA introduces the show.) INDIA: Hi, my names
India Coutee and you are on "The Kingdom" channel and if you don't like drama, shade, and to know the tea then hop on off this carriage. Now let's
get started.
INDIA: You know, today is a special day. A few days ago, if you don't know, there was a tragedy, in Theban. The family just went to war to see
...show
more content...
Antigone, when your sister, Ismene, tries to die with you, why do object her?
ANTIGONE: When I decided to bury my brother against the King's will, I asked Ismene did she wanted to help bury our brother, which of course
she said, "no" and that she didn't want to disobey the king. To which I understand but I was angry, we as women shouldn 't be servants to men. So,
when she decided to be killed with me I didn 't want my sister to claim on something that I only did by myself. Not only that, I wanted her to regret
that she decided that staying alive and disobey the gods was more important than burying our brother. Also, I didn 't like how she was being so
submissive under men because she was afraid to die. INDIA: I understand what you mean. Your response is very welled explain. I also think that it
's weak being submissive under men instead of standing up for what you believe in. O to the next question, if it were someone else in your brother
position, would you have done the same thing? ANTIGONE: If I were close to that person than yes, but if not then no. Besides me loving my
brother and not wanting to disobey the Gods I feel as though it wouldn't pertain to me unless we were close. INDIA: Thanks for your honesty. The
next question goes to The Watchman. If fate would have it, what would you have done if you didn 't find Antigone? THE WATCHMAN: First, I
would have clearly tried to find the criminal to clear my name. If it had come down to it though, I

Essay On The Title Antigone
A title is a direct relation to the novel itself. When a reader picks up a new story they wonder what the title means. They ask themselves is it a quote
from the book or is the title the name of the main character? The novel "The Fault in our Stars" says it's title in parts of the story, and Arthur Conan
Doyle chose the title "Sherlock Holmes" because the story is about Sherlock. In the drama "Antigone" by Sophocles, the characterization, the conflict,
and the resolution is why Antigone is the title and Creon is not. Many parts go into choosing a title. When the title is the name of the main character,
one of these parts is the characterization of the character. One of those parts is naming it the protagonist of the drama. Sophocles wrote Antigone as a
Sophoclean tragic hero, making her as the protagonist....show more content...
The title can also come from the root of the conflict. The reason Sophocles decided to use Antigone for the title is because Antigone is the cause of the
conflict in the play. Antigone starts off the play by disobeying Creon's orders and burying her brother. Haemon fights for her against his father after
Antigone earns herself an arrest. When Antigone goes to her death, Haemon follows by killing himself. Unfortunately, this leads to Creon's wife and
Haemon's mother dying. In a way this ends the conflict that Antigone started, thus why Sophocles decided to use her name for the title. There is an
added conflict when Sophocles says that Antigone is suppose to marry Creon's son Haemon. This makes Haemon have an internal conflict on whether
he should choose his father or his lover. Again, Antigone is the root of the conflict. Tiresias, the blind seer comes to warn Creon of doing wrong to
Antigone causing a fight between them. Which causes Creon to start fighting with himself, and once again Antigone causes a conflict. Since Antigone
causes most of the conflict, it makes sense to title the drama after

Antigone By Sophocles ' Antigone
"But one must neglect 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, inAntigone, when there is a conflict between the divine law and the state law, the divine law always prevails. Antigone
continuously follows the divine law, and although she ends up dead, she does not face Creon's pain of losing everyone he loves and all his people
turning against him. The play begins with Antigone disobeying Creon in order to do what she believes is right in the eyes of the gods and in the
eyes of her parents. Antigone knows that she will die "a holy outlaw, since [she] must please those below a longer time than people [in Thebes], for
[she] shall lie there forever" (75–77). According to Greek mythology, leaving a dead body unburied results in the dead person not passing smoothly into
the afterworld, and the people who do not bury the body receiving divine punishment. This divine punishment, which Antigone tries to avoid, becomes
more apparent at the end of the play with Creon's downfall. Antigone's main motive for burying Polynikes is her love for him and for her parents;
however, this statement

Essay on Antigone
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...show more content...
Sophocles uses negative diction such as "murderous", "clamor", and "blood" to depict the chorus' emotional trauma from the civil war as the
civilians heavily depend on a strong leader to recover their morale. Creon exploits the fear of his people as he "keeps his [intents to regain pride]
under lock and key," glamorizing his actions as endeavors to defend Thebes. Instead of considering the people's interests, he seeks vengeance towards
those who have wounded his pride. In fact, he accuses Teiresias, the most insightful messenger in Sophocles' plays, of yielding to greed for material
wealth when Teiresias warns Creon of the consequences of his actions. Creon's decision "to use any legal means...both about the dead and [living]"
(168) demonstrates how his appetite for revenge ultimately transforms any of his noble intents to protect Thebes into a mere conflict for power,
particularly worsened by Antigone's rebellious actions; instead of trusting the gods to punish Polyneices, he uses his authority to indulge in his
vengeance.
Within the play, Creon blatantly states: "We cannot give victory to a woman. If we must accept defeat, let it be from a man; we must not let people
say that a woman beat us" (187). While, in light of the moral standards within Greek society, his rationale may have been

Essay Antigone
Antigone2 Antigone herself represents the highest ideals of human life –– courage and respect for the gods. In the mythical story "Antigone", Antigone
first demonstrates feminist logic when she chooses to challenge a powerful male establishment. This establishment is personified by her uncle Creon,
who is newly crowned as the King of Thebes, and it is usually challenged by whole city–state. She believed that the law of the gods (to give proper
burial rights to every dead body) was more important than the law of the King. Creon became angry that a woman questioned his sovereignty and
commanded her to death even though she was the daughter of Jocasta, his sister. The bold, tradition–braking character of Antigone...show more
content...
"Imagine it: I caught her naked rebellion, the traitor, the only one in the whole city. I'm not about to prove myself a liar, not to my people, no, I'm
going to kill her!". Creon believes that if he does not follow through on his word the people of Thebes will not respect his authority as king. In
determination to gain respect from the people from Thebes, Creon decides to take Antigone's life, which ironically leads to his demise. Creon refuses
to compromise or humble himself before others especially women, he states "better if it must happen, that a / should overset me". He stubbornly
refuses other characters the right to express opinions different from his own. Creon abuses his power to force others to accept his point of view. This
extreme male dominance conflicts head–on with Antigone's bold unwomanly challenge to Creon's authority. Antigone does not give Creon additional
respect either because he is a man in a patriarchal society or because he is king. In such way, she argues an equality of the sexes, as well as equality
under God. Unlike her sister, Ismene refuses to challenge the male authority, even if it means to not fulfill her duties as a sister. Ismene states: "we
must remember that we are two women / so not to fight with men. / And that since we are subject to strong power / we

Research Paper On Antigone
"They are dead, but the livings are worthy of death" (P56). The words, that indicate that Antigone ended her life by her own hands, are astonishing.
It is shame that the 'world' loses a powerful woman who is capable of rules breaking. There is a saying in China that is 'living is always the better
choice than death', and everyone, including me, was told whenever someone is despairing. Likewise, people who suicide are considered to be the
ones who are weak in the deep of their hearts. Weakness provides the fear that prevents people from seeing and facing the reality, and caring about the
people they love. However, Antigone has always been seen as a strong female, daring to break the roles and support her family. With the truth of her
death,

Antigone Essay
Reason and truth are never based on authority. Not even a supreme ruler can decide the right and wrong things to do. Antigone, in "Antigone" is set on
honroing her dead brother even if it means going against her uncle Creon, resulting in a classic father or fatherly figure daughter conflict. In Sophocles'
play "Antigone", the combination of Antigone's stubborn loyalty and her uncle Creon's hubris result in the main conflict, while also demonstrating that
stubornness and pride lead to destruction.
To begin, conflict between Antigone and Creon arises when Antigone blatantly disobeys her uncle's edict due tofamily loyalty. For instance, when
Antigone is trying to convince Ismene to help her bury Polyneices, she exclaims, "He is my brother....show more content...
By adding this scene, Sophocles reminds his audience about the dangers and consequences of inflexibility and pride. These three instances all
contribute to the conflict Antigone has with her uncle Creon, while stressing how determination and loyalty can lead to destruction.
Secondly, Creon's massive ego is also one of the causes of the argument between him and his niece Antigone. In particular, during his formal address
to the chorus, he states , "Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial...no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man." This statement represents the
birth of Anitgone and Creon's conflict, as it leaves Antigone torn between obeying her uncle or honoring her brother. Creon's desire to demonstrate his
power and establish his rule are the root causes of the dispute between him and his niece and unfortunately leads to hardships in both of their lives. In
addition, after Creon finds out that Anitgone was the one behind Polyneices' burial, he exclaims, "Who is the man here, she or I, if this crime goes
unpunished?" Creon's ego is bruised after he finds out Antigone has disobeyed him, revealing how important his appearance and status is to him. No
matter how wrong he is in his decisions, Creon will never change what he believes is the right punishment for Antigone, which reminds the

Antigone Character Analysis Essay

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