'Antigone is a thoroughly admirable character.' How far do you agree with this statement? Throughout the play, Antigone is presented as an audacious and unorthodox female character, whose actions depict her independence and confidence. She dismisses the rules which she believes are false, and honourably battles against her uncle's rule to bring justice to her slaughtered brother; her original intentions suggest how important family relationships are to her. However, Antigone's reckless behaviour often causes inconsistency in her beliefs. Majorly, nearing the end of her life, she begins to regret all her deeds of which she had once glorified. Antigone's initial self-confidence and independence has been replaced with regret and …show more content…
For example, when threatened with the bleak future of a death penalty, her reply that it would be more of 'an advantage to die.' Although her character may not have been expected by an Ancient Greek audience, her unique and unorthodox character (when compared with the typical stereotype of an Ancient Greek woman) would have been admired. Finally, Sophocles shows Antigone to be a passionate religious citizen, who chooses to obey the 'unwritten, unassailable laws' of the divine rather than the short-lived laws of humans. In this way, her undying respect for the gods give her a character similar to a saint or a martyr; she expresses very clearly her acceptance of dying for obeying the words of the gods. This particularly gives Antigone an admirable character, as religion and obeying the gods' wishes were viewed as necessities in Ancient Greek life. By showing that she is willing to disobey her own city's king, Antigone appears set to be favoured by the gods for her loyalty. However, Antigone's character is very reckless and hotheaded; her swift decisions and ambitious actions often cause contradictory emotions and actions. One prime example relates with the theme of family relationships; Antigone feels that she is 'noble' when 'honouring [her] own flesh and blood'. Although this ,ay be true in her conflict for bringing justice to Polyneices, she becomes increasingly cold, distant and rude to her only surviving
Antigone believes that the laws of the gods should supersede the laws of men. Personally, she feels that the consequences of disobeying Creon’s law are inferior to the consequences of disobeying these higher laws. Morality is of greater importance to Antigone than her life, and ironically enough, in the conclusion of Antigone she is sentenced to her death for her transgressions against the law. Consistently throughout the play, Antigone struggles to understand how one could value the laws of men more than the laws of the gods. “How savagely impious men use me, for keeping a law that is holy” (942-943, Sophocles). Rather than succumbing to a law that she knows is not just, Antigone demonstrates kleos by being steadfast in her morality.
and set of values. She dies with pride and no regret for she died because she acted doing what
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
Imagine knowing that both your brothers have lost their lives due to foolish decisions. The man who comes to power in place of them decides that only one of them is worthy of a proper burial. One of them is glorified and the other is left to be eaten by animals as he is thought to be a traitor. Being one of the last in your line you decide to take it upon yourself to respect the laws of the gods and honor your brother. In Antigone, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles , Antigone faces the consequences of defying mans law in order to follow the laws of the gods.
In life, humanity has the responsibility to adhere to the rules and regulations imposed upon it by a superior power. For the most part, this obedience breeds peaceful order and mutual understanding; however, when the body in control grows corrupt and enforces unjust laws, the people rightfully turn their thoughts to revolt. This is the case with Antigone, who was correct in her rejection of the inhumane ordinance proclaimed by King Creon. Her means are justified by her desperation to please the gods, her desire to honor her fallen brother, and her compulsion to perform what is morally right.
However, Antigone’s loyalty to the gods seems to be the most powerful. Possibly because her fear of disobeying the gods is far greater than any turmoil she has yet to face. Antigone fears that by disobeying the gods she will reap great consequences after death. She chooses to obey the laws set by the gods and accepts the punishment of death by Creon. [Was I to stand before the gods’ tribunal for disobeying them, because I feared a man? I knew that I should have to die, even without your edict; if I die before my time, why then, I count it gain; to one who lives as I do, ringed about with countless miseries, why, death is welcome.] (Antigone, Lines 458 to 463)
Antigone is portrayed as being morally straight and obedient to higher standards. She has a high moral standard. For example, she argues to Ismene, “He’s my brother and yours too; and whether you will or not, I’ll stand by him.” (Sophocles, ll 52-53). This is showing that she is very dedicated to her family. She will
Antigone is one of the two central characters of the play, along with Creon. Like Creon, she too has a claim to being the tragic hero of Antigone. Her first qualifying aspect is being introduced as a good, upstanding person. She is kind-hearted and caring, especially for her family as she was willing to defy her uncle’s royal edict forbidding the burial of her fallen brother Polyneices. She is also a person of high-esteem and stature. As the daughter of the late King Oedipus and Queen Jocasta, as well as the current King Creon’s niece, Antigone is well known throughout Thebes. She is also slated to marry Haemon, Creon’s son. Thus, she is essentially seen as a princess and is adored by the Theban people. The next qualifying aspect is her relatability
Antigone’s situation exposes a problem that has plagued societies to this day. The problem being religion and state. Religion and state is a very controversial topic and is quite difficult to navigate through. This philosophical issue raises moral dilemmas that can cause great divides among parties due to where the values of said parties lie. For example, an individual who was raised with nationalistic ideology that stressed the importance of being devoted to one 's country, rather than personal religious views would side with Creon. On the other hand, an individual who is god-fearing and puts their personal values above their country would not think twice about obeying divine laws and putting the laws of man aside. This is the mindset that Antigone possesses. Therefore, she is justified in her actions due to divine law reigning supreme. “ Nor did I think your edict had such that you a mere mortal could override the gods the great unwritten unshakable traditions”(Antigone 82). Antigone was honoring and being obedient to the decrees of the gods.
In ancient Greece the females were considered to be conniving and deceiving whisperers, and men almost never trusted their wives. The ideal woman was an obedient and placating wife. They believed that the female should be strong but still yield to the power of the male in charge, whether it was older brother, father, or husband. Euripides often used females in uncommon ways; he did not simply show them as complacent animals. Women in Euripides' plays were used for social commentary. They were not just simple characters; they could be both agathos and kakos. The females in the works of Euripides were extremely strong and devious and they were loyal but at the same time
Works of literature are generally understood as being timeless with a superior artistic merit. It explores the traditions and culture of the time and place but most prominently it gives insight to the human condition. Greek mythology is used in the ancient times to interpret things that would otherwise be unexplainable. It is an indication of human creativity and the need to introduce faith in something greater than simply existing. Antigone by Sophocles is a perfect example of literature since it is filled by the mythology that is considered the religion and science of its time. As a daughter to the infamous Oedipus, it is normal to assume the tragic events that shall occur later on. Like her father, the consequences of her choices
Her core value of commitment of her loyalty to family is an important value for her to have. She believes that family comes first. “But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that crime is holy.” “But as for me I will bury the brother I love.” “But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that crime is holy.” This proves that Antigone is loyal to her family because, no matter the consequence she is determined to bury her brother. This is because to her, her brother deserves to be honored. Antigone puts her family before the law. “But as for me I will bury the brother I love.” This proves that Antigone has a
The line between bravery and recklessness is very thin, and sometimes the two are indistinguishable; however, there are times when one becomes the other. Throughout the Greek tragedy Antigone, Sophocles portrays Antigone as a bold and fearless character. Even after her uncle Creon, the king, forbids the burial of her disgraced brother Polyneices, she defies his orders to follow the gods’ commands. When her act is discovered, she makes no effort to defend herself, and readily accepts her fate: a penalty of death. At the end, she hangs herself in her last act of defiance. Although Antigone is hailed as a tragic hero with honorable intentions, it is her own foolishness that caused her demise and others’ misfortune. While her intentions are courageous and noble, Antigone’s fatal flaw of recklessness ultimately leads her and the people around her to tragedy.
Throughout time society has developed a system from which humans are able to define good and bad, Ethics. Although Ethical norms have been adapted throughout the passing of time, its most intrinsic values have prevailed, enabling individuals to agree on standards of what good and bad are built on their moral standards. Morals are what give the individual the capacity to distinguish good from bad. In the ancient Greece morals were indeed the individuals perception of good, and bad however, these perceptions were greatly abided and driven by the divine laws imposed by the gods. In Antigone, a tragedy written by Sophocles, we see the how the main character defies the kings rules and stands for her own perception of what she believes is the rightful thing to do .We are able to able to see the decision chosen by the two main characters, Creon and Antigone are the ones to define and condemn their faith and the one of those who live around them. In Bernard Knox’s Introduction poet T. S. Eliot states, “Antigone did the right thing for the wrong reason”(pg53). I believe that Antigone by deciding to mourn for her dead brother does indeed the right things but for the wrongs reasons. Through her actions she evidently follows the ethical norms imposed by the Greek divine laws, but it is her moral judgment the one to ambiguously expose her true reasons, the fulfillment of an unalloyed lust, creating a rupture beyond the scopes of rationality by incarnating the simple desire of taking upon
disapproval but also against the King’s law. Antigone is very loyal and family oriented and takes