Essay about Unbreakable Antigone - 687 Words

In the play Antigone, the character Antigone, chooses to obey the laws of the Gods rather than the laws of man. Antigone risks everything, including her life, but her convictions are unwavering. Antigones beliefs were never conflicted. From the beginning of the play, the reader sees a steadfast woman, when Antigone tries to persuade Ismene to help bury Polynices. quot;Will you lift up his body with these bare hands / and lower it with me?quot; (52-53). Antigone is fully aware of the consequences (37-43) for such an action. Greek custom demands burial of a body and failure to comply risks retribution from the Gods. Antigones allegiance to the Gods compels her to act and gain their favor. quot;I have longer / to†¦show more content†¦/ Never again, the law forbids me to see / the sacred eye of day. I am agony! / No tears for the destiny thats mine, / no loved one mourns my death (963-969) Antigone believes she failed to procure the chorus acceptance, because the chorus last words spoken to Antigone are that of reproach. quot;Your own blind will, your passion has destroyed youquot; (962). Antigone goes to her grave a broken woman and in her mind, forever stigmatized as the wretched child of a vile father (420). However, Antigone receives some redemption, in the chorus eyes, when she is lead away to be executed. Dana#235;, Dana#235;-- / even she endured a fate like yours, / in all her lovely strength she traded / the light of day for the bolted brazen vault-- / buried within her tomb, her bridal-chamber, / wed to the yoke and broken (1035-1040). This is a complete reversal by the chorus of elders. Only the spectacle of a bound, captive Antigone augments the reality of her imminent demise, and moves the chorus of elders to compassion rather than scorn. Antigone has no love for Creon. The kings laws clash with Antigones unbreakable determination to honor the laws of the Gods. Antigone clearly fears the Gods rather than the King. quot;These laws--I was not about to break them / not out of fear of some mans wounded pride, / and face theShow MoreRelatedAntigone, The Universal And Most Heavily On A Hostile Government1897 Words   |  8 PagesWhile myriad themes that pervade themselves throughout the entirety of Sophocles’ Antigone, the universal and most heavily manifested theme is that regarding the conflict between how individuals choose to make decisions in a society: should one fulfill religious and familial obligations even when they contract the ruling of the state, or rather should the government be able to supersede divine right? In the traditional Greek plays, the familial structure plays a significant role in governing theRead MoreAnalysis Of Antigone , The Symposium, And Paul s Letter1726 Words   |  7 Pages community. However, Culture Expression creates a focused, intentional setting in which analyzation and adaptation of self and voice is encouraged. Because of our reading of Antigone, The Symposium, and Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, I persisted in deepening and, at some points, changing my understanding of self and voice. Antigone affected my understanding of selfhood by creating a conflict that is centered on two different ideas of self, Antigone’s importance on family and Creon’s importance on theRead MoreCharacter Qualities of Nora and Antigone in A Doll’s House and Antigone1499 Words   |  6 Pagesthat you be treated equally to a man, but that you treat yourself equally to the way you treat a man.† Antigone, written by Sophocles, and A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, are two plays about two women who defy the rules of society. In Antigone, an ancient Greek play, the girl breaks the king’s law in favor of the gods’ law by giving her brother, Polynices, a proper burial. In the end, Antigone dies because of her behavior, but not before she shows how strong she is when she stands up to CreonRead MoreThe Importance Of Sibling Relationships1930 Words   |  8 Pagesworld (Baer 2). There are millions of reasons that siblings should be a major par t of people’s lives, but the memories you share, the love for one another, and the instinct to be there for each other anytime you need them is what forms the- almost- unbreakable bond between siblings. Though, siblings are not the only relationships in our lives, they still remain one of the most important ones to have in life. This thinking, which persists despite the wide variety of human relationships, allows siblings