Antigone
In Sophocles' play Antigone we are faced with a simple conflict between Creon, king of Thebes, and his niece, Antigone. Although the conflict is clear and easy to understand on its surface, beneath the surface onlookers often become jaded as to which character, Creon or Antigone, Sophocles intended to portray this tragic play through. As the play begins, Antigone is alone in her beliefs. The chorus sides with Creon and most likely the audience as well. However, as the play develops Antigone gains the support of her peers, including the chorus. In the end Creon also sides with Antigone but only after it is too late and his fate has been sealed. The play begins with Antigone conversing with Ismene, her sister. She proposes to Ismene that they disobey the decree of Creon and bury the body of Polynices, even at the cost of death. Ismene is afraid to join her and tries to dissuade Antigone from her purpose, urging the weakness of women and the necessity of obedience to the state. However, Antigone scorns her advice and buries the body of Polynices. Upon repeating the burial rights of Polynices, Antigone is arrested and led to a courtyard where she meets face to face with Creon. In the courtyard she is openly defiant and brutal
orever." (Antigone, ll. 499-507) Antigone is a woman for whom politics and sovereignty of the state take second place. Compassion and piety are in the forefront of her heart and mind. She is willing to give up her own life rather than witness Polynices' death without passageway into the after-life. Law at one level or another applies to everyone. Sometimes, in a given situation it can be applied on several levels. Such is the case in Antigone, both Antigone and Creon is faced with a conflict that entails loyalty to the state of Thebes, loyalty to the house of Oedipus, and most importantly, loyalty to the gods. Creon holds himself above all of these loyalties. He disregards the people of Thebes, he disgraces his family, and he holds his own power above the will of the gods. Through these actions he brings about his own downfall. As a punishment he must live with the sorrow he directly inflicted upon himself, through his stubbornness and conceit. Antigone, meanwhile, has died a martyr, refusing to ever yield her position. She stood by the house of Oedipus, and more importantly, she adhered to the highest form of the law, that of the gods, as a true hero would. In Creon's opening scenes he portrays himself as a patriotic and democratic statesman. He
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Approximate Word count = 849
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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