In Ancient Greece, after 800 B.C., new ideas came to the forefront concerning the governing of society. These ideas led to the development of the city states, large self governing towns. These city states were founded on the principles of freedom, optimism, secularism, rationalism and the glorification of the body and mind. Accompanying these principles was an obligation of fierce loyalty to the city state and a willingness to shed blood on it's behalf. Within this atmosphere of extreme loyalty, freedom was only enjoyed with the assumption that when the time came,

In today's world we still often deal with the issue of respect for an individuals rights. In America we use the constitution to help guide us in establishing decisions regarding an individual's need versus society's need. Freedom of religion is a right that is guaranteed to us as citizen's, but there have been certain scenarios that have arisen in which there is no clear boundary about how far that freedom extends. Antigone clearly personifies this concept and is shown as the ultimate martyr for her beliefs. Antigone is a very strong willed woman whom the reader cannot help but respect for her integrity even if she was unlawful. Her last words are "Go, I, his prisoner, because I honored those things in which honor truly belongs." It is easy to sympathize with Antigone and recognize her virtues. Sophocles obviously intended for us to identify with her.

As the dictator of Thebes, Creon simply wants to enforce these values of loyalty. He sets the standard of his reign and makes a public example of Polyneices by not allowing anyone to give him a proper burial. Polyneices is considered an enemy of the state and Creon cannot allow any traitor to be honored, especially in death. In one of his first orations as king, Creon says "As God is my witness...no man who is his countries enem

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Ancient Greece, Sophocles' Antigone, Antigone's Polyneices, Creon God, Thebes Creon, Achilles Odysseus, Antigone Alive, ancient greece,
Approximate Word count = 868
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)