Sophocles’ tragic drama, Antigone, presents to the reader a full range of characters: static and dynamic, flat and round; they are portrayed mostly through the showing technique.
In “Sophocles’ Praise of Man and the Conflicts of the Antigone,” Charles Paul Segal takes the stand that there are two protagonists in the drama (which conflicts with this reader’s interpretation):
This is not to say that there are not conceptual issues involved in the characters of Creon and Antigone. But the issues are too complex to be satisfactorily reduced to a single antithetical formulation. We must avoid seeing the protagonists as one-dimensional representatives of simple oppositions: right and wrong, reason and emotion, state and
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Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men.”
The guard exits with the intention of saving his own skin by never reappearing before Creon. But shortly thereafter he again approaches Creon with the startling news that the guilty party has been apprehended in the act of burying Polynices’ corpse: “I have come, though 'tis in breach of my sworn oath, bringing this maid; who was taken showing grace to the dead.” The guard’s recounting of the actions of Antigone develop her character into all of its fullness as a most sentimental and religious person:
And when, after a long while, this storm had passed, the maid was seen; and she cried aloud with the sharp cry of a bird in its bitterness,-even as when, within the empty nest, it sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she also, when she saw the corpse bare, lifted up a voice of wailing, and called down curses on the doers of that deed. And straightway she brought thirsty dust in her hands; and from a shapely ewer of bronze, held high,
In his play Antigone, Sophocles makes extensive use of religious and cultural allusions in order to develop ideas. Through the use of allusions to Zeus and other moral figures, he reinforces accepted moral standards, heightening the conflict between Antigone’s earthly morals and those of her religion. Sophocles also shows the dangers of hubris through his allusions to the downfall of Niobe, and Creon’s references to Nemesis. The motif of fate within Antigone and the rest of the Theban plays is developed through his allusion to Danae, as well as his references the Oedipal prophecy and to the Fates themselves. Through his use of allusion, Sophocles gives great insight into aspects of the human condition, the moral ambiguities of our world, and
Throughout Sophocles’ play, Antigone, Antigone and Creon engage in multiple disputes revolving around Antigone's infraction of Creon’s decree; do not bury Polynices, the traitor, and Antigone’s brother. Creon is outraged. Not only is his law broken, but by a family member, and worse, a woman. This, combined with his post civil war paranoia, makes Creon unreasonable and egotistical, resulting in his inability to take advice. Taking into account Creon’s unstable temperament, Antigone should not be so brash, in her criticism and actions.
Antigone is a Greek tragedy by Sophocles. ONE OF THE three surviving tragedians of classical Athens, along with Aeschylus and Euripides, and one of the great dramatists of world literature, Sophocles spanned in his long life (497-406 B.C.) the cultural flowering of Athens in the fifth century(Segal 1). Antigone is named after the daughter of King Oedipus of Thebes, a young woman who stood against the king’s decision and believed in the gods’ law. There are many arguments regarding who is the real protagonist and antagonist in this play. The protagonist is generally regarded as the good guy and antagonist is the bad guy. Antigone is a protagonist as she is the title character in the
In the Greek play Antigone writer Sophocles illustrates the clash between the story’s main character Antigone and her powerful uncle, Creon. King Creon of Thebes is an ignorant and oppressive ruler. In the text, there is a prevailing theme of rules and order in which Antigone’s standards of divine justice conflict with Creon’s will as the king. Antigone was not wrong in disobeying Creon, because he was evil and tyrannical. The authors of “Antigone: Kinship, Justice, and the Polis,” and “Assumptions and the Creation of Meaning: Reading Sophocles’ Antigone.” agree with the notion that Antigone performs the role of woman and warrior at once. She does not only what a kinswoman would, but also what a warrior would do.
In Sophocles’ Antigone, a major conflict arose over Antigone’s and Creon’s beliefs on right and wrong. Antigone stands for the laws of the Gods and family morals. Creon chose to stand for the values of the state and his will to be king. Although one’s decisions appear to be more reasonable and sympathetic than the other, both characters’ decisions in society can be equally validated.
Antigone’s words, actions and ideas contrast with Creon’s characters to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations. These Conflicting motivations cause the characteristics of abomination, discourteous, and egocentric to be highlighted within Creon’s character. Ultimately, these conflicting motivations develop Creon a tragic hero by his downfalls, how he’s been aggressive, and also when Haemon and Antigone killed their selves.
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
This Sophocles tragedy seemed to touch many readers. This tragedy has made many people in present and antiquity rethink their purpose in life. This story also intended to raise many questions. One question that I will discus is what means more to you, social acceptance or staying true to your beliefs? This classic tragedy that I am referring to is called Antigone. This fascinating story touches many subject of social and religious matter. I will discuss the tragic turmoil of Antigone, her surrounding family, and the social and religious dilemma that Antigone faces that will ultimately decide her fate.
The play “Antigone” is a tragedy by Sophocles. One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader parts of the form through different characters.
Creon’s Foil “Zeus hates an arrogant boasting tongue”(lines 152-153). Antigone's words, action, and ideas contrast with Creon’s to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations. These conflicting motivations caused the characteristics of stubbornness, disrespect, and anger to be highlighted within Creon’s character. Overall, these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by emphasizing the characteristics that all tragic heroes must have. His interactions with Antigone develops the theme by showing their distinct views.
Antigone is an ancient Greek play, originally written by tragedian Sophocles, that has been adapted by the French playwright and dramatist, Jean Anouilh. This well-regarded interpretation of the play retains its classical plotline but explores theories of tragedy and how tragedy has moulded this classical play. During this theatrical piece, the protagonist, Antigone, ignites disastrous events that gravely impact not only her family, but the city of Thebes. Furthermore, A World Enclosed is an archetype of tragedy that perfectly represents Antigone. This archetype of tragedy is demonstrated in a plethora of ways throughout the play: Antigone’s stubbornness and determination, her over willingness and persistence to obey the gods, and how the chorus, essential and solitary figures in Greek plays, comment on how tragedy functions within the play.
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.
Though the choices that Antigone and Creon face in Sophocles’ Antigone differ, their decisions often end up pitted against each other’s, inviting comparison. Since I am juxtaposing the characters’ degrees of rightness, I believe that the rightness of the reasoning, not just their ultimate stances, should be examined. The entirety of his or her argument, not just the conclusion, must be taken into account. I’ll also note that my perspective of rightness could and does conflict with that of the gods in Antigone and Sophocles. Furthermore, “rightness” has an element of nuance to it because of the word’s multiple definitions and their connotations.
This essay will compare two of the characters in “Antigone”, Antigone and Creon, in an effort to determine the identity of the tragic hero in this tale.
When the title of a play is a character's name, it is normally assumed that the character is the protagonist of the play. In Sophocles' Antigone, most people probably believe Antigone to be the tragic heroine, even after they have finished watching the play. It may be argued, however, that Creon, not Antigone, is the tragic character. When we examine the nature and concept of the Greek Tragedy and what it means to be a tragic character, it becomes clear that Creon is indeed the tragic hero of the play Antigone.