'Antigone is an admirable character.' How far do you agree with this statement?
'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 self-pity, thus making her less likeable and admirable to the audience.
In the prologue of the play, the audience is introduced to Antigone's strong and personal desire to bring justice to Polyneice's unburied body. She states that she would prefer to be 'noble by birth' by remaining loyal to her blood relations, rather than 'a coward in a noble family.' A majority of a Grecian audience would have appreciated Antigone's strong desire to honour her own flesh and blood. Furthermore, it is revealed that
Polyneice's unburied body was not an accident, but had been forbidden a burial due to his disloyalty to the city. With every citizen wary and 'afraid' of the 'harsh' death penalty, Antigone is seen as an admirable character, as she is voluntarily brave enough to disobey the king's laws.
Furthermore, she appears to be accepting of death in the beginning, calling it nothing but 'a gain'. She advances in becoming very defensive of her own actions; instead of admitting her wrongdoing of disobeying the law, she admits she feels 'no pain' and only 'a fool' could have accused her of committing a sin. These quotes show Antigone to be strong, steely and capable of defending herself, which greatly contradicts the other female characters
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 self-pity, thus making her less likeable and admirable to the audience.
In the prologue of the play, the audience is introduced to Antigone's strong and personal desire to bring justice to Polyneice's unburied body. She states that she would prefer to be 'noble by birth' by remaining loyal to her blood relations, rather than 'a coward in a noble family.' A majority of a Grecian audience would have appreciated Antigone's strong desire to honour her own flesh and blood. Furthermore, it is revealed that
Polyneice's unburied body was not an accident, but had been forbidden a burial due to his disloyalty to the city. With every citizen wary and 'afraid' of the 'harsh' death penalty, Antigone is seen as an admirable character, as she is voluntarily brave enough to disobey the king's laws.
Furthermore, she appears to be accepting of death in the beginning, calling it nothing but 'a gain'. She advances in becoming very defensive of her own actions; instead of admitting her wrongdoing of disobeying the law, she admits she feels 'no pain' and only 'a fool' could have accused her of committing a sin. These quotes show Antigone to be strong, steely and capable of defending herself, which greatly contradicts the other female characters