Always Do What Is Right In Antigone
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS JUST A ROUGH DRAFT.
Mark Twain once said, “Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other”. Through events in the play Antigone, Sophocles discusses this choice between what is morally right and lawfully right. Sophocles believes that the god’s laws should be upheld no matter what the circumstance, and he demonstrates this through the events in the play. Using the Greek traits Hubris, Ate, and the Nemesis, Sophocles creates inner turmoil within the characters in the play, and the decisions they must make.
Through arguments between the characters in Antigone, Sophocles emphasizes the Greek trait Hubris to show the decision between the gods and society. In the beginning of the play, Creon …show more content…
When telling his prophecy to Creon, Tiresias asks, “Oh god, is there a man alive who knows, who actually believes … just how much a sense of judgement, wisdom is the greatest gift we have?” (1165). Tiresias believes that the ability to make wise decisions or actions is the most important trait to have, in which case Creon does not posses. To be able to make the right decision, one must have the ability to listen to others and not just themselves. Tiresias also says, “All men make mistakes, it is only human. But once the wrong is done, a man can turn his back on folly, misfortune too, if he tries to make amends, however low he’s fallen, and stopped his bullnecked ways.” (1132-6). In this powerful quote, Tiresias is pleading with Creon to listen, to realize what he’s about to do. Creon’s Atê and Hubris prevent him from doing the right thing, until it’s too late. During the climax of the play, Tiresias finally proclaims, “ You, you have no business with the dead, nor do the gods above- this is violence you have forced upon the heavens” (1191-2). Tiresias curses Creon for not burying Polynices, because he was too focused on society and his own needs. Reckless, impulsive action results in awful decision making, which then results in consequences from the gods. Creon listened to no one but himself and his own ideas, and it ruined
Mark Twain once said, “Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other”. Through events in the play Antigone, Sophocles discusses this choice between what is morally right and lawfully right. Sophocles believes that the god’s laws should be upheld no matter what the circumstance, and he demonstrates this through the events in the play. Using the Greek traits Hubris, Ate, and the Nemesis, Sophocles creates inner turmoil within the characters in the play, and the decisions they must make.
Through arguments between the characters in Antigone, Sophocles emphasizes the Greek trait Hubris to show the decision between the gods and society. In the beginning of the play, Creon …show more content…
When telling his prophecy to Creon, Tiresias asks, “Oh god, is there a man alive who knows, who actually believes … just how much a sense of judgement, wisdom is the greatest gift we have?” (1165). Tiresias believes that the ability to make wise decisions or actions is the most important trait to have, in which case Creon does not posses. To be able to make the right decision, one must have the ability to listen to others and not just themselves. Tiresias also says, “All men make mistakes, it is only human. But once the wrong is done, a man can turn his back on folly, misfortune too, if he tries to make amends, however low he’s fallen, and stopped his bullnecked ways.” (1132-6). In this powerful quote, Tiresias is pleading with Creon to listen, to realize what he’s about to do. Creon’s Atê and Hubris prevent him from doing the right thing, until it’s too late. During the climax of the play, Tiresias finally proclaims, “ You, you have no business with the dead, nor do the gods above- this is violence you have forced upon the heavens” (1191-2). Tiresias curses Creon for not burying Polynices, because he was too focused on society and his own needs. Reckless, impulsive action results in awful decision making, which then results in consequences from the gods. Creon listened to no one but himself and his own ideas, and it ruined