Antigone: Marxism Point of View
Nia Washington
Marxism
In Antigone by Sophocles, there are a lot of social class struggles that go on throughout the play. The conflict between the higher class and the lower class shows periodically and develops problems. The main character, Antigone, goes through a series of problems dealing with social class. Antigone does not want to marry the prince and live the life of luxury. The Sentry and King Creon go through some conflict with the way Creon is talking to the Sentry. Every character goes through some instance of class problems. King Creon shows that he is the top of class structure a lot throughout Antigone. The way the other characters respect him presents that he is, too. “King, may I speak?” the Sentry says (Scene 1, line 149). The Sentry obviously has adoration for him to be asking for pardon to speak. The King replies to that statement, “Your very voice distresses me” (Scene 1, line 150). Creon can say whatever he wants to say to The Sentry without any hesitation. The just proves that he is at the top and no one can tell him anything. Creon also tries to overpower his son, Haimon. When they are having a conversation about the fact that Antigone disobeyed Creon’s law, he tries to show his authority yet again. “So? Your “concern”! In a public brawl with your father!” (Scene 3, line 115-116). Once Creon figured out that he cannot use the fact that he is the king against Haimon, he uses the fact that he is his father and that Haimon has no chance with him. Once again, Creon is proving that he is the top of the class structure. In scene 5 though things turn around. Teiresias, the blind prophet, comes to Creon. Teiresias says, “You are sick. Creon! You are deathly sick!” (Scene 5, line 61). Creon replies, “As you say: it is not my place to challenge a prophet,” (Scene 5, line 62). Creon cannot argue with Teiresias because Creon is obviously inferior to him. Creon might be superior to all these other characters but in the end, he will never
Marxism
In Antigone by Sophocles, there are a lot of social class struggles that go on throughout the play. The conflict between the higher class and the lower class shows periodically and develops problems. The main character, Antigone, goes through a series of problems dealing with social class. Antigone does not want to marry the prince and live the life of luxury. The Sentry and King Creon go through some conflict with the way Creon is talking to the Sentry. Every character goes through some instance of class problems. King Creon shows that he is the top of class structure a lot throughout Antigone. The way the other characters respect him presents that he is, too. “King, may I speak?” the Sentry says (Scene 1, line 149). The Sentry obviously has adoration for him to be asking for pardon to speak. The King replies to that statement, “Your very voice distresses me” (Scene 1, line 150). Creon can say whatever he wants to say to The Sentry without any hesitation. The just proves that he is at the top and no one can tell him anything. Creon also tries to overpower his son, Haimon. When they are having a conversation about the fact that Antigone disobeyed Creon’s law, he tries to show his authority yet again. “So? Your “concern”! In a public brawl with your father!” (Scene 3, line 115-116). Once Creon figured out that he cannot use the fact that he is the king against Haimon, he uses the fact that he is his father and that Haimon has no chance with him. Once again, Creon is proving that he is the top of the class structure. In scene 5 though things turn around. Teiresias, the blind prophet, comes to Creon. Teiresias says, “You are sick. Creon! You are deathly sick!” (Scene 5, line 61). Creon replies, “As you say: it is not my place to challenge a prophet,” (Scene 5, line 62). Creon cannot argue with Teiresias because Creon is obviously inferior to him. Creon might be superior to all these other characters but in the end, he will never