Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Response Antigone

Good Essays
398 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Response Antigone
Response Paper: Antigone, “A&P,” and “Good Fellows” In reading the stories, it was hard for me to decide and choose what exactly I wanted to focus on. But after brainstorming common themes and comparing the plots, I narrowed my focus to choice making and what it meant for the characters in the stories. I noticed that making choices and dealing with the “consequences” and aftermath of these choices were prominent in the stories: Antigone by Sophocles, and “A&P” by John Updike. In Antigone, several characters are faced with obstacles that force them to make both good and bad decisions, including: punishment and suicide. The main character Antigone sets the stage for decision making as she chooses NOT to marry her fiancé, to burry her dead brother’s body, and ultimately in the end to commit suicide. As seen in “A&P,” the main character Sammy is also struggling in choice making, and whether his choices were actually worth it. As Sammy continues his daily tasks as a grocer, he observes three young girls being mistreated by his “boss,” and he acts on impulse. He confronts his boss, which later results in him quitting his job. In the end, he is puzzled by whether or not it was worth it. Since none of the three girls acknowledged his “good deed,” and he no longer has a paying job, he wonders if he made the wrong choice. Both Antigone and Sammy think they are making the right choices and doing the “right thing,” but neither of them receives the outcome they expected. In some cases these individuals might be seen as making rash decisions, but for me they actions were justified. So very often I see people doing nice things for strangers and making choices on their behalf similar to what Sammy did. In Antigone’s case, her actions were deemed punishable simply due to the time period in which she lived. If she lived in today’s society, she would have no problem burying her brother even if he was the “black sheep,” and killed their own brother. When I think about this situation, I think about criminal in jails, and those sentenced to the death penalty. For them there is still a way to be punished, but the family doesn’t have to suffer, and they receive an “honorable” and dignified burial.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Antigone’s tragic flaw is her uncompromising, unyielding passion for burying Polynieces. Her Hubris gets the best of her, as does Creon’s, and is due to be bured alive. Antigone’s arrogance and excessive pride eventually led to her downfall, but her arrogance towards Creon eventually led to her death.…

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone disobeys the king by burying her brother who Creon views as a traitor to Thebes. She realizes that this action will result in her death but is still willing to do so as long as…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Inner Turmoil in Antigone

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Antigone proves herself to be a very loyal family member when she states, “That must be your excuse, I suppose. But as for me, I will bury the brother I love” (Pro. 64-65). She cares not of the law set forth by Creon when it conflicts with her beliefs concerning loyalty to loved ones. She chose the law of the gods above all other decrees, disregarding that the cost is her life. Even after the body’s guards brush off the thin layer of dust to negate the effect of the prompt burial given by Antigone, the heroine risks life and limb to see that Polynieces receives a proper burial, and she is arrested in the process. Her retort to Creon’s accusations was, “I do. I deny nothing.” Antigone is confident in her choice at this point. She even stands up for Ismene’s fraud confession, and she will “not have [Ismene] help” because Antigone’s loyalty to her family is too great (1. 132).…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis of Antigone 1

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Before reading Antigonê by Sophocles, discover some background information on the play, the author, and the time. In about 150-200 words compile that information and submit it in the submission window below. Learning some background information will help you understand the play. Look for information that will pertinent in understanding Greek Tragedy. Make sure you use your own words, quote when necessary, and include in-text citations. Keep the bibliographical information for inclusion on your works cited page if you choose to use any of this information in your final essay. This assignment will not be accepted after the due date and time.…

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Imagine having no authority over your own fate. Not being able to exchange your fate for another. We will discover and unravel the life of a girl name Antigone. In the play called “Antigone” this book explains the fate of Antigone and her family. This is a tragic and emotional fate that this girl goes through by the cause of a curse. These three themes will transform and revolve around her during her life period. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the main theme is fate, and love conquers and religion and Gods are supporting themes.…

    • 96 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    sammys epipany

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Without thinking, Sammy makes a rational decision that leads to his own epiphany. It becomes apparent when he feels like he should take charge and do something about the way the girls are being treated. Hoping to get recognition from the girls for being their “ unsuspected hero” ( on page 23) he decides to quit his job. Sammy is very disappointed that he couldn’t impress the girls the way he would have wanted to. Through trying to be the “suspected hero” he knew things aren’t…

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Antigone is impulsive, stubborn and doesn’t let anybody stop her from what she wants to do. She was caught trying…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    She knew that Creon is the only man that believes a proper burial for Polynices is a crime. Antigone stands up to the most powerful man in Thebes while knowing the consequences, which is truly heroic because she chooses her own destiny. Although Antigone comes out as exceedingly ruthless by accepting her death, it is because of her heartfelt determination to honor her brother's death. Antigone cares for the dead more than the living.…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Antigone's Domino Effect

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, is the carries the burden of Haemon’s, Eurydice’s, and her own death. The agony commenced when Antigone disobeyed the law which said to not bury Polyneices. Antigone is to be blamed because it starts when she buried a loved one, her brother.…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles in which a generous act is punished by King Creon. Haimon, Creon’s son, plays an important character in the story. In scene three, lines 55-94, Haimon uses his persuasive skills in talking to his father King Creon. He blatantly expresses about his opinion towards him, Antigone, and what he thinks Creon should do. He does this effectively using the rhetorical device of Pathos.…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the history of mankind, people have had to make choices on whether to follow the law of the state or God’s laws. God’s laws or divine laws are any laws (or rules) that in the opinion of believers, comes directly from the will of God. These laws are independent of the will of man, who cannot change it. However it may be revealed or not, so it may change in human perception in time through new revelation. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, there is a conflict between Creon and Antigone over which law to obey in regards to Antigone attempting to bury her brother, the law of the state or God’s laws. Antigone believes in following God’s laws, even if it means breaking the law of the state, a law set by Creon which states that Antigone’s brother Polynices is not to have a burial and no one is to touch him. On the other hand, Creon does not want Polynices to receive a burial because he betrayed his native city and should receive a suitable punishment. Even thought it was strictly forbidden, Antigone decides to defy the state’s law by giving her brother a burial. Antigone was right in defying the King Creon because she had the right to bury her brother and her brother had the right to receive a respectful burial which would honor their family. Every person deserves a respectful burial because the body is like a loan to the individual from the god, to which the cadaver will inevitably return. Even though Antigone was committing a crime according to the laws set by state, according to her she was right because she was just following the will of the gods.…

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon: a Virtuous King?

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages

    References: “Chapter 37/ Sophocles/ Antigone." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Comp. Dana Gioia and X. J. Kennedy. 10th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2007. 1324-352. Print.…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Research Paper

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The protagonist of a tragedy is always someone who is passionate for what their mission is; they want their dream to become reality. Antigone is determined to be the ‘hero’ by burying her brother who has died, and she is killed in this process. Antigone disregards the danger and sacrifices her life for the honoring of her brother. Her heroism is displayed when she states, “Think Death less than a friend?…

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone is unable and refusing to compromise while she is holding the moral high ground and backed with the moral support of all of the citizens of thebes and with the support of her fiancé, the king's son. Creon still is unable to see his mistake and refuses to lift her death sentence.…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Gender Roles

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Then Antigone courageously accepts her punishment of being put to death, failing to adhere to the king's expectation that she will submissively attempt to escape her sentence (A21).…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays