Family, an important theme of life, gets expressed throughout many ways in society. Family may take precedence over many things, including authority and the law. Within the tragic play, Antigone, the author Sophocles presents situations where the characters have to choose between their family and the law. The characters must choose what is more important to them, their family or obeying the laws of Thebes. Throughout the play, Sophocles presents a strong theme of family values and the importance of it through the actions of Antigone, Creon and Haimon.…
The conflict between Creon and Antigone is one of conflicting values and duties. When Antigone’s brothers fight to the death in battle Creon declares that only one of the two brothers should be buried. Antigone is disgusted by this law and buries her other brother, thus breaking the Creon’s new law. When he is told of the news he is furious. “You there with your face bent towards the ground, what do you say? Do you deny you did this or do you admit it?” [497-499] Antigone admits to what she has done, and does not regret her decision because she thinks it was the respectful thing to do for her brother. “ I admit that I did it. I won’t deny that.” [500] Creon has no choice but to punish her, so…
Continuing on, knowing the consequences of her act, she will bury her brother because it is the will of the gods that a family gives its members a proper burial. And because of this, she will face the punishment of death for disobeying Creon’s order. For fighting against Thebes, but Antigone being an honor sister will give him a proper burial knowing what he did. Creon by doing this will let the city know that by unburied Polynices action will show others to think before thinking in betraying their city if anyone had the intention to do it. Also since he's the king, he needs to gain the respect of the people. When at the same time it was…
By burying her brother, Antigone knowingly and willingly went against royal orders and in doing so chooses her own death. She knows as well as anyone in the town that death would come to all that disobeyed Creon's order. Antigone says to this "no one will ever convict me for a traitor,"(Act I: Scene II: Line 361) and decides to bury the body, this is quite ironic because by burying her brother a traitor is exactly what she is convicted of being. Antigone's actions went against her homeland. Creon had declared that "Our country is our safety. Only while she voyages true on course can we establish friendships truer than blood itself. Such are my standards. They make our city great."( Act I: Scene II: Line 382) He says this meaning that if everyone acted as a whole they would always prosper. If someone were to go against the laws and ideals put by Creon it would only cause dissension. When Antigone went against the law this was exactly what happened. Chaos would not have ensued if she trusted her king to be right in his decision, just as all the townspeople and her sister Ismene did.…
Antigone decides to go against Creon’s order and bury her brother without her sister’s help. Afterward Creon finds out from the sentry what she has done. This creates the clash of Creon and Antigone to begin when he brings her and interrogates her on her treachery. She denies nothing and confesses to her actions…
The play Antigone supports Creon’s claims that the rule of the king must be obeyed even if it is wrong in order to avoid anarchy and chaos. It is tragic that so many lives had to be lost. It is hard to be a king and maintain the rule of law. King Creon is a strong king that demands to be obeyed no matter what the cost. Tragically he lost so many that he cared for. First his brother dies, then his two nephews fight over the throne and end up killing each other. Eteocles was the king however his brother Polyneices fought to take his place. To no avail they both die. Eteocles was giving a proper burial for a king where Polyneices was just left to rot on the battlefield.…
King Creon believes that fighting for his kingdom shows true power and courage. Creon’s main goal is to seek justice for his kingdom and in doing so he deemed Polynices, Antigone’s brother, a traitor. Power blinds him and he sentences Antigone to life on a deserted island for going against his wishes. Creon comes to his senses a little too late, losing his family in the process. On the other hand Antigone feels that if the state is going against the law of God by Creon not giving proper burial honors to Polynices, then a person has the right to take matters into their own hands. When Antigone is caught by the sentries it didn’t surprise her, she is expecting punishment for her actions but is willing to accept a form of it for her family. Antigone’s courageous stand against the State shows her personal morals are of the…
At the beginning of the play, Antigone found her brother dead after a war and Creon refused to bury him. Antigone thought that she had to bury him to please the gods. She became angry at Creon’s decisions against her because she is the niece of him and part of the royal family; but Creon is still sending her away to die. Antigone especially displays her loyalty to her family “Last daughter of your royal house / Go I, his prisoner, because I honored / Those thing to which honour truly belongs” (Sophocles 151) This signifies that Antigone is over trying to try to gain Creon’s forgiveness because he is sending her away to die. This makes Antigone loyal since she defied the laws of Thebes to help her brother even though her own sister told her not to. Antigone displays a loyalty that expresses itself as selfless and bravery towards her family but, she doesn’t allow herself to benefit from the same qualities that she gives to everyone else. Although Antigone has been sentenced to death, she is accepting her fate. She is brave enough to know that she is going to die while knowing that there is a brighter side of the situation. Antigone reveals one idea about her fate by saying “If this is God’s will, I shall learn my lesson / in death” (Sophocles 150) Antigone is expresses how even though she is going in the path of death, she is accepting it as long as it’s the God’s wishes. Even though she knows that all her actions are going to result in her death, she still is not giving in to Creon’s views on the situation. Antigone shows bravery in the face of death by standing up to Creon by wishing him the same punishment for the wrongs he forced upon…
To begin with, Antigone has gone through a hardship. She has lost her brother and her family is very mad with her, since they have also been brought into the conflict. Antigone is very strong; she does what she wants without thinking twice. She is also very sneaky. She buried her brother without anyone noticing. The blame was even put on her timid sister, Ismene. Who was later questioned by Creon, and also was held by him until she was found innocent. But Antigone already knows her consequences, so she is ready if she is caught. Antigone also follows the Gods law. She believes that manmade law must harmonize with the Gods law. She is lead by her emotions and what her heart tells her to do. Antigone strongly believes that both of her brothers deserve burial rights, therefore she fights for it.…
Antigone had the right to want to bury her dead brother, but Creon’s nature of being a greedy king is more important to him than family. Ismene, her sister, told her it was a bad idea and to follow the king’s orders unless she wants to be executed. Antigone proves even if she does get caught, it would be an honor to die for the cause. She says, "I intend to give my brother burial. I'll be glad to die in the attempt,-- if it's a crime, then it's a crime that God commands”(line 7). This proves that Antigone is not scared of the king’s power and shows that it is important for her to do what is right. She doesn’t even deny what she did when confronted by Creon and was happy to accept the death penalty. If he were to dismiss it, especially since she is family, nobody would have killed themselves.…
If she had been pliant and had conformed to the laws of Creon she would not have died. Antigone had a separate opinion on the matter and “she has never learned to yield” (II, 86). She was completely shameless in burying her brother and denied nothing. Actually, when her sister Ismene offered to keep Antigone’s actions a secret, Antigone thundered, “Oh tell it! Tell everyone” (Pro 76)! She “dared” to defy Creon, and did not fear the consequences of her actions (II, 65). She even put her pride above Creon as she said, “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way” (Pro,…
Antigone says to Creon, “The guards would agree with me, if you weren’t in charge of them.” She didn’t care what Creon thought. She wanted to let Creon know that she did what was right. Antigone was fearless of what was to come, and she was brave and a determined young women. She knew she was right, and she wasn’t arguing with Creon as much as the others. She knew if Creon continued through with the punishment of death, at least she would be at peace in the…
When the story begins, Creon has issued a law forbidding the proper burial of a fallen soldier, his own nephew, Polyneices. He says, “ “.(Act 1, Line ) This immediately shows his first character flaw. He has so much pride and believed superiority that he can make laws to go against the gods’ laws. These laws have to do with the proper burial to ensure the release of the deceased’s soul. Without proper release, the soul will be forever trapped in the hell of its own body. Antigone, his niece and the sister of Polyneices, then goes against his law in order to give her beloved brother proper burial. She is caught and Creon’s second tragic flaw is seen: His stubbornness. He refuses to bend the law he made even when his own niece does everything she can to follow the gods laws. When Antigone begins to be seen as a public her, Creon’s stubbornness causes the townspeople to begin to disagree with and dislike him.…
Antigone also has a tragic flaw, her hubris and head-strongness. Because she is so head-strong and stubborn, she will not denounce her decision to bury her brother Polynieces as that is what she believes to be right. Although burying her brother would mean going against Creon’s man-made laws, she is determined to bury Polynieces as it would be doing right by her brother and the Gods above. She uses a rhetorical question directed at Creon to highlight this “Was I going to honour you, or honour Gods?”…
The play exemplifies the love that a family can protect each other with, and how this can connect an audience to the characters. Antigone’s love and respect for her brother was unlike any other character in an ordinary story. Her sacrifice of her life for her family makes her a true tragic hero, especially because she does not hesitate to bury her brother’s body. The emotions of fear, love, pity, and more are aroused from the play and entice the reader further into the story. Antigone is a true classic example of tragedy, and the tragic qualities found in this play can assist the audience in analyzing other tragedies as…