Antigone: Catharsis Analysis

Sympathy for Others As stated by Sophocles in Antigone, "Numberless are the world's wonders, but none More wonderful than man" (Ode 1 1-2). Landscapes like the grand canyon, the wide expanse of oceans, weather, tall mountains are all magnificent features, but none as great as Man. Man is the only thing in this world, that has free will to think about anything or do anything whenever they want to. If one wants to dance, he or she is free to do so, if one wants to sing he or she can do so. Man can also feel emotions such as happiness, sadness, or even confusion. The purging of emotions in reaction to something especially tragedies or music is known as a catharsis. In Antigone by Sophocles, the audience experiences a catharsis for a variety of characters. Although their actions may seem overly dramatic due to the trivial matters that they stress about, Antigone, Creon, and Haemon provide for a catharsis through their tone during the situations they undergo. Antigone's pitiful situation of standing alone against a strong king causes the audience to feel pity for her. As she faces her consequences for performing the "crime" of burying her brother, Antigone to all who are able to hear her, "Be witnesses for me, denied all pity, Unjustly judged!" (IV 29-30). Due to everyone's fear of Creon, Antigone must stand alone with no one to help her and constantly face harassment for performing the traditions of her culture. The exclamation point reveals that her tone is one of anger and frustration as she knows that she is right, but her opinions are outnumbered by the fearful subjects of Creon. Antigone's death is more than imminent. The audience sides with Antigone in compassion for Antigone is in a situation where hope is nonexistant. Antigone's lack of help leads to the stark punishment of rotting in a tomb until her own death. In a situation where the life has no meaning, Antigone takes her own life and is later discovered by the messenger who reports the news to