Preview

Creon Disobeys The Greek Gods In Antigone

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
355 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Creon Disobeys The Greek Gods In Antigone
Romans believed that worship and sacrifices would appease the Gods and bring prosperity to their community. However, it has never been specified what exactly pleases the Gods. In the play Antigone, there is a dispute between Creon, the king, and Antigone on whether the burial of Antigone’s brother will please or offend the Gods. This play demonstrates how influential Greek gods were to the people of Rome, Antigone’s reasoning for defying is her father is that she does not believe his decisions to refuse her brother a proper burial is what the gods want.
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

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    When it comes to being human, it’s no surprise that mistakes happen when we try to live our everyday lives, but how can one learn about other people’s mistakes, and what those mistakes caused? The simple answer to this question is the history of human beings, and the empires that we’ve built and destroyed. Humans that would be especially important to study in this case would be the leaders of these aforementioned empires, and exactly how their mistakes caused their downfalls. In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, a king by the name of Creon acts on his emotions to decide the fate of one of his own flesh and blood, and in the end, he’s severely punished for his impotence, which brings about his downfall. Creon is a king that goes against the gods, and…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    An example of Antigone's unintended consequence is when she decides to bury her dead brother, Polyneices. Creon orders that no one is to bury Polyneices because he is a traitor. "...As for his blood brother, Polyneices by name, He broke his exile, he came back hungry for blood, He wanted to burn his fatherland and family gods Down from the top. He wanted to lead his people Into slavery. This man will have no grave: It is forbidden to offer any funeral rites; No one in Thebes may bury him or mourn for him. He must be left unburied. May birds and dogs feed on his limbs, a spectacle of utter shame" (lines 163-206). Antigone understands that Creon will kill her if she burys her…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although Creon created the edict with good intentions for the people of Thebes, his failure to recognize the familial bond that ties Antigone to her brother Polyneices coupled with his newfound power as ruler of Thebes contributes to his tyrannical and delusional behavior which ultimately leads to his downfall. Looking back at “Oedipus The King”, Creon established himself as a rational individual, especially during his confrontation with Oedipus when clearing his name as culprit in a placid manner. However, Creon’s attitude shifts dramatically in “Antigone” after assuming the throne. Analysing Creon’s argument with oracle Tiresias reveals Creon’s transformation into a delusional tyrant. Tiresias offers his wisdom to Creon claiming he is responsible…

    • 257 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

    Role Of Creon In Antigone

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the story of Antigone, there are two main characters Creon, and Antigone. Many people think that Antigone is the tragic hero, but i think that Creon is the tragic hero. In the story of Antigone, king Creon was a tragic hero because, he was very stubborn, he is of noble greatness, and he made a bad mistake by not burying Polyneices.…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Antigone” Creon the ruler decides to create a rule right on the spot for these two brothers that came back to the land, but one brother will not get the welcome back like the other did “I here proclaim to the city that this man shall no one honor with a grave and none shall mourn. You shall leave him without burial you shall watch him chewed up by the bird” (1197). Now there is a problem, while he made this rule up. His son’s wife Antigone wants to bury her brother’s body because in ancient Greece “They gave careful attention to proper preparation of the…

    • 965 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From reading Antigone, loyalty comes in all different forms. One is how Antigone expressed her loyalty to family by giving her brother, Polynices, a proper bruial; even though she wasn't being loyal to the rules of Creon, king of Thebes. Humans are faced with basic conflicts of loyalties—to state, religion, and family. Personal happiness is another powerful and legitimate pull. But perfect balance among these compelling factors is impossible; hence suffering is inevitable. In this play, loyalty expresses through Antigone's eyes with respect to the family, as she showed devotion to them, by giving her brother a proper burial.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Role Of Creon In Antigone

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What is a tragic hero? Antagone is an interesting play with many interesting characters included in it. Antigone who is a women who just wanted to give her loving brother, Polyneices a proper burial. Creon Antigone’s uncle who sought after giving Polyneices the title of traitor. There is a right and a wrong and in my opinion Creon was in the wrong, i mean by making stupid, and stubborn decisions that would soon lead to his downfall, making him the tragic hero of this play.…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Selflessness, and determination are great characteristics to have, but when they are put against each other, problems can arise. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is trying to bury her brother Polynices after his tragic death, while fighting for the throne. Creon doesn’t want Polynices to be buried because of how he died, fighting for the throne, and killing Eteocles, the rightful king. Creon doesn't think it is just for Polynices to be buried. But Antigone says the gods desire it. Antigone and Creon put each other in tough situations, which creates a theme and advances the plot. Throughout the play Antigone acts as a foil for Creon and her selflessness contrasts with Creon's determination to advance the plot and develop the theme of staying true to your morals.…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Creon Tragic Hero Analysis

    • 1800 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Antigone's reasons for burying her brother were strictly to demonstrate love, loyalty, honor, and respect for her family and for her brother to be accepted in the gods' land. However, the main reason that Creon is angered is not the fact that Polynieces fought against his city, and yet the insult and betrayal of his own niece, especially by being a female figure who disobeyed him in public; it is even worse because she is his son's (Haemon) fiancé, and, therefore, his ego is quite damaged. "Go down below and love, if love you must – love the dead! While I'm alive, / no woman is going to lord it over me". The type of punishment given to Antigone was very severe and cowardly, in contrast to the main reason that caused…

    • 1800 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone, Sophocles’ character, King Creon will issue a law that no one will perform the burial rites over a dead traitor of the state. In advocating his law, he will deem Polynices a traitor. Antigone will unapologetically revolt against Creon’s law citing the rite's for the dead are the concern of the gods. Creon, believing himself to be omniscient in all matters of state and church ignores the coherent warnings given to him by his family and friend. Ironically, when he judges Antigone as a traitor to the state, Creon has committed the most grievous offense himself: treason against the laws of the gods,…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Burial In Antigone

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages

    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…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly forever. Conventional tragedy is too easy. The hero dies and we dies and we feel a purging of the emotions. A real tragedy takes place in a corner in an untidy spot , to quote W.H Auden-Chinua Achebe. Antigone’s words, actions, and ideas contrast with Creon’s character to the point of these two characters having conflicting motivations. These conflicting motivations cause the characteristics of anger, hate, and disappointment to be highlighted within Creon’s character. Ultimately, these conflicting motivations develop Creon as a tragic hero by putting his niece in a cave to die, caused other deaths. That particular mistake put a lot of people in the grave.…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In every person’s life there are laws that they follow, whether they are set by the authority in the country or their belief in a higher deity the laws one follows while leading their life can sometimes be in conflict. In Antigone divine and state law are incompatible forcing the characters to make difficult decisions. Antigone’s personal obligation to following religious rites and traditions puts her at odds with Creon’s insistence on enforcing his will as the king. Sophocles examines the conflict between rules and order to illustrate how adherence to the law of the state can be mislead. Through the conflicts between characters in the play, Sophocles exemplifies that in his best world divine or religious law is obeyed over the law of men or states.…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    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,…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays