Sophocles Antigone

As soon as I read it, Sophocles’ Antigone became one of my favorite pieces of literature. Many of the play’s ideas, although written for an ancient audience, are still very relevant today. For example, in my favorite part of the play, Sophocles expresses that “numberless are the world’s wonders, but none are more wonderful than man.” Many reasons add up to why I love this quotation, including its rich meaning and its use of language. But, most of all, the reason why this is my favorite quotation is because its true meaning is not what it seems.
I like this quotation because it tells a unique story with its meaning. As I learned in Greek class, the definition of one word, transliterated as “deinos,” has been misconstrued in the translation
I always have enjoyed learning about the mythology, the philosophers, and the literature of that time period. This interest is what motivated me to learn the ancient Greek language. I am able to explore my love for Greek society through reading ancient Greek work, like Antigone. Specific quotations from this era, like the one by Sophocles, are a perfect mix of my love for ancient Greece and a connection to my modern life. Additionally, the quotation has helped me appreciate how lucky I am to be able to study ancient Greek. It is evident that throughout the last few decades the Greek program has been declining in American high schools. I believe it is important for all students to have the opportunity to discover ancient Greek. Sophocles’ work is proof that Greek is still relevant today and students should be exposed to it. I am very thankful that I am learning ancient Greek and the quotation from Sophocles has helped me appreciate my education
Before I encountered it, I often disregarded the English language as being a perfect communicator. This is not true. Sometimes, like in the case of Antigone, there is not a word that captures the meaning that the author is trying to display. Just because of the change of a single word, from “deinos” to “wonderful,” the quotation took on an entirely different meaning. This has opened my eyes on the importance of word choice. When writing, I now know that the words you use are important. Plus, I can appreciate language as a whole, both ancient greek and English, and how they are both similar and different. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, and none can be perfectly translated into the other. I can use these ideas to help me develop my writing to use impactful words with layers of meaning and take advantage of