Themes of Antigone
The Themes of Antigone
Antigone is credited as one of the best works of Sophocles, ranked by most modern critics above Oedipus the King. There are many aspects of Antigone that make it the play critics love to decipher and rave about. "Antigone must be received as the canon of ancient tragedy: no tragedy of antiquity that we possess approaches it in pure idealism, or in harmony of artistic development" hails critic Berhardy (Theatre History). He goes on to rave "It is the first poem produced by the union of the whole strength of the resources of which tragedy was capable: of all the extant works of Sophocles it is the most perfect: no other exhibits such a striking combination of subject, language and technique". There are a variety of aspects and elements open to interpretation and examination that shape and define literature and its message. One of the most commonly examined themes is that of pride. Tragedy is usually concerned with a person of great stature, a king or nobleman, who falls because of hubris, or extreme pride and Antigone is no exception. Pride and its effects are a central part of Antigone 's plot and theme. The "Golden Age" of Greece is known for its contributions to the creative world, as well as its development of the play. These performances emphasized Greek morals and were produced for that purpose (Wilf 1). While the gods despise this trait and bring suffering to those who exhibit it, the Greeks consider it a part of greatness. Pride, being part of their character and morality, overran in to their literature and was a complex and multifaceted concept in Greek tragedy, exemplified by Sophocles ' Antigone. In the play both Creon and Antigone were incredibly proud and unwilling to back down once they took their stands. "Pride is part of what made Antigone heroic" (Classic Notes: Themes). Creon had made a decision and was unwilling to compromise. He decided that Polynices was a traitor and was not to be administered proper burial rites
Antigone is credited as one of the best works of Sophocles, ranked by most modern critics above Oedipus the King. There are many aspects of Antigone that make it the play critics love to decipher and rave about. "Antigone must be received as the canon of ancient tragedy: no tragedy of antiquity that we possess approaches it in pure idealism, or in harmony of artistic development" hails critic Berhardy (Theatre History). He goes on to rave "It is the first poem produced by the union of the whole strength of the resources of which tragedy was capable: of all the extant works of Sophocles it is the most perfect: no other exhibits such a striking combination of subject, language and technique". There are a variety of aspects and elements open to interpretation and examination that shape and define literature and its message. One of the most commonly examined themes is that of pride. Tragedy is usually concerned with a person of great stature, a king or nobleman, who falls because of hubris, or extreme pride and Antigone is no exception. Pride and its effects are a central part of Antigone 's plot and theme. The "Golden Age" of Greece is known for its contributions to the creative world, as well as its development of the play. These performances emphasized Greek morals and were produced for that purpose (Wilf 1). While the gods despise this trait and bring suffering to those who exhibit it, the Greeks consider it a part of greatness. Pride, being part of their character and morality, overran in to their literature and was a complex and multifaceted concept in Greek tragedy, exemplified by Sophocles ' Antigone. In the play both Creon and Antigone were incredibly proud and unwilling to back down once they took their stands. "Pride is part of what made Antigone heroic" (Classic Notes: Themes). Creon had made a decision and was unwilling to compromise. He decided that Polynices was a traitor and was not to be administered proper burial rites
Cited: "Article: Antigone." Encyclopedia Mythica. Online. Internet. 17 Feb. 2001. Wilf, Meredith. "The Use of Light and Dark Images in Antigone." 14 Sept. 1999 Online