Greek Gods in Antigone
Charles Wallace
Mrs. Lopale
CP English 10
7 May 2012
The Greek Gods and Their Role in Antigone The Greek gods were thought of as the most powerful forces to ever exist in ancient times. In turn, they played a pivotal role in the Greek people’s lives. Their power and influence over the Greek people is evident in many of the stories in Greek literature. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the most powerful Greek gods, each played a part in the story of Antigone by Sophocles. Throughout the play, “God” refers to Zeus, the king of gods. Antigone’s main motive for defying Creon is that she does not think Creon is doing what the gods would want. “Which of us can say what the gods hold wicked.” That quote means that Antigone does not think people can understand the way gods think. Haimon references Zeus when asking Creon not to punish Antigone too harshly. Creon swears to the gods that he will kill Antigone in front of Haimon. At the end of the play, Creon realizes that “the laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them to the last day of his life.” The messenger also prayed to Persephone and Hades to beg that Haimon and Antigone are still alive. Antigone knew that she would die if she went against Creon, but figured disrespecting the gods was more dangerous. She had so much faith in the gods that she never doubted that she was doing the right thing – “I know I am pleasing those I should please most.” Although the gods were rarely directly mentioned, they were in control of mostly everything. (Sophocles.)
There are three main Greek gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. They are the most powerful gods because they are the sons of the most powerful titan, Cronus. They rule the three domains of Earth. Zeus is king of the sky and heavens, Poseidon is king of the sea, and Hades is the ruler of the Underworld. They got assigned their domains in a random draw. (Gall.)
Zeus is the king of all the gods. He controls the sky and heaven domain, and is the most powerful of all
Mrs. Lopale
CP English 10
7 May 2012
The Greek Gods and Their Role in Antigone The Greek gods were thought of as the most powerful forces to ever exist in ancient times. In turn, they played a pivotal role in the Greek people’s lives. Their power and influence over the Greek people is evident in many of the stories in Greek literature. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the most powerful Greek gods, each played a part in the story of Antigone by Sophocles. Throughout the play, “God” refers to Zeus, the king of gods. Antigone’s main motive for defying Creon is that she does not think Creon is doing what the gods would want. “Which of us can say what the gods hold wicked.” That quote means that Antigone does not think people can understand the way gods think. Haimon references Zeus when asking Creon not to punish Antigone too harshly. Creon swears to the gods that he will kill Antigone in front of Haimon. At the end of the play, Creon realizes that “the laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them to the last day of his life.” The messenger also prayed to Persephone and Hades to beg that Haimon and Antigone are still alive. Antigone knew that she would die if she went against Creon, but figured disrespecting the gods was more dangerous. She had so much faith in the gods that she never doubted that she was doing the right thing – “I know I am pleasing those I should please most.” Although the gods were rarely directly mentioned, they were in control of mostly everything. (Sophocles.)
There are three main Greek gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. They are the most powerful gods because they are the sons of the most powerful titan, Cronus. They rule the three domains of Earth. Zeus is king of the sky and heavens, Poseidon is king of the sea, and Hades is the ruler of the Underworld. They got assigned their domains in a random draw. (Gall.)
Zeus is the king of all the gods. He controls the sky and heaven domain, and is the most powerful of all
Cited: Sophocles. “Antigone.” Glencoe Literature. Ed. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Douglas Fisher, Beverly Ann Chin, and Jacqueline Jones Rayster. Comlubus, OH: Glencoe/McGraw Hill, 2009. Gall, Timothy and Susan. “Zeus.” The Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology. Vol. 5. Cleveland: Eastward, 2006. Gall, Timothy and Susan. “Poseidon.” The Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology. Vol. 5. Cleveland: Eastward, 2006. Gall, Timothy and Susan. “Hades.” The Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology. Vol. 5. Cleveland: Eastward, 2006.