"The mighty words of the proud are paid in full with mighty blows of fate, and at long last those blows will teach us wisdom." Illustrated in this final quote of Antigone, the underlying theme for this tragedy is that excessive pride leads to a gain of knowledge and inevitably sorrow. Enforcing this idea is the relationship between Creon, the king of Thebes, and his son Haemon in that their struggles exemplify the destructive effects pride can have on an individual. .
".I"ll raise a mound for him, for my dear brother." Upon dying in an attempt to invade Thebes and usurp the kingship there, Polyneices, brother to Antigone, was left to rot in the fields having died as a traitor. Devotion to her brother and beliefs that her actions would be held sacred by the gods drove Antigone to attempt a proper burial for Polyneices. Ignoring the decree forbidding this action, Antigone was caught and later punished as a traitor. ".not out of fear of some man's wounded pride." Declaring the laws of the gods to be superior to those of a prideful king, Antigone professes her motivation to please the heavens despite the rulings set forth by man. Upon being brought into the scene as a culprit of Antigone, Ismene states "What? You"d kill your own son's bride?" In reality, Creon is so absorbed in his own interests and pride, he would never appear inferior to a woman even if it meant killing Antigone, Haemon's bride, by closing her in a stone tomb to die. .
Haemon's support and respect towards his father is highlighted in the quote "No marriage could ever mean more to me than you." Accolades are given by Creon for this and he goes so far as to say his son should be "subordinate to [his] father's will in every way." Creon protests that good judgment should never be sacrificed for a woman and ".it all goes cold in your arms." Foreshadowing the nearing misery Haemon will suffer, this quote again emphasizes Creon's complete lack of respect for women and his self-interest.
This type of conflict is shown in Antigone an helps present the character traits of the antagonist, Antigone. ... Antigone was also very strong minded. ... Antigone was also very strong willed. ... Antigone chooses to defy this law. ... Antigone believes that Ismene is a coward while Ismene believes that Antigone is foolish. ...
Antigone stands poised at the river separating herself from civil disobedience. ... Antigone's unrepressed emotions give voice to her dissatisfaction with Creon's dictum. ... Antigone's morals render her unable to see her tragic flaw. ... Antigone impels Creon by defying his order, and seals the fate of her life. ... Antigone's convictions bear a burden on her that she is not strong enough to lift. ...
In the play, "Antigone," the main character Antigone goes against all authority in an effort to give her brother, Polynices, a proper burial. ... Antigone has no respect for authority. ... Antigone also claims, "What Creon says is quite irrelevant" ( ln 4). Thus, Antigone does not respect government or Creon as a sovereign. ... "We can't live by Antigone's alone, but if we have no Antigones within us we are spiritually barren" (Cornell). ...
Later in the act, the Sentry enters again, this time with Antigone. ... Creon asks Antigone if this is true. ... Creon aims to justify his decision to let Antigone's dead brother rot. He also wishes to validate his choice to punish Antigone. ... I believe Antigone's act was morally correct. ...
Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. ... This is between Antigone and Polyneices. ... Antigone doesn't mind doing anything on her own. ... Antigone has no problem working by her self either. ... I think Creon feels he must defeat Antigone because she is a woman. ...
In Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone is the tragic hero of the play, rather than Creon. ... Sophocles wants us to see Antigone as the tragic figure. ... He can either kill Antigone, or spare her life. ... Antigone is in a different position. ... Antigone chooses wisely in defying the law. ...
However, in the play Antigone, Antigone goes against the beliefs and defies the powerful tradition of male domination. In the play, Antigone's life was filled with pain and sorrow. ... Even after all of this, Antigone had even more pain to deal with. ... Antigone didn't fear death, but instead faced it with great bravery and strength. ... That is why Antigone is such an influential character in the play. ...
The Antigone Essay Through "Antigone", the play, Sophocles lets it be known that family is more important than authority. ... Antigone felt awful that Creon was doing such a wrong thing. ... Antigone took a moral stand and buried Polyneices. ... Antigone was Haemon's true love. Haemon committed suicide once he lost Antigone. ...
Antigone is not from a normal family. Her family feels very strong in what they believe in. Especially Antigone and Creon. Antigone did things that other people wouldn't normally do. Some people wouldn't defy authority to do what they believe is right. Creon did things that people wouldn't do. I thi...
Bigger than her body Antigone was right, yet so was Creon. ... However Antigone defied the king. ... The gods sided with Antigone. ... Creon is protagonist against Antigone, who is the antagonist; at the same time, Antigone is the protagonist with Creon as her antagonist. Antigone's actions were justified by divine law. ...
