The tragedy in the play Antigone results from a major struggle between two sides. Creon is extremely stubborn and insists that the law of the state must be obeyed even when it conflicts with the higher moral law of the gods. Immorally, Creon orders that the dead Polynices is to remain unburied for his ungratefulness toward his city. Willing to risk her life in his honor, Antigone secretly buries her brother. A sentry reports to Creon that she disobeyed his orders. Antigone's love and courage toward Polynices causes her to disobey Creon even though she knows that her life is at risk. She is sentenced to live in a cave until she dies. Since she feels that she has received no justice, she hangs herself.
Creon's pride and inferiority over woman is the cause of this tragedy. He addresses his son with a statement that shows his sexist attitude toward women, " I hold to the law, and will never betray it--least of all for a woman, better be beaten by a man, if need be, then let a woman get the better of us" (ll.575- 578). Even through this inequity, Creon cannot make Antigone bend to his will. Not only was this the cause of her death, but also the deaths of Creon's wife and son. .
Presently, disputes of various issues continue to appear that relate to this play. An example of the conflict between the law of the land and the moral law is abortion. The law of the land says that it is acceptable to have abortions; however, the moral law shows that it is wrong to kill a living person. The controversy of abortion has brought many people to take either side. Individuals strive to end this immoral act, reflecting Antigone's beliefs and bravery. Antigone said, "That order did not come from God. Justice, that dwells with the gods below, knows no such law. I did not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man." (ll. 379-382).
Capital punishment is another conflict that is extremely controversial.
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. ...
