Sophocles" Antigone is a classic tragedy depicting the heartrending effects of power, pride, and deception in a family cursed by fate. With the heated conflict between Antigone and Creon at hand, it's easy for one to view the situation as a battle between good and evil; two dissimilar and contrasting personas. I, on the other hand, believe that it is the ironically similar personalities of Antigone and Creon that is the ultimate cause of the bitter standoff between the two.
First of all and most noticeably, both Creon and Antigone have the unfortunate character flaw of obstinacy. They are so centered on their own motives that they are deaf to all reason articulated by the other characters in the story. Ismene pleads her logical argument to Antigone and warns her of the legal implications at stake and the excessive risk being taken. Likewise, Haimon expresses to Creon his belief that what Antigone did is no crime and informs him that the public shares his belief. To no surprise, neither Antigone nor Creon pays heed to any of the countless warnings that emerge throughout their conflict. Antigone is driven by her strong emotions to give her brother a proper burial in spite of the ramifications that lie ahead. Creon, in the same way, feels that an act of mercy will undermine his image as a stern and unyielding ruler.
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Similar to their stubbornness is Antigone and Creon's second shared attribute; excessive pride. This motif is ubiquitous throughout this great work of Sophocles and is also fundamental in many other Greek tragedies. Creon's frame of mind is that he is a mighty king and cannot be abated by the cowardly dissent of one of Polyneices" puny sympathizers. In a daring act of pride, Creon defies the gods and has Polyneices" body defiled. Antigone, mirroring Creon's conceited character, drifts away from the image of the grieving sister who wishes to honor her brother to that of a self-righteous sister who uses her brother's death as a means of proving her strength and self-worth.
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. ...
