Sophocles’s Theban plays tell the story of families afflicted by generations of personal tragedy. Unlike epics such as the Iliad, whose portrayals of whole-scale war, death, and destruction convey a sense of near-apocalyptic despair, Sophocles’s plays achieve power by setting tragedy on a more intimate...
Antigone written by Sophocles, speaks about the power struggle between Antigone and her Uncle Creon who is the King of Thebes. Both characters seemed to have their own beliefs in how Antigone’s brother Polyneices should be buried. With both Creon and Antigone being strong-willed individuals,...
Though it was written over two millennia ago, Sophocles’ Antigone features one of the preeminent symbols of female defiance in its title character. The play centers on the exploits of Antigone as she openly goes against the king’s decree in the name of honor and...
Tragedy is defined as an “event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress.” It can be hard to see someone else’s viewpoint of tragedy, because people’s experiences with it are different. Everyone who has an opinion will weigh in- agreeing, or simply not able to see...
In ancient Greece, women contribution to society was very minimal. Their rights were fewer compared to those of men. Confined to their homes, the role of women in Ancient Greece was bearing and raising children. In Antigone written by Sophocles, Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus...
In the play, Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone, the same as Malala, knew what she was going to do and did not let anyone prevent her from accomplishing her goal. The conviction and attitude that there’s still broader fairness outside the rule seen in Malala is...
In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, Kreon was seen to portray the villain of the plot. His position of king was gained unlawfully due to the deaths of Eteocles and Polyneices. Kreon, had allowed only Eteocles to be buried and said that Polyneices must stay on the...
The central conflict in Antigone has to do with someone’s deep respect. If the respect should be higher towards the laws of man, or the laws of the gods. This central conflict came about, since the people that lived in Thebes are used to living...
The play Antigone is written by Sophocles. The protagonist, Antigone, and the antagonist, Creon, goes against each other regarding the issue of Antigone’s brother’s burial. Antigone’s and Creon’s actions are fully supported by their own values. Considering his style in the play, Sophocles appears to...
Author Shannon Alder once said, “Often those that criticise others reveal what he himself lacks.” Essentially what Alder is saying is that the things we find fault with in other people are really the things that we do not have and therefore desire. In their...
The word “feminism” was first officially coined by French socialist Charles Fourier to be used to describe equal rights and social standing for women in the 1890’s. Throughout time, the meaning has changed, but the underlying principles have remained the same. Even before the coinage...
While it is likely that Oedipus Rex is the only character who completely embodies Aristotle’s idea of a tragic hero, there are many characters who possess enough of his defined characteristics to qualify as the tragic hero of their respective drama. Creon, the King of...
Throughout Antigone, Creon maintains complete confidence in his belief that, in order to prevent anarchy and chaos, the rule of a king must be obeyed even it contradicts proper morals and/or the will of the gods. The decisions that he makes in an effort to...
In his play Antigone, Sophocles portrays the character of Creon in a multitude of ways but particularly as proud and uncompromising. Because he is ruler of Thebes, many of his actions drive and shape the course of the drama. Significantly, it is also through the...
Antigone and Ariel as Tragic Heroes A tragic hero includes someone who is of noble birth, has great qualities and flaws, has a fatal flaw, has a tragic downfall, gets physically or spiritually wounded, is more self aware in cause, and is felt pity from...
Even though it was forbidden, Antigone decided to defy the state’s law and give her brother a burial. Antigone was right to defy King Creon because she had the right to bury her brother and her brother deserved a respectful burial so they could honor...
The “Golden Age” of Greece is notorious for its many contributions to the creative world, especially in its development of the play. These primitive performances strived to emphasize Greek morals, and were produced principally for this purpose. Antigone, by Sophocles, is typical. The moral focused...
In Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon, the King of Thebes, is entrusted to care for Antigone and Ismene, the daughters of the deceased Theban King Oedipus. However, Creon and the strong-willed Antigone clash on the issue of the burial of Antigone and Ismene’s brother Polyneices. Polyneices and...
Creon out of his pride kills his own wife and son out of selfishness which make him a true tragic hero. Creon is a character who so caught up with what others think. Creon is isolated character who keeps to himself his plans and acts....
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the characters of Antigone and Creon remain contrary to one another. Small time, Polyneices, the sibling of Antigone and the nephew of Creon, has been pronounced a swindler of Thebes. Antigone would prefer to pass on than leave her...
In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Kreon, the warrior King may overrule Antigone, a mere woman’s, struggle for political power, but can he match Antigone’s resistance in a fight for political authority? Political power in a state rises from the presence of a force that exerts dominance....
The idea of hubris is monumental in a plethora of Greek mythological works. In many ways the excessive pride of certain characters fuels their own destruction. This is certainly true with respect to the characters of Pentheus, Antigone, and Oedipus. All three of these characters...
Creon requested that Eteocles, who passed on protecting the town is to be covered with full respects , while the figure of Polynices, the intruder is left to decay along these lines, Creon announced that any individual who set out to endeavor covering Polynices will...
It is not often in Greek myth or tragedy that a woman is found portrayed as a tragic hero. However, Sophocles makes the hero of his Antigone, the third and last play in the theme of Oedipus’ life, a woman. And though this is out...
Our first impression of Creon is his fair manner of dictating laws. As his pride starts affecting his reasoning, he dismisses other people’s opinion, Creon thinks he is always right. This is evident where Creon says “whatever you say, you will not change my will.”...
Everyone loves the hero of a story. A hero inspires you and gives you a sense of hope and security. Heroes are characters who are admirable, noble, brave, intelligent, and powerful. They are great examples and positive role models. But what if the hero is...
Creon is the leader or person of status in the play, “Antigone” by Sophocles. His status was the new king of Thebes right after the previous kings Laius and Oedipus had fled. As the king, he seems to care more about the loyalty and the...
Creon, a stubborn man with what he saw in himself as potential, saw his chance of fulfilling his dream when his mighty brother, ex-king, Oedipus with his two older sons, Polynices and Eteocles, passed away. The brothers were too prideful. They both wanted the power...
Aristotle believed that in order for a tragedy to be truly fulfilled, there must be a tragic villain who is completely aware of their evil but takes little pleasure from acting evil. In Jean Anouilh’s Antigone that character is Creon from the moment he is...
There is no shortage of violence and death in the stories and myths adapted to the stage by the Ancient Greek tragedians. However, these actions are almost never depicted explicitly onstage: murders play out offstage while the audience is only privy to the sound of...
Antigone, Ismene, Creon, Eurydice, Haemon, Tiresias, Sentry, Leader of the Chorus
Symbols/motives
The gray world, Creon's attack, Eurydice's knitting, the chorus, tragic beauty, the tomb/bridal bed
Influence
The ideas presented in Antigone are relevant in the modern world and indicate that modern society is not as developed as we think. We still have issues of gender equality, democratic voice and religious faith. Antigone is trying to show everyone the power of women in the face of male power.
Quotes
"Nobody likes the man who brings bad news."
"I have no love for a friend who loves in words alone."
"You are always defying the world, but you're only a girl, after all."
"It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands."
"We have only a little time to please the living.
Interesting facts
It is said Sophocles died while reading aloud Antigone.
The asteroid (129) Antigone, which was discovered in 1873, is named after the heroine.
In 1944 the French playwright and screenwriter Jean Anouilh published the play Antigone, the production of which in Paris occupied by German troops received a huge response.
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, called his daughter Anna Antigone.
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