Antigone English Literature and Literary Analysis
Antigone, the Real Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone is a great Greek tragedy by Sophocles. The story is about a young woman who has buried her brother by breaking king’s decree, and now she is punished for obeying God’s law. There are many arguments about who is the tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone. Some believe that it is Creon because he also has the characteristics of a tragic hero. Others believe that it is Antigone because the play bears her name. Antigone is the perfect hero, to exemplify the meaning of a tragic hero. In order to determine whether Antigone is the tragic hero, one will have to answer the question, what is a tragic hero…. [tags: Antigone]
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The Tragic Downfalls of Creon and Antigone in Sophocles’ Antigone – The hubris resonating throughout the play, ‘Antigone’ is seen in the characters of Creon and Antigone. Their pride causes them to act impulsively, resulting in their individual downfalls. In his opening speech, Creon makes his motives clear, that “no man who is his country’s enemy shall call himself my friend.” This part of his declaration was kept to the letter, as he refused burial for his nephew, Polynices. However, when the situation arises where it is crucial that Creon takes advice, he neglects the part of the speech where he says “a king…… [tags: antigone] 712 words
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Righteous Judgement in Antigone – At the beginning of the play, Antigone brought Ismene outside the city gates at night for a top secret meeting. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polyneices’ body because even though he died in dishonor he was her brother. Ismene refused to disobey the king which is also their Uncle Creon, and she failed to talk Antigone out of doing the act herself. “Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses..Then, mother…did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords…. [tags: Antigone, ] 936 words
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Antigone: The Theme of Family Loyalty – … In Sophocles’ Antigone, the quest that Antigone endures to stay true to her pure intentions of honoring Polyneices by giving him a proper burial is in juxtaposition with the fact that her defiance towards Creon is not only to do with Polyneices, but also to show appeasement to the gods. Antigone’s firm belief that her brother Polyneices should have a proper burial is established by her conviction in that the law of the gods is above all else. This law proclaims that all men be mourned and honored by family and friends through means of a suitable burial…. [tags: Antigone] 740 words
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Tragic Flaws in Antigone – One of the greatest Greek plays is Antigone. Antigone is a tragic Sophoclean play, which portray two great examples for a tragic hero. I believe Creon and Antigone, the main characters of the play to be tragic heroes. A tragic hero is a character who is known for being dignified and has a flaw that assists to his or her downfall. Both Creon and Antigone are dignified and flawed in their own ways, having a similar tragic flaw. Antigone is very proud, liker her father Oedipus, who also happens to be a tragic hero; I guess it runs in the family…. [tags: Antigone, ] 620 words
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The Importance of Religious Obligations Illustrated in Sophocles’ Antigone – In the play Antigone by Sophocles, one of the main characters, Antigone, has to choose to obey the law or obey her religious obligations. Creon, the king of Thebes, issued and edict that said that Antigone’s brother, Polyneikes, could not be buried. Antigone felt that she should not leave her brother to be devoured by vultures and insisted on burying him. Because Polyneikes had rebelled against the state, one of the greatest offenses of the time, burying his body meant death for Antigone as well as her sister…. [tags: antigone] 567 words
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Antigone: Worthy of Being Admirable – Antigone is an admirable character in some aspects through out the play. Her pride basically serves as a building block to her being admirable. Certain examples through out the play prove this to be true ,but in some instances the end result is negative. A big example of this was her willingness to bury her brother accepting any consequences. To Antigone the Gods are more important than any subject ,and Creon seems to think that he is at their level of standing just because he is king…. [tags: Antigone] 300 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon and Antigone – Creon and Antigone Antigone Sophocles When a dictator dies, his image and fame dies with him, but when a self-sacrificing individual dies, their legacy begins. This statement is true because oppressed citizens do not fondly mention a mean ruler, such as Creon from Antigone, after he passes away. Yet a martyr, such as Antigone, also from the story Antigone, is remembered for her self-sacrificing deeds. Creon will not be remembered because he did not allow Antigone to bury her dead brother Polynices, and decides to execute Antigone for trying while Antigone’s legacy will live on because she has the courage to defy Creon, and chooses to sacrifice herself for Polynices’ honor…. [tags: Antigone essays] 815 words
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The Tragic Hero of Antigone – Everyone agrees that Oedipus is the quintessential Greek tragic hero. In fact, Aristotle had Oedipus specifically in mind when he first set down the requirements for tragedy in his Poetics. However, in other Greek tragedies, the tragic hero isn’t always so easy to identify. For example, in the play Antigone, the reader may have some difficulty deciding who the tragic hero is. Nevertheless, a careful examination of the facts reveals that Antigone is the true tragic heroine because she’s brave, flawed, and noble…. [tags: heroes, Antigone, ] 869 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Sophocles and Antigone – Sophocles and Antigone Sophocles is an ancient Greek writer and philosopher, who wrote one of the greatest stories of all time Antigone. Sophocles is also said to be one of the greatest minds in the ancient world. This paper talks about Antigone, achievements and times of Sophocles. Sophocles was born about 496 BC at Colonus in Attica, near Athens and died 406 BC. He lived in the most brilliant intellectual period of Athens. Sophillus, his father, was a wealth Athenian citizen and gave him a sound education in music, gymnastics, and dancing. He was well known as having a reputation for learning and esthetic taste. He was well versed in Homer and the Greek lyric poets, and because of his industriousness he was known as the “Attic Bee” (Rexine 132). “Do to his youthful beauty, he was chosen to lead the chorus in the Paen of Thanksgiving for the naval victory at Salamis in 480 BC.” (Rexine 132) In Sophocles’ long life he several times held public office, partly do to his fame as a dramatist and his gentle qualities as a man. “In 440 BC he was appointed one of the generals in the war which Pericles led against Samos, and in 413 BC.” (Magill, Kohler p# 1023) He was also one of the ten commissioners appointed after the failure of the expedition to Sicily, to govern Athens. Pericles once said to him “you know how to write poetry, but you certainly don’t know how to command an army” (Internet) Sophocles first won first prize, in a competition with Aeschylus, on 468 BC at the age of twenty-eight. During his career he never won less than second prize and gained first prize twenty times, more than any other Greek tragedian. Sophocles wrote more than 120 tragedies, only a mear seven have survived. “Plutarch tells us that there were three periods in Sophocles’s literary development: imitation of the grand style of Aeschylus, use of artificial and incisive style, and use of the best style and that which is most expressive of character. It is only from the third period we have examples of.” (Rexine p#134) The seven tragedies that survive are Ajax 447 BC, Antigone 442/441 BC, Oedipus at Colonus 401 BC, Tracheniae 437-432 BC, Oedipus Rex 429 BC, Electra 418-414 BC. Aristotle considered Oedipus Rex as a perfect tragedy…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1446 words
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Antigone: A Tragic Heroine’s Characteristics – In Antigone, The likelihood off it being two Tragic hero characters is unlikely in Greek tragedy, and there is only one in the play Antigone. The king Creon has several of the qualities that constitute a tragic character, but does not have all of the necessary necessities. Antigone, although she is a woman, contains all of the aspects that are required for her to be the main character and a feminine heroine which is seldom seen however there are certain traits, in which are required of a tragic character found in her role…. [tags: Antigone, characters, ] 700 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Thebian play of Antigone has excited many debates over the years. The most prevalent being who exactly could be characterized as the tragic hero in the story. The argument that Antigone is the hero is deffinatly a strong one. There are many critics who believe that Creon, however, is the true protagonist of the play. In order to determine whether or not Creon is the tragic hero one must first examine what a tragic hero is. Aristotle states that a hero is neither purely innocent nor purely malevolent…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone] 919 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone as Bad Citizen – Antigone – The Bad Citizen Being a good citizen often involves doing something out of the ordinary to help others. Sometimes, that involves going against the will of others to do what the good citizen might think is best. Although this is traditionally the case, the biggest factor in being a good citizen is great respect for the nation in which one lives. If one wants to be a good citizen, he or she might go out of his or her way to help others, however, must do so within the rules of the nation…. [tags: Antigone essays] 453 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Sophocles’ Antigone 1. – Clearly define by specific traits the character of Antigone and Creon. After her mother committed suicide, her father died and her brothers fought until they killed each other, Antigone projects her strong character with interesting ways of showing it. As the main character with strong values and a stubborn way, she follows the laws of god, without minding the consequences. Antigone is a strong willed woman who wins the respect of the audience by the inner strength and resistance of manipulation she has, showing the potential of human kind…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone] 1173 words
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charant Characterization of Antigone in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone– The Characterization Sophocles’ tragic drama, Antigone, presents to the reader a full range of characters: static and dynamic, flat and round; they are portrayed mostly through the showing technique. In “Sophocles’ Praise of Man and the Conflicts of the Antigone,” Charles Paul Segal takes the stand that there are two protagonists in the drama (which conflicts with this reader’s interpretation): This is not to say that there are not conceptual issues involved in the characters of Creon and Antigone…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Sophocles’ Antigone – The Stubborn Antigone and Creon – The Tragic Duo of Antigone and Kreon In the play Antigone, both Antigone and Kreon could be considered tragic heros. A tragic hero, defined by A Dictionary of Literary, Dramatic and Cinematic Terms, is someone who suffers due to a tragic flaw, or hamartia. This Greek word is variously translated as “tragic flaw” or “error” or “weakness”. Kreon’s hamartia, like in many plays, is hybris – Greek for overweening pride, arrogance, or excessive confidence. Kreon’s hybris causes him to attempt to violate the laws of order or human rights, another main part of a tragic hero…. [tags: Antigone essays] 881 words
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The Tragic Hero of Antigone – Around 442 BC in the city of Athens, Greece, Sophocles wrote the greatly admired tragedy, Antigone. Antigone includes many themes such as Freedom, Protection of Personal Dignity, Obedience to Civil Law, Protection of Community/Nation, Loyalty/Obligation to Family, and Observance of Religious Law. Many of the Greek tragedies that have been written include a tragic hero that has his/her tragic flaw. In Antigone there are two main characters; Creon, the tyrant king of Thebes, and Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta…. [tags: Antigone, heroes, Sophocles, ] 557 words
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Kreon, Tragic Hero in Antigone – In the play, Antigone, by Sophocles, there is a character, King Kreon, who is portrayed as the tragic hero, or protagonist. A tragic hero is the main character with tragic flaw, or a defect that leads to their downfall and the character is usually of high status. King Kreon would be considered the protagonist because he is opposed by an antagonist and is the main character in the play, he has the tragic flaws of stubbornness and too much self-pride, and these flaws are struck with bad luck. King Kreon is the tragic hero in Antigone because he is the main character and he is opposed by an antagonist, Antigone, who disobeys Kreon’s decree to not bury Polynices’ body…. [tags: Tragic Heroes, Antigone, ]
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Religion vs. State in “Antigone” – The play “Antigone” is a tragedy by Sophocles. One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader parts of the form through different characters…. [tags: Antigone, Religion, State, ] 829 words
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Antigone and Othello: Tragic Heroes – Othello and Antigone are both tragic heroes. They do great deeds and have great power or strength. For example, Othello defeats Venice’s enemies. Antigone makes sure that a Theban right is a Theban due. But fatal character flaws destroy the lives of the two heroes. Both of them suffer from pride and uncontrolled passion. Othello is so proud of his integrity and courage that he doesn’t recognize his violent temper and his manipulability by Iago. Antigone is so proud of her commitment to the true, the right, the proper, and the correct that she doesn’t respect differing, less passionate opinions…. [tags: Antigone, Othello, tragedy, Heroes,] 971 words
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Honor in the Iliad and Antigone – The notion of honor is prevalent throughout the Iliad and Antigone. Both texts demonstrate that honor is essential to Greek heroes because honor is the foundation of the society and family. Homer and Sophocles clearly show that honor guides people’s actions and responses and decides the fate of themselves and others. Both authors also place emphasis on the importance of proper burial because it is a strong indication of honor to the deceased and the deceased’s family. As can be seen in the Iliad and Antigone, the aim of every Greek hero is to gain everlasting honor because it ensures his place in the social memory of his society resounding even after death…. [tags: Honor, Iliad, Antigone,] 991 words
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Antigone by Sophocles – “I would not count any enemy of my country as a friend.” In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, Antigone finds herself torn apart between divine law and state law. The play opens up at the end of a war between Eteocles and Polyneices, sons of Oedipus and brothers of Antigone and Ismene. These brothers, fighting for control of Thebes, kill each other, making Creon king of Thebes. Creon, as king, gives an important speech to the citizens of Thebes, announcing that Eteocles, who defended Thebes, will receive a proper burial, unlike his brother Polyneices, who brought a foreign army against Thebes…. [tags: Antigone Sophocles Greek Play] 863 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Being a part of a family forces one to have responsibilities and duties that are needed to be fulfilled. In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Antigone, Antigone has the responsibility of being loyal to her brother, Polynices. Her intuition and strong will discourages her from listening to the power of the state and to disobey some of her family to respect another part of her family. Her devotion leads to the destruction of Creon and herself, but her role as a part of her family does not stand in her determination to do what she believes to be right…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone Greek Tragedy] 1342 words
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The Character of Antigone – The Character of Antigone Antigone, the character for which the play was named, is a very complex character. She seems to change directions all throughout the play and there is never one point in which you know exactly what she will do because she is just that unpredictable. This unpredictability also makes her seem very hypocritical because she will say something and then turn on a dime and say the complete opposite. Antigone’s character is very intriguing strictly due to the fact that she keeps you guessing…. [tags: Antigone Plays Essays] 533 words
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Comparing and Contrasting Sophocles’ Antigone and Shakespeare’s Othello – The tragedies of Antigone and Othello were written with great depth and are structured in such a way that both characters are victims, in spite of their crimes. Antigone and Othello are tragedy plays created by using many techniques to create the feelings of fear and pity. There are differences and similarities in characters, action, and themes between Antigone and Othello. First, the major characters in both of the plays are suffering through great pain and end up with death. The drama Antigone which is written by Sophocles, tells the story of Antigone…. [tags: othello, antigone]
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon and Antigone are Two of a Kind – Creon and Antigone – Two of a Kind A popular message of the media these days is that underneath the surface, despite our external differences, we’re all really quite similar. Whether or not that is a universal truth, it certainly applies to Creon and Antigone, the main characters Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone. They appear different outwardly but are two of a kind in personality. Throughout Antigone, they are in almost constant contention with each other. They are on opposite sides of an argument, and they lash out at each other unrelentingly. But, despite their obvious difference, Creon and Antigone are far more alike than they seem at first glance…. [tags: Antigone essays] 639 words
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Creon and Antigone as Tragic Heroes in Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon and Antigone as Tragic Heroes Creon and Antigone, main characters in the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles share some of the same characteristics that make up a tragic hero, but to varying degrees. Antigone, daughter of her mother/grandmother, Jocasta, and father, Oedipus is head strong, proud, and stubborn. She had three siblings, Ismene her sister, and two brothers Eteocles and Polyneices who found there deaths at the end of each others sword in battle over which would become king of Thebes…. [tags: Antigone essays] 560 words
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The Source of Conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone – The Source of Conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ “Antigone” In the following paper, I plan to discuss the source of conflict between the title characters of Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ “Antigone”. I also plan to discuss how each character justifies his or her actions and what arguments they give for their justifications. I will also write about the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments. The final points I try to make are about who Sophocles thinks is right and who I think is right…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone] 1274 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone and Creon, the Powerful Protagonists – The Two Protagonists of Antigone In the classic model of dramatic structure, two characters move the action of the play from introduction to climax to resolution with their conflict. One of these characters is the protagonist; the other is the antagonist. The protagonist is generally regarded as the “good guy,” and the antagonist is the “bad guy.” In Sophocles’ play Antigone, the lines between protagonist and antagonist are blurred. In the Greek tradition, the title character is the protagonist, but in this play, the supposed antagonist Creon also displays characteristics of the protagonist…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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charant Sophocles’ Antigone Essays: The Character of Antigone – Antigone In the story of Antigone, two very headstrong people’s beliefs are matched up against each other. Creon, the king, made it law that no traitor to the Kingdom shall have a proper burial, instead they will be left laying on the ground to rot and to be eaten by the animals. This was the case of Antigone’s brother, Polyneices. Antigone’s love for her brother was so great that she went against the law, even though she knew Creon’s punishment for breaking the law was public stoning, which ultimately resulted in death…. [tags: Antigone essays] 865 words
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Three Features of an Ideal Ruler Contrasted in The Aenied and Antigone – An ideal ruler possesses 3 distinct features: courage, honor, and virtue. Courage is often shown when facing difficult leadership decisions. Honor is gained as one honor’s the gods or serves one’s own state. And virtue is gained as one looks out for the best interest of one’s own state. The importance of such virtues is contrasted in Antigone and The Aenied. In Antigone, Creon shows the 3 components of a good leader when he takes rule and objectively enforces the laws to maintain order. But as Antigone progresses and Creon’s hubris becomes more prominent, he loses sight of the three qualities that make a good leader…. [tags: Aenied, Antigone] 1483 words
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Ismene And Haimon of Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone Ismene And Haimon Antigone, the character, is a tragic hero because we care about her. Ismene and Haimon help us care about Antigone by making her feel worthy of loving. And with out this her plan to bury her brother seems irrelevant to the reader because we can care less about her. Ismene, although weak and timid, is in the story to illustrate that Antigone is capable of being loved. “We are only women, We cannot fight with men, Antigone” (Sophocles 881). Another reason Ismene is incorporated to Antigone is to show exactly strong-willed Antigone is…. [tags: Antigone essays] 610 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone Must Challenge Creon – Antigone Must Challenge Creon in Antigone In his “Funeral Oration” Pericles, Athens’s leader in their war with other city-states, rallies the patriotism of his people by reminding them of the things they value. He encourages a sense of duty to Athens even to the point of self-sacrifice. He glorifies the free and democratic Athenian way of life and extravagantly praises those willing to die for it. In Antigone, Creon, Thebes’s leader in their recent civil war, also must rally the patriotism of his people…. [tags: Antigone essays] 881 words
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The Tragedy of Sophocles’ Antigone – The Tragedy of Antigone In the story of Antigone, Oedipus has already died, his two sons. Polyneices and Eteocles, left to contend for the throne of Thebes. In their contention for the throne, the two brothers slay one another, leaving Creon once again to be the acting regent of Thebes. With this power, Creon declares that Polyneices must be left to rot on the battlefield, the highest disgrace to any Greek. Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, is left torn between state of family, and in the end, chooses family over state…. [tags: Antigone essays] 963 words
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Creon’s Hubris Caused the Conflict of Antigone – Pride is the cause of the main conflict in Sophocles’ play, Antigone. Everyone should have pride, but Creon had too much of it and that blinded him. His pride in his power and abuse of authority was his tragic flaw that ultimately led to his downfall. On the other hand, Antigone takes pride in her beliefs and has the courage to speak out for what she thinks is right. For this, Antigone is seen as an honorable character and the hero of the play. It is shown that there are often two sides to things; pride can be both a source of strength and self-destruction…. [tags: hubris, antigone, sophocles, conflict,] 583 words
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Sophocles Greek Tragedy, Antigone – It has been said that love conquers all. Love is a major issue in Sophocles Greek Tragedy, Antigone. Antigone’s family is full of incest and betrayal. People say that Antigone, and her sister Ismene have been cursed because of their family’s bad decisions and horrible luck. Love in Antigone’s case did conquer all, but do the tragedy of deaths. Antigone’s love for her deceased brother eventually caused her own death. Antigone’s death went on to cause Haimon’s death, which ultimately caused the death of Haimon’s mother, Eurydice in due time…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone] 473 words
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The Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone – The Tragic Hero of Antigone In Sophocles’ Antigone, the question of who the tragic hero actually is has been the subject of a debate for years. It is unlikely for there to be two tragic characters in a Greek tragedy, and there can be only one in the play Antigone. The king Creon possesses some of the qualities that constitute a tragic character, but does not have all of the necessary traits. Antigone, however, contains all of the aspects that are required for her to be the main character. According to Aristotle’s Poetics, there are four major traits, which are required of the tragic character. The character must be a good and upstanding person. The character must focus on becoming a better person, must be believable, and must be consistent in his or her behavior…. [tags: Antigone essays] 857 words
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Antigone – The First Feminist – Antigone – The First Feminist How old is feminism, and who was the first feminist. Although no one can say for sure the exact date on which the feminist movement started, most of it is attributed to the past two centuries. However, women who are feminists have been around much longer. In Sophocles’s Antigone, the main character (Antigone) acts as a protofeminist by defying the authority of a patriarchal society and taking action according to what she believes is right in her heart. She even shows some characteristics of a modern feminist…. [tags: Antigone Essays]
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The Tragic Figures in Sophocles’ Antigone – Tragic Figures in Antigone A good working definition of a tragic figure, in the Greek mythological sense, would be a person who, through a character flaw, is brought lower than that flaw would merit. The person with the flaw is usually royal, or at least noble. Greek tragedies were not written about common people. Antigone may be a tragic figure in the modern, common sense of the word; that is, she was someone who has something bad happen to her. “Oh,” someone might say when they discover Antigone’s fate, “how tragic.” Nevertheless, they do not mean that Antigone is tragic in the classical Greek sense; rather they just mean that Antigone got a bad lot that she didn’t deserve…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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moralant Morality in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone: The Obedience of One’s Morality According to the Bible, after Jesus was arrested by religious leaders, the apostles, his closest followers, fled his side. The apostle Peter was later recognized as one of Jesus’ companions by the people who helped arrest him. Peter, however, denied even knowing Jesus three times. Peter believed that, should he remain faithful, he would be granted eternal life by God, and he knew that denying Jesus was a grave sin. However, his fear of his accusers caused him to err, and to stray from what he believed to be right…. [tags: Antigone essays] 759 words
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Essay on Sophocles’ Antigone – Heroes come in many forms. Some immense in size and strength as Hercules, some in the form of people that are shunned, such as Harriet Tubman, and some that are only valorous heroes to some, such as Kurt Cobain. These heroes have many characteristics that make people flock to their side and follow them without a moment of hesitation. In Sophocles’ Antigone the hero is a women who believes in her heart far stronger than that of her leader’s rule. Sophecles shows many of Antigone’s characteristics that are also seen in many heroes…. [tags: Antigone essays] 856 words
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Antigone: A Tragic Hero – Antigone: A Tragic Hero Heroes come in many forms. Some such as immense in size and strength as Hercules, some in the form of people that are shunned upon, such as Harriet Tubman, and some that are only valorous heroes to some, such as Kurt Cobain. These heroes have many characteristics that make people flock to their side and follow them without a thought of hesitation. In Sophocles’ Antigone the hero is a women that believes in her heart far stronger than that of her leader’s rule. This brings up many characteristics that are shown within her that are also seen in other heroes…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone ] 944 words
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Creon as the Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon as the Hero of Antigone The dilemma of identifying the true hero, or heroine, of Sophocles’ Antigone has tortured students for years. It is indeed a difficult decision to make. The basis for this decision is what the reader perceives to be Sophocles’ dramatic issue in this play. The dramatic issue of the play is twofold: Antigone is a fanatic who is driven by her religious fever to bury the body of her criminal brother, Polyneices, against the edict of Creon. In the second part, Sophocles shows how the new King Creon’s refusal to change his decision in the face of adversity is admirable, but at the same time his political morals end up destroying his family…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Sophocles’ Antigone – The Real Tragedy – Tragedy of Antigone The play “Antigone” by Sophocles displays many qualities that make it a great tragedy. A tragedy is defined as a dramatic or literary work in which the principal character engages in a morally significant struggle ending in ruin or profound disappointment. In creating his tragedy “Antigone”, Sophocles uses many techniques to create the feelings of fear and pity in his readers. This in turn creates an excellent tragedy. In order for a play to be considered a tragedy it must achieve the purgation of fear and pity. In the play “Antigone”, Sophocles does a great job of bringing out these two emotions in a reader…. [tags: Antigone essays] 605 words
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Significance of the Women in Sophocles’ Antigone – Significance of the Women in Antigone Michael J. O’Brien in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, maintains that there is “a good deal of evidence to support this view” that the fifth century playwright was the “educator of his people” and a “teacher” (4). Sophocles in his tragedy Antigone teaches about “morally desirable attitudes and behavior,” (4) and uses a woman as heroine and another woman in a supporting role to do most of the instructing of the audience in this regard…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Essay on Light and Dark in Antigone – Use of Light and Dark in Antigone The “Golden Age” of Greece is noted for its many contributions to the creative world, especially in its development of the play. These performances strived to emphasize Greek morals, and were produced principally for this purpose. Antigone, by Sophocles, is typical. The moral focused on in Antigone is the conflict between physis (nature) and nomos (law), with physis ultimately presiding over nomos. Throughout Antigone, King Creon is a symbol for nomos, while Antigone stands on the side of physis…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1182 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon’s Mistakes – Creon’s Mistakes in Antigone In the awe-inspiring play of Antigone, Sophocles introduces two remarkable characters, Antigone and Creon. A conflict between these two obstinate characters leads to fatal consequences for themselves and their kindred. The firm stances of Creon and Antigone stem from two great imperatives: his loyalty to the state and her dedication to her family, her religion but most of all her conscience. The identity of the tragic hero of this play is still heavily debated…. [tags: Antigone essays] 699 words
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Nature of the Conflict in Sophocles’ Antigone – The Nature of the Conflict in Antigone In “Sophocles’ Praise of Man and the Conflicts of the Antigone,” Charles Paul Segal explains the nature of the conflict between Antigone and Creon: The conflict between Creon and Antigone has its starting point in the problems of law and justice. At any rate, the difference is most explicitly formulated in these terms in Antigone’s great speech on the divine laws. . . . Against the limited and relative “decrees” of men she sets the eternal laws of Zeus, the “unwritten laws of the gods.” She couples her assertion of these absolute “laws” with her own resolute acceptance of death (460) (64)…. [tags: Antigone confant]
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Antigone – The Tragic Flaw – Antigone – The Tragic Flaw Antigone, Sophocles’ classical Greek tragedy, presents tragic flaw as the cause of the destruction of Creon, the king of Thebes. This essay examines that flaw and the critical perspective on it. Robert D. Murray, Jr. in “Thought and Structure in Sophoclean Tragedy” gives the perspective of the Greek audience, and thereby the reason why there has to be a tragic flaw in Sophoclean tragedy: “A Greek of the fifth century would, of course, have felt…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Importance of Gender in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone – Importance of gender in the opening scene In looking at the first few exchanges between Ismene and Antigone by Sophocles, it is greatly apparent that there are plenty of social issues surrounding women from ancient Greece. In looking at the contextual background of the playwright, the representation of the women within the play and at the imagined response of a contemporary and ancient audience; we can see that this play raises many gender and socially related issues. Looking briefly at the contextual element to the play in terms of the playwright, it is worth considering that Sophocles himself was a political writer…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1050 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone and Bill Clinton – Antigone and Bill Clinton Antigone, in Greek legend, was the daughter of Oedipus. When her brothers Eteocles and Polynices killed one another, Creon, king of Thebes, forbade the rebel Polynices’ burial. Antigone disobeyed him, performed the rites, and was condemned to death for what she had done. Now the question arises, “Did Antigone take proper action?”. Was it just to go against her Uncle Creon’s wishes and go ahead and bury the brother that was to be left out for the vultures…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1324 words
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Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone – The Tragic Hero in Antigone Antigone is a Greek tragic piece that stresses the use of power and morality versus the law written by Sophocles. Both Antigone and Creon, the main characters in the play, could represent the tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who is known for being dignified and has a flaw that assists to his or her downfall. In my opinion, Creon best qualifies for being the tragic hero and fitting the definition read in the previous sentence. The things he said, did, and the comments that were made by those around him show how a man with everything could lose it all due to his own behavior…. [tags: Antigone essays] 733 words
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charant Characterization in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone– Characterization This essay will illustrate the types of characters depicted in Sophocles’ tragic drama, Antigone, whether static or dynamic, flat or round, and whether portrayed through the showing or telling technique. Martin Heidegger in “The Ode on Man in Sophocles’ Antigone” explains, in a rather involved theory, the destruction of Creon’s character: The conflict between the overwhelming presence of the essent as a whole and man’s violent being-there creates the possibility of downfall into the issueless and placeless: disaster…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Mythology In and Around Sophocles’ Antigone – Mythology In and Around Antigone How extensive and deep are the mythological roots in the Greek Sophoclean tragedy Antigone. Research indicates that both within the drama and around it there are numerous mythological influences. The use of mythological elements in Greek tragedy is very compatible with the Greeks’ sense of history surrounding a drama. Martin Heidegger in “The Ode on Man in Sophocles’ Antigone” comments on the Greek audience’s sense of history and a drama: Polis means, rather, the place, the there, wherein and as which historical being-there is…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Essay on Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone was a selfless person with pride as a strong characteristic of her personality. She possibly had feelings of loneliness and anger from the way society has looked upon her family from their past. It took a strong willed person who has no fear of the repercussions to stand up to a king as she did. To make everything all the worst she stood up to a king who was her Uncle and she being a female back in those time, standing up and speaking out for herself was not heard of. Having already been through public disgrace, when her own father, Oedipus found out that he was to fulfill a prophecy; he would kill his father and marry his mother, and this caused Antigone to be full of resentment toward her city…. [tags: Antigone essays] 803 words
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Morals and Laws in Sophocles’ Antigone – Morals and Laws in Antigone A crucial question in Antigone is, “When someone makes a law that is known by the public to be morally wrong, should the public break his/her law. Or should they collaborate with that person by obeying. Antigone felt that the law (no one was supposed to bury her brother Polyneicies) should be broken so she took what she thought to be appropriate measures. This is called Civil Disobedience. Another question is “Is Civil Disobedience morally and ethically correct?” The Nazis say one thing, and the Vietnam war veterans say one thing…. [tags: Antigone essays] 530 words
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Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon’s Flaws – Antigone: Creon’s Flaws In the play Antigone, I choose Creon to be the tragic hero because he is the King of Thebes and he looses everything he has. Creon being King makes the audience believe that something like that can happen to the King then what can happen to us. Antigone the niece of Creon, The sister of Polyneices was punished by Creon for burying Polyneces after his death, Creon has forbidden anybody to do so. Once Creon punished Antigone the blind prophet Teiresias told him that the Gods will take revenge for his actions, then Creon tried to change everything but he is too late…. [tags: Antigone essays] 525 words
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Pride in Sophocles’ Antigone – Pride in Sophocles’ Antigone Pride is a quality that all people possess in one way or another. Some people take pride in their appearance, worldly possessions, or position in society. The story of Antigone written by Sophocles has two characters who have a tragic flaw of pride. I will show how Creon’s pride of power leads to his destruction, and how Antigone’s pride makes her an honorable character who should be treated as a hero. Creon is a man who has just become the king of Thebes and has a flaw of having too much pride…. [tags: Sophocles Antigone] 975 words
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Essay on Sophocles’ Antigone – In ancient Greece, men who died in war fulfilled the civic ideal to the utmost. The women, destined to live out a degrading life, died in bed. Certainly, not all men died in battle, but every epitaph shows in one way or another, the city would always remember the men who died in war. Additionally, not all Athenian women died in bed; nonetheless, it was left to her family to preserve the memory of her not the city. No matter how perfect a woman was she would never receive the same status or level of social expectations from the city that a man received…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1279 words
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Political Authority in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone: Political Authority Political power results from the fear of force. The individual acts out of a fear of consequences of disobedience and in accordance with the desdire for self-preservation. Political Authority results from a belief in the moral correctness of the organization in question. The individual acts of a sense of obligation and acknowledges the right of the ruler, morally, to rule and the moral correctness of the laws are accepted. The laws are obeyed for their own sake…. [tags: Antigone essays] 414 words
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Irony in Sophocles’ Antigone – Frank Jevons in “In Sophoclean Tragedy, Humans Create Their Own Fate” comments on Sophocles’ irony: In this connection we may consider the “irony of Sophocles.” In argument irony has many forms That which best illustrates the irony of Sophocles is the method by which the ironical man, putting apparently innocent questions or suggestions, leads some person from one preposterous statement to another, until, perhaps, the subject of the irony realizes his situation and discovers that when he thought he was most brilliant of impressive, then he was really most absurd…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Tyrant and Martyr in Sophocles’ Antigone – Tyrant and Martyr in Antigone “The tyrant dies and his rule ends,the martyr dies and his rule begins.” Soren Kierkegaard This quote applies to Sophocles’ play Antigone in many ways. The two lines can be used to describe the opposition of the two main characters in the play, Creon and Antigone. One is a king new to the throne who will not be ruling for long, and the other, a martyr whose strong convictions will live on even after her death. In the first line of his quote, Kierkegaard states that a tyrant’s reign dies with him…. [tags: Antigone essays] 753 words
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womenoed Essay on Sophocles’ Antigone – Sisters – Sisters Two sisters destined to love each other, but conflict interrupts their paths. The first’s journey is one of self-exploration and discovery; the other’s of continual oppression and hardships. Ismene and Antigone are the troubled sisters whose decisions take them on different courses, but these same choices also brought them together. Even though their actions show differently, Antigone and Ismene’s morals and philosophies show that they are true sisters at heart. Antigone shows the attribute of boldness…. [tags: Antigone essays] 639 words
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The True Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone: The True Tragic Hero Antigone, is the drama written by Sohpocles. There is still a great debate on who is the true tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon or Antigone. Many people believes that it must be Antigone, herself. This is because Antigone is an outstanding example of someone who did what she thought was right, while she was among fools, many hardships, and people who were discouragingly uncourageous. When the king Creon ordered that the body of Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, be left to rot unburied because he had died as a traitor, she tried to buried him even she knew that she would be punished…. [tags: Antigone essays] 477 words
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Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle – Antigone, as a Feminist – Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle – Antigone, as a Feminist Throughout history, women have always stood in the shadows of men. In many cultures, the role of women has always been to be seen and not heard. As one of the first feminists in world literature, the character Antigone, of Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle, displays fine characteristics of a great female leader in order to stand up against male dominance for her religious, political, and personal beliefs. When the king denies her brother, Polynices, proper burial, Antigone goes against state law by burying him herself in order to protect heavenly decree and maintain justice…. [tags: Antigone Essays]
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charant Empathy for Characters in Sophocles’ Antigone – Empathy for Characters in Sophocle’s Antigone Sophocle’s tragic play Antigone, written in 441 BC, is a theatrical piece of drama in which an audience is compelled to empathize with its character’s. When empathizing with characters in Antigone the audience can, in imaginative and cognitive ways, participate in the understanding of a character’s feelings, ideas as well as their situations. Antigone, Creon and Ismene all struggle with decisions that concern the laws of their city and the cosmic law of religion and moral judgement…. [tags: Antigone essays] 2244 words
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Civic Responsibility vs. Religious Duty in Antigone – In the play Antigone, Creon, king of Thebes faces a harsh conflict with himself, involving the values of family and religion verse the civic responsibility he must maintain for the city of Thebes that comes with being the new king. In theory no decision Creon makes is going to be the rite one. Although both Antigone and Creon have justified reasons for believing in there own laws only one can be upheld by the play and how Sophocles interoperates the play himself. Creon must decide whether to punish Antigone, a princess, daughter of king Oedipus, or fail at enforcing his own law and look weak in front of the citizens of Thebes as their new leader…. [tags: Civic Responsibility,. Religion, Antigone, ] 1123 words
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Creon is the Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon is the Tragic Hero of Antigone When the title of a play is a character’s name, it is normally assumed that the character is the protagonist of the play. In Sophocles’ Antigone, most people probably believe Antigone to be the tragic heroine, even after they have finished watching the play. It may be argued, however, that Creon, not Antigone, is the tragic character. When we examine the nature and concept of the Greek Tragedy and what it means to be a tragic character, it becomes clear that Creon is indeed the tragic hero of the play Antigone…. [tags: Antigone essays] 625 words
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Creon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon as Tragic Hero of Sophocles’ Antigone There has always been a bit of confusion as to the tragic hero of the Greek Drama Antigone. Many assume that simply because the play is named for Antigone, that she is the tragic hero. However, evidence supports that Creon, and not Antigone, is the tragic hero of the play. Examining the factors that create a Greek Tragedy, and a tragic character, it is clear that the tragic hero is in fact Creon. First, take into account the timeframe in which Antigone was written…. [tags: Antigone essays] 600 words
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Comparing Sophocles’ Antigone and Jean Anouilh’s Antigone – Comparing Sophocles’ Antigone and Jean Anouilh’s Antigone Both Sophocles and Jean Anouilh use the simple storyline of a girl defying her uncle and king in the face of death to reflect upon the events and attitudes of their days. Sophocles’ Antigone models the classical pattern of tragedy by incorporating key elements such as a tragic hero with a fatal flaw and the Man-God-Society triangle. Creon is the tragic hero who disturbs the natural harmony of Thebes by denying Polyneices a funeral. Antigone is the catalyst who forces him to reckon with the consequences of his pride and arrogance…. [tags: Antigone Compare Contrast Essays]
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Creon as the Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon as the Tragic Hero in Antigone This essay will compare two of the characters in “Antigone”, Antigone and Creon, in an effort to determine the identity of the tragic hero in this tale. To identify the tragic hero in Sophocles’ renowned play “Antigone”, we should first consider both the elements present in Greek tragedies and what characteristics define a tragic hero. Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is: “Tragedy is a story taking the hero from happiness to misery because of a fatal flaw or mistake on his part…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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Contradiction Between Morals in Sophocles’ Antigone – Antigone: Contradiction Between Morals In Ancient Greece, new ideals surfaced as answers to life’s complicated questions. These new beliefs were centered on the expanding field of science. Man was focused on more than the Gods or heavenly concerns. A government that was ruled by the people was suggested as opposed to a monarchy that had existed for many years. Freedom of religion was encouraged in city-states. These new ideals, though good in intentions, often conflicted with each other creating complex moral dilemmas…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1036 words
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Integrity in Jean Anouilh’s Antigone – Integrity in Jean Anouilh’s Antigone The distinctions between young and old, naïve and wise are very clear. There is a fiery passion for life often embedded in the young, and a sense of bittersweet reflection set in the aged. The age gap between the two is often a cause for conflict. The young want to hurry up and live only to eventually die; the old want to slow down their rate of living and postpone death. With such divergent circumstances, conflicts are almost impossible to avoid. The question of how one can grow old while keeping youthful idealism and integrity seems to be the source of most conflicts…. [tags: Antigone essays] 2403 words
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True Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone – The True Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone In Master Sophocles’ Antigone, the question of who the tragic hero really is has been a subject of debate for a great number years. Creon does possess some of the qualities that constitute a tragic hero but unfortunately does not completely fit into the role. Antigone, however, possesses all the aspects of a tragic hero. These are, in no particular order, having a high social position, not being overly good or bad, being tenacious in their actions, arousing pity in the audience, a revelatory manifestation, and having a single flaw that brings about their own demise and the demise of others around them…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1041 words
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womenant Portrayal of Women in Sophocles’ Antigone – Portrayal of Women in Antigone Although ancient Greece was a male-dominate society, Sophocles’ work Antigone, portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. In this famous tragedy, Sophocles uses the characters Ismene and Antigone to show the different characteristics and roles that woman are typical of interpreting. Traditionally women are characterized as weak and subordinate and Ismene is portrayed in this way. Through the character of Antigone, women finally get to present realistic viewpoints about their character…. [tags: Antigone essays] 834 words
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Creon – The Tragic Hero in Sophocles’ Antigone – Creon – The Tragic Hero in Antigone There is still a great debate on who is, in fact, the tragic hero in Sophocles’ Antigone. Many hold that it must be Antigone, herself; after all, the play does bear her name. But in actuality, Creon, not Antigone, is the tragic hero. In order to determine whether or not Creon is the tragic hero, one will first have to answer the question, “What is a tragic hero?” Aristotle, when discussing the nature of such a hero in his theory of drama, states that such a hero is neither purely innocent nor purely evil…. [tags: Antigone essays] 427 words
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Free Antigone Essays: The Human Condition – Exposing the Human Condition in Antigone Heroism entails several things; a selfless act, courage, or the accomplishments of bold and daring expeditions. A hero can also mean courage in the face of death. Others may view this type of hero as stupid, or a martyr. Every hero has faults and these faults along with heroic deeds make the man or woman; a hero, heroine. “Antigone” would be considered a hero in the sense of being a martyr. Because of her love for her family Antigone wanted to give her brother a proper burial, and even though he did evil deeds, she respected him…. [tags: Antigone essays] 592 words
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God Versus Man in Sophocles’ Antigone – God Versus Man in Antigone Throughout Sophocles’ drama, Antigone, there are many themes that can be traced. One of the most predominant themes is god versus man, which appears not only in Antigone, but also in many of the classic Greek tragedies written in Sophocles’ time. Choragos: There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise. (158) The quotation above serves as the moral for this tragedy, which includes an illustration of the theme as it was applied to the play. In the drama, Antigone, the theme of the inner struggle between allegiance to human law versus divine law can best be seen through Antigone’s reverence for the gods in relation to her actions, Kreon’s realization of the effects of his selfish pride, and the people of Thebes’ observations about Kreon’s decisions…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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charant Character Changes in Sophocles’ Antigone – Character Changes in Antigone In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Antigone, two characters undergo character changes. During the play the audience sees these two characters’ attitudes change from close-minded to open-minded. It is their close-minded, stubborn attitudes, which lead to their decline in the play, and ultimately to a series of deaths. In the beginning Antigone is a close minded character who later becomes open minded. After the death of her brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, Creon becomes the ruler of Thebes…. [tags: Antigone essays] 1452 words
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Changing Views of The Chorus in Sophocles’ Antigone – Changing Views of The Chorus in Antigone The chorus, a group of common people who follow the actions of the play Antigone, waver in their support of either Antigone or Creon, depending on their actions during a particular part of the story-line. Early in the play it is evident that they are extremely pro-Creon, but a short time later they seem to sway into the direction of Antigone and support her actions. This incongruency about the them, however, was an extremely interesting feature of this Sophocles drama, causing the reader to question the reliability of the chorus…. [tags: Antigone essays]
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