... seem relatively unimportant, the sentry does not lack significance. Within the play, Sophocles uses the sentry not just as comic relief, but also as a moral barometer of the common man, against which to judge Creon. When we first see the messenger, his humorous babbling provides relief from the tension growing ... sentry's role in the play is a serious one: he relates the story of Antigone's crime to Creon, and acts as a sort of common man moral judge. Because of the three unities, Antigone's actions in burying her brother cannot be shown on stage. Thus, the sentry must re-create the pic...

• Word Count: 1001
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 ......

• Word Count: 461
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... their mixed natures, partly good and partly bad. The tragedy in a plot does not rise out of the characters themselves, but instead tests characters through destiny. Under inescapable fate, the moral characters of individuals are truly exposed, separating tragic heroes from tragic characters. Oedipus Rex is a tragic hero because his attempt to escape fate, an offensive mortal sin to the gods ... , ultimately leads to his demise. However, before Oedipus ignores the will of the gods, he establishes himself as a moral and upright person. For instance, upon discovery of the oracle's predictio...

• Word Count: 917
• Approx Pages: 4

... 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. Antigone and Creon battle an idealistic war illustrating the conflict existing in the Greek ideals. They both based their actions on their beliefs of what is right and wrong ... between morals. Antigone's side of the conflict held a much more heavenly approach, as opposed to the everyday road that Creon chose to follow. Antigone was born full of superiority and courage, yet leaves ...

• Word Count: 896
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ruler and she openly admits to her deed. The only way she is defending herself is by saying that her reasoning as to why she did the burial. Antigone takes a moral standpoint by stating, "I'd never let any man's arrogance bully me into breaking the God's laws. "(497-498). She is refusing to turn her back onto her family whether that acts ... her families past with the curse that was given on them, and her upcoming faith that she almost in a sense had nothing else much to lose. She could've gained courage from knowing that therefore she went ahead with the burial. Although it can be argu...

• Word Count: 957
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Human Nature in Antigone Human nature plays an essential role in all of Greek drama. It is usually the backbone of most plots and also the basis behind the moral lessons taught in each play. Human nature is an especially significant aspect of the Greek drama Antigone, by Sophocles. In this drama, Sophocles uses his main character, Antigone, to display ... feminine. Antigone was one of the first to challenge this femininity although obviously not the last. In the days of Greek drama, Antigone was a radical but was praised for her courage. Not many women had the audacity to stand for what they...

• Word Count: 1243
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... for as many as 18,000. Athenians knew the plots to the plays, as they commemorated great events or explained religion. However, audiences delighted in different dramatists twists, interpretations and moral focuses of these similar stories. In Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus" banishment and wandering would be taboo to an Athens citizen. One would understand Oedipus" dire need to not only find ... seeks dignity. Oedipus" blindness, but ability to see the truth is ironic. Others have sight, but are corrupted and blinded by power and greed. VII. Vocab attatched VIII. Criticism Oedipus" courage ...

• Word Count: 1061
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... will and independence. She is the only one who has enough strength and bravery to speak back to a man. Antigone takes a strong stand, representing the highest ideals of human life - courage and respect for the gods. She had such strength and excessive pride that she disobeyed Creon's law by burying her brother, Polyneices, with honor. It is said by the king ... as more of a modern feminist than Ismene, a typical Athenian woman. Antigone was more fiery and rebellious, whereas Ismene was passive and timid; Antigone stood behind civil law, whereas Ismene followed moral law. These different...

• Word Count: 833
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School