... or heavenly concerns. These new ideas and beliefs, though good in intention, often conflicted with one another and created complex moral dilemmas. In the play, Antigone and Creon battle a philosophical war concerning their ideas"(Arrowsmith 296). Antigone represents the laws of the Gods while Creon represents those of the ... humans. The first major theme is fate, on how the play comes about and the turn of events that come about throughout it. Another main theme or idea is the pride the characters have and their ... burial. Creon is too loyal to his beliefs that laws are necessary to ...

• Word Count: 2111
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and Creon declares that anyone who interferes with his body shall be punished. This is where the conflict begins. Thus the theme of this play becomes the priority of unwritten law. The question is whether duties to the gods are more essential then obedience of the state and law. ... displays the characteristic trait of pride in the way she justifies and carries out her decisions. She is obstinate in her beliefs, and throughout the play refuses to listen to advice. This poses a danger because it causes her to overlook the limitations of her own powers. Antigone's ethics derive from ... s...

• Word Count: 1730
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• Grade Level: High School

... these comments are made Judge Brack and Hedda exchange a knowing smile. This is a perfect example of the majority of sarcastic remarks made in the play. Two characters know some small fact or detail, and the other character does not even realize that a joke was just made, or that the ... clearly meaning the opposite of what is being said. Anouilh uses metaphors in this passage, but there is still sarcasm present. The chorus" whole short speech is very cynical, because he is describing the worsening situation for Antigone, but he does it through describing tragedy as glorious. When trage...

• Word Count: 1350
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... the open to rot. Despite Creon's law she believes what she is doing is right according to divine law. As the play unfolds we see how similar she is to an activist like Edward Snowden. When the play opens with Antigone asking her sister Ismene to help bury Polynices' body, Antigone tells Ismene, "Help me lift the body ... bury their loved ones for closure while Snowden's reasoning focuses on helping the general population and not just pertaining to one group or individual. At the end of the play when Antigone's punishment is changed to be condemned to be sealed in a cave, her fiance Haemon...

• Word Count: 1387
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... suffering does not end, drawing greater pity from the audience. By fulfilling all the essential characteristics of the tragic hero, Oedipus attains a greater connection to the audience, further exemplifying the play's underlying tragic effect. Antigone, the first installment of the Oedipus Trilogy, though set chronologically last, also depicts the essence of the tragic hero. Through the character of Creon, Sophocles ... fits the traditional characteristic of a tragic hero's high state of being. The one flaw that Nora has is her inability to discern reality from illusion. From the beginn...

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... to be defending the laws of the gods (which, of course, supersede those of the king's). This is a noble stance taken on her part, and throughout the course of this play she remains true to her beliefs, seeming unafraid to embrace her destiny. One can see from merely looking at the prologue the foundations being laid for a virtuous character. When analyzing ... aside by her husband Jason, who has found a younger and wealthier new wife in Creusa (Princess of Corinth), she doesn't just sit around and mope - she gets even. Medea is a play about a woman scorned who takes the ultimate revenge...

• Word Count: 2039
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... interests as a King are in political and social order. Creon is all about the happiness of everyday life. All throughout the play, Creon exemplifies throughout the play that citizens must obey the law to keep peace in the community, even though we may disagree with it. For example, Creon ... are antagonists like Creon, but there are rarely genuine villains. Antigone's response to this situation would be totally opposite of Creon's response. Throughout the play Antigone is the main protagonist of the story. After we learn that one of her brothers, Eteocles will not be buried because he is...

• Word Count: 1944
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... reject the social roles attributed to women? Why was it very fitting then that a woman act as ultimate defender of her family? Within the play Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates many views of gender expectations in Greek life. Women were at the forefront of these social norms, it was believed that ... being the law, one could be extremely offended and insecure of their masculinity being crippled if a woman ever went against them. In the play, we lay witness to Creon's manhood, not just his kingship, become threatened by Antigone's actions. This occurs when she takes center stage ... time...

• Word Count: 1823
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... a high official who chooses three contestants to participate in the Dionysiac Festival. Sophocles must present Antigone as part of a group of three tragedies and one satyr play, and if deemed acceptable by the Archon, the Archon in turn will provide him with a chorus of fifteen men, a lead actor, and a Choregus. ... citizen randomly chosen by the Archon to be the financial backer who undertakes the expense of providing Sophocles with the necessary materials to produce his play. If the Choregus refuses to perform his duties, another person will be chosen by the Archon, and this person will...

• Word Count: 1410
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of the throne, however, in a duel over the crown, they both died. As a result of her brothers' deaths, her uncle, Creon, the antagonist in the play, is given control of throne of Thebes. "I now possess the throne and all its powers, by nearess of kinship to the dead."" (Oates/ O'Neill, 193) Creon ... , Antigone is sent to be buried in what is referred to as a "bridal chamber."" This is the first appearance of the bridal imagery in the play. Antigone also makes many speeches to the people of Thebes to make them aware of her situation, so that they can pity her. "See me people ... negativel...

• Word Count: 2070
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• Grade Level: High School

... Three Theban Plays he teaches a lesson through a story. These lessons are taught and projected to the audience through the plot, characters and theme of the play. The plays teach lessons on loyalty, keeping promises, fate, courage, prejudice, and the manners in which humans relate to each other. Each of these lessons ... plays are approximately two thousand five hundred years old they still manage to teach lessons that apply to life in present day. In Sophocles" first Theban play, Oedipus the King, there are many lessons that are embodied by the characters, the plot and the theme. The m...

• Word Count: 2002
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... is followed accordingly. There are people in communities that do not follow the laws that are put into effect by humans. This is apparent in the play Antigone, when Antigone herself disobeys a law that was set up by King Creon, a law that went against the beliefs she held towards the law of ... create an ever-ramifying interplay between interlocking and expanding issues (62). The issues that Antigone and Creon have between them are what ties this whole play together, and the theme is also developed with the use of their issues between each other and what they believe in. Both Antigone a...

• Word Count: 2074
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• Grade Level: High School

... Response Family and state have played an important role in Greek culture for a very long time and have been integral parts of the Greek society. The play Antigone, by the Greek playwright Sophocles focuses on the conflict between the protagonist, Antigone and her uncle and king, Creon. This leads to one of the ... , Ismene ascends the throne as he is the nearest surviving kinsman. In his opening address as the king itself, which is also his first scene in the play, we get a glimpse of how power hungry and assertive Creon is. As for a man who considers someone he loves to be more importan...

• Word Count: 1283
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... presented in the authors note, the conflict of Antigone is provided before Scene I even begins. The inciting incident occurs in the preceding note, making a the structural development of the play move based up Polynices and Eteocles' contrasting heroism. With Creon's unethical means of shaming his nephew Polyneices, yet honoring Eteocles for the same cause, allows for important plot development and ... lives of characters and the minds of the audience members. While the cultural relevance of Antigone was evident in Grecian society, in a modern sense having extensive prior knowledge of th...

• Word Count: 1423
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• Has Bibliography

... . Consequently, the relationship between the individual and the community and the effects this relationship has in both Antigone and Exodus has similar aspects. In the play Antigone the fact that Antigone rises as an individual in her society seems to be quite obvious. Sophocles seems to depict a resolute and heroic female ... the uncontrollable forces of fate and against the irrational and unjust laws of tyrannical men, such as Creon. Antigone is shown as an individual in the play because of the way she defies the law of Thebes in order to serve a high law, the law of the Gods. Creon's...

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... producing children, more importantly a son. Euripides Medea is one of the tragedies that shows a woman dominating the rest of the characters in the play. This female character throughout the play criticises the conditions of women and they way they were treated. "Surely, of all creatures that have life and will we women Are the ... . He is not the stand out figure one would expect from a male. Many critics believe that the way he feels about women in the play, gives an insight to the way other man felt about women in Classical Athens. This being that the main function of the woman was to ...

• Word Count: 1759
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... is captive to provide a proper burial for her brother. Antigone's role as a woman and the relationships she has with many characters affects the play by not only representing feminism and the struggle between men and women, but by upsetting gender roles and the hierarchy of ancient society. The first ... his unjust law and sacrifices her life to correct it and believes that the gods will be on her side. Antigone's intrepid actions affect how the play represents gender struggle and feminism. Antigone believes that a woman should be strong and challenge a man's authority. When she first te...

• Word Count: 2088
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• Grade Level: High School

... and Creon reveal one such effect. Although the power the characters have varies greatly, the influence it has on their minds is the same. The play reveals how power, whether real or not, causes one to become arrogant and oblivious and inevitably leads to tragedy. Creon's wielding of power as ... gods have not written merel, but made infallible. " (559-563). Antigone also believes her moral authority places above other people. At the beginning of the play she speaks to her sister Ismene about recovering their brother's body from Creon for burial. She says, "When my strength is spent, I wil...

• Word Count: 1350
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... else. Being brave is tough. It takes a lot of courage and strength to do something that people would notice, to be an individual. In the play "Antigone", there is a character that is the definition of brave and courageous. Her name is Antigone. She is an individual because she stands up for ... very powerful feeling that drives people to do things that they don't really want to do. Antigone's pride is her characteristic downfall. At the beginning of the play, she talks with her sister, Ismene, about giving their dead brother a suitable burial. Antigone asks for Ismene's help and explains ...

• Word Count: 1426
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... parents, however, his father's ghost asked Hamlet to avenge his death, and Hamlet's procrastination to do so adds to his humanity. "The play dramatizes the perpetual struggle to which all civilization that is genuine is doomed" (Alexander 184). Hamlet reconciles his mother's hasty actions after the death ... men" (G.W. Knight 38). As for The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (1911-1983), the idea conveyed in this play is that of image versus reality. The main theme of this play is about a frustrated family who are deserted by the father and each character escapes his/her reality in ...

• Word Count: 2132
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... being relentless to swallowing his pride and doing what is right for society, while his world view changes from affirmative to antagonistic. In the beginning of the play Antigone and Creon have conflicting point of views. Antigone believes no law is justifiable where family is prohibited from helping each other and Creon believes that the ... up to Creon, Antigone proved to the town to be strong and speak up for yourself because it could make a change. At this point in the play I feel that Antigone is viewing the world antagonistically because her life was just not going good for her at ...

• Word Count: 1766
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... serve as foreshadowers of the action to come. They are usually apart from the action, yet also apart from the audience. In the play "Antigone " by Sophocles, the chorus is portrayed as a group of old citizens of Thebes, aligning themselves with the audience by frequently referring to the audience and themselves as the collective " ... we " and by doing so, making the audience a part of their chorus. What feelings towards the play are created when the audience takes on the role of the chorus? The audience is able to create a deeper connection with the characters and the story of Antigone ...

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... engage in marriage prevails not only in the real world, but also in literature. Many novels, poems, and plays portray this glorious perception of marriage, including the play Antigone written by Sophocles. In one passage of Antigone (lines 1344-1371), a messenger tells the Chorus that a tragic event has taken place: Haemon has killed ... me than you", conveying the emphasis he puts on paternal bonds over nuptial unions (line 711). However, in a later section of the play, Haemon attempts to kill his father because he believes his father causes Antigone to kill herself. While in the begin...

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... forget everything else important in life. As evidence to support this concept, there are several characters from plays and novels that I would like to refer to. From the William Shakespeare play Hamlet; I would like to mention the character King Claudius. He let his desire for power to become so strong, that he killed his own brother and married the Queen to ... changed their true destiny. Once a seed like this has begun to grow in someone's mind, there is no telling what kind of lengths they are capable of reaching. In the play Othello, also written by William Shakespeare, a character ...

• Word Count: 1777
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Sophocles'(496-406) second most famous play Antigone contains many contrasts. According to G. M. Kirkwood, "A contrast between Antigone and Creon lies at the heart of the drama can be taken for granted- (118). In the story, Antigone wants ... women who's loyalty brings them into conflict, although Antigone's loyalty to family over king is the more persuasive argument. Antigone's decision causes more tragedy than the more practical Ismene. This play presents a timeless conflict. It is Sophocles' story of family honor and family bonds versus loyalty to the state and the law. This ... play cle...

• Word Count: 1529
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School