... in lines 440-445 that the murderer killed his father, married his mother, and is brother to his children. Again in line 685, while Oedipus is searching for Laios' killer, he remembers the man he killed some time ago, the answer to the murder, and he cannot face it. It is also ironic that Oedipus be "enthroned in the place of the dead king,"" as in line ... 713, by saving the city and coincidentally, by inheritance. The theme of Oedipus Rex is of course man's search for truth ... . The use of irony shows that man's search for truth leads to physical blindness, but also to a great moral e...

• Word Count: 1490
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... 's plan to bury her brother in the prologue. She confides to Ismene that she knows of Creon's edict, but that she intends to defy it. At Ismene's protest of not defying the king's orders, Antigone states that there are higher obligations to the dead and the gods. She points out (lines85-91 ... ): "I will bury him myself, and even if I die in the act, the death will be glory. I will Hall 3 lie down with the one I love. I have longer to please the dead than please the living here: in the ... kingdom down below I will lie forever. Do as you like, dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor." A...

• Word Count: 1359
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... to Jokasata, "Why should we scour Pythian smoke or fear birds shrieking overhead? If signs like these had been telling the truth I would have killed my father. But he's dead He's safely in the ground" (732). Oedipus' hope that he has outwitted the gods and escaped the prophecy is only allowed to exist for a moment before it is finally and irreparably shattered with ... the knowledge given by the messenger that Oedipus was not Polybos' natural son. Brought to the lowest point of his life, his belief in his ... to escape were a futile effort to create his own truth in response to the hor...

• Word Count: 1443
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . Obviously, it was worse than Oedipus or anyone connected to him ever imagined. The exodus creates and ugly scene. Jocasta runs into her bed chamber, calling out for her deceased husband Laius. Soon, Oedipus rushes in to find her dead, having hung herself. The distraught King cuts her down, takes the pins from her dress, and gauges them into his own eyes repeatedly. Creon ... comes to the palace making it clear that he does so not to ridicule Oedipus. The King requests only that Creon take care of his daughters and that ... believe in prophecy from mortal men. When she realizes the tru...

• Word Count: 2005
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... then go off to Athens. She triumphs. She will always suffer form the memory of what she did to the children, as she grudgingly admits to Jason (1361-62), but she has her full and exquisite revenge. "These children are dead, that is what will torment you."" (1370) And she escapes the consequences of her action, and goes safely to Athens. Medea's success contrasts ... her completely from other Greek heroes. Ajax triumphs but he is dead; Oedipus wins, but he is blind; Antigone achieves victory after she hanged herself. Medea ... is quite sure, however, that the gods are on her side. From ...

• Word Count: 1681
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... a law. Though both followed a certain guideline, Antigone broke the law only caring about herself while Snowden broke the law for the people of the U.S.A. Antigone and Snowden both outline their reasons to break the law but pertain to specific things and circumstances. Antigone says, "It is no shame to pay respect to our own flesh and blood. The dead clay makes no protest. " (Sophocles 20) She explains ... that whether or not a family member committed horrible deeds, they have the right to be buried to follow divine law. In Snowden ... 's case he explains that he broke the law to help b...

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

... 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. Creon calls the rotting of Polyneices' body an "obscenity- because he believes that burial of the dead is a necessity of human law and not of a citizen ... . . There is no compromise between the two - both believe in the absolute truth ... of their obedience. Antigone believes that the unwritten and natural law supercedes any form of human writte...

• Word Count: 1730
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... news, rather than fully submitting himself to anything that may be prophesized. He sees himself as so powerful and prosperous that he does not need the advice of the gods. Even when Teiresias tells Oedipus, "A deadly footed, double striking curse from father and mother both, shall drive [him] forth out of ... the reason that the land is suffering. At the climax of Oedipus the King, Oedipus can no longer escape the reality of who he is and what he has done. He realizes that Jocasta was indeed his mother and he had truly killed his father, Laius, years before. After he sees Jocasta's dead ...

• Word Count: 1741
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... will stop at nothing. "I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory an outrage sacred to the gods! I have longer to please the dead than to please the living here" (Antigone, 85-89). While Lady Macbeth possessed the darkest traits of the most wicked villain, Antigone stands out with her noble, courageous, confident attitude-traits that define ... rationalize Antigone out of burying Polynices, Antigone remains staunch in her position. She still retains her courage against Creon's death penalty and her confidence that serving the dead was more important...

• Word Count: 1748
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... 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 all. She was the child of incestuous parents and her mother is now dead and her father is banished. The only thing left to her is her siblings and her two brothers ... that he killed himself. Creon's wife, Eurydice, was so devastated that her son was now dead, had committed suicide. Creon was so sad that his pride had caused the death of his family. It seems a little ironic that Creon punished Antigone fo...

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

... . She is an individual because she stands up for what she believes is right, even though it might go against the laws created by man. Antigone's uncle, Creon, has declared that Polynices, Antigone's dead brother, may not be mourned or buried due to the fact that he fought against his home civilization. And anyone that defies this law will be punished by death ... 's my brother. Yours too, in case you have forgotten. Nobody is going to be able to say I betrayed my own brother." Despite the consequence of death, Antigone follows through with her beliefs and gives her brother the proper cere...

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

... father was persecuted. He also realized his mistake when Teiresias made his prophecy. Finally he is forced to live, knowing that three people are dead because of his ignorance, which is a punishment worse than death. All are the key elements that make Creon for being a true tragic hero. Creon is a man of great noblility. He stepped up to be a new king his ... us. Our hearts and altars Are stained with the corruption of dogs and carrion birds That glut themselves on the corpse of Oedipus" sons. The gods are deaf when we pray to them, their fire Recoils from our offering, their birds of o...

• Word Count: 1884
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 's two brothers was supposed to take control 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 held the belief that of Antigone's two brothers, Eteocles ... should have rightfully taken control of the throne, because he felt that her other brother, Polynices, had ... she has their support and pity, because dying without having been wed, is a l...

• Word Count: 2070
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... was Oedipus taken from). Still trying to dodge the responsibility of being the bringer of bad news the shepherd tells Oedipus "No "god's sake, master, no more questions!- "You're a dead man if I have to ask again- Oedipus threatens. Finally the shepherd relents. "Then "the child came from the house of of Laius."" Oedipus acknowledges now "I'm at the edge of hearing horrors, yes, but I must hear ... !- More specifically, the shepherd speaks the devastating truth: "His son, they said it was "his son! But ... these hands!- Then Oedipus rushes off. A messenger then comes in announcing more ...

• Word Count: 1783
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... be felt when he says "Lead me away. I have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and my wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust (line 1035). The loss of Creon's whole family and his condemnation to hell due to his wrong doings can now be imagined so that ... enforce it; we are yours". The choragus is telling the audience that the people obey Creon for he has taken the position as ruler, although he does not want it in the first place, causing the excessive wanting for glory and pride that causes his demise. Creon's rea...

• Word Count: 1315
• Approx Pages: 5

... sited the birds he knew that the gods' wrath was upon Thebes. b) The Chorus: The Chorus symbolizes two distinct features in the Greek Society. It represents the publics' opinion and then it agrees with Creon. It shows Creon's and Antigone's opinion towards each other and what was going on. The Chorus symbolizes the side with power and the side without. c) Improper burial: By not burying the dead it ... shows dishonor to the gods. By not giving proper ... services it symbolizes hate and disobeying towards the gods. When d) Creon did not bury Polynices the gods sent Tiresias to warn him....

• Word Count: 1938
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... effort to escape fate, abandoned Oedipus on a mountaintop" (Sophocles 1). Although there is less suffering where Laius is involved, Oedipus" events are less tragic. The best way to compare this is through Laius attempting to kill his own son, and Oedipus killing his father. It is much more tragic that Laius ... Oedipus loses his position and respect in society. When Laius sends his son out to a mountaintop for death, he does not check to see if the child is dead. Due to his hubris Laius does not make sure his plan works, "Laius in an effort to escape fate, abandoned Oedipus on a mountain...

• Word Count: 1338
• Approx Pages: 5

... scenes, the prologue and the second scene. They always argue because of their different opinions. Ismene feels that although she loved her brother, he is dead, and they should respect the law and not bury him with honor. The other contrasts come between Creon and the guard and Haimon, who is Creon's son, in the third scene ... . Creon and Antigone also contrast in the way they live. While Antigone has gained her self ... ). Antigone defends her brother Polynices because he was a part of her family. But it is this loyalty that makes her disloyal to her king, Creon. The guard is frightened...

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

... are, indeed, examples of brave, heroic females. Antigone, which was written by Sophocles in 422 b.c., is the story of a headstrong young woman who refuses to listen to an edict of the king's, her uncle Kreon, that states that her dead brother Polyneices will not receive a proper burial as he was a traitor to Athens, his city. Unable to accept this decree, Antigone makes it ... a priority to bestow honor upon her deceased sibling, despite the fact that nobody is willing to help her, and ... if that is what is necessary to make things even in her mind. She is unafraid of facing the world...

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

... that he feels disgraced by his mother's hasty marriage to Claudius, "But two months dead - nay, not so much, not two". The Michael Almereyda production (starring Ethan Hawke) has this scene as a press conference rather than the original king's court. Almereyda emphasises Hamlet's resentment and humiliation by making him feel excluded ... the bed in the Almereyda version. "In the rank swear of an enseamed bed Stew"d", Hamlet condemns the bed in which Gertrude and Claudius sleep in as infested with semen like that of a prostitutes which is a misogynistic comment according to many female cri...

• Word Count: 1742
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... a good leader. "As long as I am king, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man, but whoever shows by word that he is on the side of the state "he shall have my respect while he is living, and my reverence when he is dead."" This passage shows that he wants to be fair to everyone. He's not going to ... . They won't be given his respect and will be punished. On the other hand, he states that the respectable people that are on the side of the state will get his respect. King Creon says that non-traitors will have his reverence when they are dead. This means they will get a prope...

• Word Count: 1313
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... in your troubles I am not ashamed to sail with you the sea of suffering"(594-595). The Chorus is the next part of the community to come to this realization. After Teiresias, the blind prophet tells Creon his prophecy, the Chorus tells Creon, "The girl-go now and bring her up from her cave and for the exposed dead man, give him his burial"(1175-1176). Finally, after seeing ... his family all dead due to suicide, the end of the play brings Creon to ... realize his law was unjust and punishment to Antigone wrong. His realization comes when he says, "Everything in my hands is crossed. A mo...

• Word Count: 1312
• Approx Pages: 5

... of one truth or another. The actions of the characters throughout the play emphasize the importance of covering the truth. Their behaviors and actions take shape and definition on this course of action. When Oedipus says: "Then once more I must bring what is dark to light. It is most fitting that Apollo shows, As you do, this compunction for the dead. You shall see how I stand by ... you, as I should. To average the city and the city's god, And not as though it were for some distant friend, But for my own sake, to be rid of evil. Whoever killed ... who should bring about his father's d...

• Word Count: 1382
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... bride, back with Jason to meet the princess. Within moments the results are relayed by a messenger, "Medea, you who have done such a dreadful thing, so outrageous, run for your life, take what you can, a ship to bear you hence or chariot on land" (Euripides 665). The messenger then bears the news that the princess, as well as her father, is dead. Medea's plan is almost complete ... ; Medea's children are the last victims. "O your heart must have been made of rock or steel, you who can kill with your own hand ... is enough" (Sophocles 627). "Oh no, listen to me, I beg you, don't do this"...

• Word Count: 2458
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... with leather straps and pierce them so they were ingrained to the ground. By having this done they presumed he would soon be dead and they could put it all behind them. The king and Queen didn't bank on a Shepard finding the boy and giving him to another friend who then gave the baby to the king and queen of Corinth they couldn't have a baby so ... we have all been waiting for, it's like the snow has melted away everything has been made clear. Probably the part of the production that is responsible for making the audience gasp. What concludes after this is exactly what the oracle said e...

• Word Count: 1444
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School