Throughout the history of ancient Greece, women were treated as second-class citizens in every possible aspect. They were forbidden to own much property, they couldn't vote, or even debate political issues. Women were supposed to obey men, and agree with everything they said and did. They weren't even supposed to leave the house without a man's permission. Their job was to stay home and rear the children. However, in the play Antigone, Antigone goes against the beliefs and defies the powerful tradition of male domination.
In the play, Antigone's life was filled with pain and sorrow. Her father had past away and then her two brothers Eteocles and Polnices fought and ended up killing each other. Even after all of this, Antigone had even more pain to deal with. Although her brother Eteocles had been given a proper burial, which which the gods expected, her brother Polnices had not. This was due to the fact that Antigone's uncle Creon had become king and forbid and decreed against the burial of Polnices. (Sacks 22).
Even though Antigone knows it is against the will of the king, she goes and gives Polnices a proper burial anyway. She acted out of obligation and duty to her family, other women, and the gods. Antigone didn't fear death, but instead faced it with great bravery and strength. She defied a male establishment that was ruled by her own uncle, who was devoted to his law. She did so to remain devoted to her own values and beliefs. During this act of direct defiance of Creon's rule, she says to him, "Sorry, who made this edict? Was it God? Isn't a man's right to burial decreed by divine justice? I don't consider your pronouncements so important that they can just overrule unwritten laws of heaven." (Sophocles 12) Antigone speaks out to Creon to show that she values the laws of God rather than the laws of Creon. .
This out lash and purposeful defiance of King Creon is an absolute defiance of what women were supposed to be in ancient Greece.
This type of conflict is shown in Antigone an helps present the character traits of the antagonist, Antigone. ... Antigone was also very strong minded. ... Antigone was also very strong willed. ... Antigone chooses to defy this law. ... Antigone believes that Ismene is a coward while Ismene believes that Antigone is foolish. ...
Antigone stands poised at the river separating herself from civil disobedience. ... Antigone's unrepressed emotions give voice to her dissatisfaction with Creon's dictum. ... Antigone's morals render her unable to see her tragic flaw. ... Antigone impels Creon by defying his order, and seals the fate of her life. ... Antigone's convictions bear a burden on her that she is not strong enough to lift. ...
In the play, "Antigone," the main character Antigone goes against all authority in an effort to give her brother, Polynices, a proper burial. ... Antigone has no respect for authority. ... Antigone also claims, "What Creon says is quite irrelevant" ( ln 4). Thus, Antigone does not respect government or Creon as a sovereign. ... "We can't live by Antigone's alone, but if we have no Antigones within us we are spiritually barren" (Cornell). ...
Later in the act, the Sentry enters again, this time with Antigone. ... Creon asks Antigone if this is true. ... Creon aims to justify his decision to let Antigone's dead brother rot. He also wishes to validate his choice to punish Antigone. ... I believe Antigone's act was morally correct. ...
Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. ... This is between Antigone and Polyneices. ... Antigone doesn't mind doing anything on her own. ... Antigone has no problem working by her self either. ... I think Creon feels he must defeat Antigone because she is a woman. ...
In Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone is the tragic hero of the play, rather than Creon. ... Sophocles wants us to see Antigone as the tragic figure. ... He can either kill Antigone, or spare her life. ... Antigone is in a different position. ... Antigone chooses wisely in defying the law. ...
The Antigone Essay Through "Antigone", the play, Sophocles lets it be known that family is more important than authority. ... Antigone felt awful that Creon was doing such a wrong thing. ... Antigone took a moral stand and buried Polyneices. ... Antigone was Haemon's true love. Haemon committed suicide once he lost Antigone. ...
Antigone is not from a normal family. Her family feels very strong in what they believe in. Especially Antigone and Creon. Antigone did things that other people wouldn't normally do. Some people wouldn't defy authority to do what they believe is right. Creon did things that people wouldn't do. I thi...
Bigger than her body Antigone was right, yet so was Creon. ... However Antigone defied the king. ... The gods sided with Antigone. ... Creon is protagonist against Antigone, who is the antagonist; at the same time, Antigone is the protagonist with Creon as her antagonist. Antigone's actions were justified by divine law. ...
