Pride in "Antigone"

Analytical Essay # 63235

Drama and Theater > Greek and Roman
English > Analysis

Pride in "Antigone"

An analysis of pride as the source of tragedy in Sophocles' "Antigone".

1,150 words () | 0 sources | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in the ancient Greek play, "Antigone", Sophocles studies the altering effects of pride on mankind. It looks at how Antigone, the play's heroine, provides a great sense of pride, which motivates her to perform good deeds. It also discusses how Creon's belief in himself, as an authority above the gods, leads to the events that cause the tragedy and how it is Creon's denial of human nature that also sustains tragedy in the play.

From the Paper:

"When Creon learns of Polynices' burial he is extremely angry. Someone has gone against his pride and his authority. He refuses to talk of how he feels to the sentry who brings him the news; his pride is so strong that he believes that feelings are a sign of weakness within a man. After this discovery, the Chorus sings a song about man's nature. This song portrays man as the controlling force of the earth. This shows that Creon really does believe himself to be above the gods and nature. Even if true, the Chorus makes it clear that death is the one thing that man does not have control over!"