Abstract This is a compare/contrast essay on Sophocles' "Antigone" and Gurney's "Another Antigone". The paper discusses the main similarities and diferences between the female characters of each book.
Abstract This paper presents a discussion of the use of symbolism, images and metaphor in Sophocles drama "Antigone", and how they function in the action of the play. It looks at the plot and characters and how Antigone's initial disobedience sets the drama into motion.
From the Paper "Antigone's manifest action is fairly straightforward but uncommonly strong conflicts and ideas are embedded in the action and embodied by the characters. King Creon's niece Antigone daughter of Oedipus disobeys a direct royal order against performing a burial of her brother dishonored in the horrific late siege of Thebes. When she is found out she defies Creon who condemns her to a slow death in a sealed cave. Challenged in turn by his son Haemon who was betrothed to Antigone and the irksome soothsayer Tieresias who reminds Creon that ..."
Abstract The first part of the paper considers the use of metaphor in the poem "The Flower" by Dylan Thomas. The second part of the paper considers Antigone's status as a tragic heroine and her culpability in Sophocles' "Antigone."
From the Paper "In the poem "The Force That Through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower," Dylan Thomas utilizes a clever metaphor to make a powerful commentary on the endless cycle of life and death. Thomas achieves this by drawing a parallel between the life of man and nature itself as he implies that the same life force that drives man forward is the same one that inhabits nature, including the flower mentioned in the poem's opening line."
Abstract This paper relates that, while in some ways Antigone does not fit the Aristotelian definition of the tragic hero, in other ways she does. The author points out that, for this reason, some critics believe that Creon is the tragic hero in this play, though the issue remains unresolved and the discussion continues. The paper states that Aristotle's dramatic theory states that a tragic hero must be an important person with a character flaw, which causes him to make a great mistake leading to tremendous suffering and a fall from his high status.
From the Paper "Antigone is the central figure in Sophocles' play of that name, making her the tragic heroine of the piece. In some ways, though, Antigone does not fit the Aristotelian definition of the tragic her, while in other ways she does. Raymond Williams indicates that there is something definite that can be considered tragic, differentiating it from other experiences: "Certain events and responses are tragic, and others are not" (Williams 14). In shaping his dramatic theory, Aristotle surveyed the drama of his time and developed certain concepts regarding the nature of the tragic hero. The tragic hero must be an important person with a character flaw that causes him to make a great mistake leading to tremendous suffering and a fall from his high status."
Abstract This paper discusses Antigone's actions in the Greek play by Sophocles as indicative of the values of her era. It looks at her defiance of the law of King Creon for what she believes is correct action.
From the Paper "In Antigone Sophocles early establishes Antigone's dilemma -her brothers have been killed and Creon king of Thebes has refused one of those brothers Polynices decent burial, leading Antigone to decide that she will defy Creon and bury her brother, She runs the risk of being condemned to an early death because not ..."
Abstract The paper's thesis is that the main theme of the play is the conflict of two different views of the world, that of Antigone and that of Creon. The paper also looks at the contrast between their claims and contends that both are valid.
From the Paper "In Sophocles' "Antigone" the main theme of the play is the conflict of two different views of the world that of Antigone and that of Creon and the contrast between their claims. Antigone eschews the laws of the state by insisting on burial for her brother Polyneices who is a traitor to Thebes. In contrast, Creon adheres to the laws of the state by refusing burial for Polyneices."
Tags:Antigone, Creon, individual, state, conflict, moral relativism, situation ethics
Abstract This paper discusses the play "Antigone" by Sophocles. It is not a plot summary; instead it examines one of the central themes, the relative importance of divine law and man's laws. The paper also discusses the consequences of arbitrary laws.
From the Paper "According to an essay by Frederick Kluth on his website, the action of the play begins with Antigone asking her sister Ismene to help her bury their brother Creon. The king of Thebes has announced his decision to outlaw the burial of Polynices because he is a traitor and an enemy. Ismene is afraid of King Creon and refuses so Antigone goes herself to bury Polynices."
Tags: Sophacles, Antigone law of man and divine law, greek tragedy
Antigone and Creon are poised against each other in a battle of reasoning in Anouilh's "Antigone". This paper explores the degenerative qualities of their innate opposition.
1,106 words (approx. 4.4 pages), 0 sources, 2006, $ 38.95
Abstract Following brief, brutal conflict, the opposing qualities between Antigone and Creon prove to cause disastrous results on both sides of the opposition, though Antigone pays the greater price. Using a scholarly article entitled "Patterns of Imagery and Anouilh's Antigone" by the widely respected William Calin, this paper explores, in detail, the images associated with Antigone and Creon and what the consequences of their brutal interaction are in Anouilh's work, "Antigone". The first comparison examines Antigone's youthful naivety in comparison to Creon's aged indifference. Next, Antigone's association with nature is set against Creon's ties with civilization. In another comparison, this paper explores Antigone's beauty in comparison to Creon's ugliness. Finally, the paper delves into Creon's qualities of dominion which are thrown into upheaval by Antigone's rebelliousness. The paper closes by questioning whether or not Creon is actually victorious in spite of Antigone's death.
From the Paper "Throughout her entire argument with Creon, Antigone remains violently opposed to whatever Creon has to say; even when Creon makes a valid point to diffuse Antigone's argument, she modifies her stance just to stay in opposition with Creon. It is almost as if a law governs Antigone's personality, one that does not allow her to wholly agree on anything Creon says, thus perpetually putting her at odds, inevitably calling for her death."
Abstract This paper explains that Sophocles'"Antigone" presents the trials and tribulations of one of Oedipus' daughters, Antigone, as she attempts to fulfill the obligations she feels towards the shattered family. The author points out that the conflict between Antigone and Creon is a conflict of perceptions. The paper relates that Creon believes that one's highest duty is to respect the rules, which govern citizenship, thus complying with all city laws and edicts irrespective of personal opinions and moral codes. The author stress that, Antigone, on the other hand, within the context of her moral code, believes that the laws of a state should be compliant with divine laws. The paper states that, since Antigone thinks that Creon's edict is deemed incongruous with divine law and disrespectful of blood ties, Antigone believes that obedience towards Creon's laws would be immoral and wrong so she disobeys them at the cost of her own life.
From the Paper "Creon considers it unconscionable that someone would put their duties as a family member ahead of their duties as a citizen. "And a man who thinks more highly of a friend than of his country, well, he means nothing to me." A person who is capable of valuing his own family members over his fellow citizens has no worth as a citizen, which is the only measure of any significance as far as Creon is concerned. In his eyes, it is precisely our existence as good citizens that give value to our lives. As Howenstein explains, according to Creon, ruling is grounded in the incontestable power of the sovereign and the absolute subservience of his people."
Abstract This study examines the moral decision of Antigone, in Sophocles' play "Antigone", to bury her dead brother against the legal decree of Creon, the King of Thebes. It explains that Antigone grants that her brother Polyneices has indeed broken the law by trying to take over Thebes (the reason that Creon wants to disallow his burial), but Antigone argues that there is a higher law than the legal code, a higher law which is based on the sacred tie of blood relations. She argues that the Gods support her in her effort to bury her brother. It shows that even though the decision may cost her her life, but she is determined to do everything she can to follow and abide by what she sees as a higher moral calling. After an examination of the decision itself, this study applies the ethical theories of Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham to that decision.
From the Paper "Creon and Antigone could not stand in more stark contrast to one another in terms of the qualities important to each. Creon may have the civic law on his side, and he may argue from that basis, at least on the surface, but the play shows that his major concerns are pride and revenge, not following the law. Antigone, on the other hand, cares only about doing what is right according to the highest standards of humanity and of the gods. She wants to bury her brother as much as Creon wants to prevent his burial. A powerful clue to the essential stands of each character is that Antigone determinedly maintains her ethical stand to the end, while Creon changes his mind and buries Polyneices--although he acts too late to avert the catastrophe prophesied by Teiresias."
Abstract This paper examines Sophocles's tragic Greek play, "Antigone", where characters who value love, emotions, duty, bravery, and honor, meet the characters that are full of hate, fear, carelessness, and disgrace. It shows how the brightest among them are Antigone and Creon and discusses how Antigone carries the tragic focus throughout the play, but Creon overtakes that "role" at the very end. It shows how, although Antigone suffers, waiting for her death for the most of the play, she wants to die, and she dies in glory and how, although Creon is the bad character throughout the play, only at the very end do we see that he is the real tragic figure.
From the Paper "Antigone has to go over hard times, bringing on her shoulders the shame that her father brought upon her family. Antigone has even stronger feelings about her relatives who are dead because they cannot protect themselves from peoples? gossips. Antigone cannot stand the fact that her brother Polynices lies unburied, his body being torn by the animals. And Gods are unhappy too; the body needs to be given the burial right. As Tiresias tells Creon that he had robbed the Gods below, keeping the dead body up on earth (stanza 1188). Antigone cannot let more disgrace go upon her family. She buries her brother's body with her own hands."
Abstract The two main characters in "Antigone" are Antigone and Ismene. The paper points out that Ismene shows the mild side of feminine responses to life, while Antigone is the defiant, selfish side. It discusses how, therefore, Antigone is a character whose false motives and preoccupation with death hide her selfish longing for praise; this means that Antigone is not the hero that she is thought to be.
From the Paper "The traits of female characters in literature are often a topic for debate. Women are often depicted as either a passive spectator afraid to upset a course of event, or as a defiant temptress who cannot see beyond her own goals. Neither of these viewpoints can be entirely true for real women, but they can serve to categorize the more one-dimensional characters that are depicted in some stories."
Abstract In this paper the author looks at the role of women in "Agamemnon" and "Antigone" from the Oedipus trilogy. He compares the characters of the main women in the both books, Clytaemestra and Antigone, looking at the way they deal with certain circumstances. For example, how Clytaemestra is devious and plans to murder her husband, Agamemnon, out of fury over his sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia. Whereas Antigone defies an edict by insisting on the burial of her brother, Polynices because she is acting out of a sense of duty to fulfill a promise made to him before his death. The author concludes that Clytaemestra and Antigone can be seen as personification of woman's most extreme emotions and conflicts. The values that in Antigone are good and true become distorted into hatred and violence in Clytaemestra.
From the Paper "The strength of Clytemaestra's personality is evident in her first speech, which follows immediately after the scene in which the sacrifice of Iphigenia takes place. She is majestic in her wrath and dominates the entire work from this scene on. She personifies the theme of the conflict between ethics and principles and human emotions. She easily convinces the elders of her story of the fall of Troy. She impresses them with her intellect by which she arranged a complex system of beacons to relay the news. She is audacious and proud, even hinting subtly of her plans, almost inviting the wrath of the gods."
Abstract The paper examines the central character, Antigone, from the play "Antigone" by Sophocles. The paper examines the ethical issue of power struggles and corruption that rise within Antigone, as she must strive to seek justice for her family. The paper shows how the feelings of loyalty, justice and the family unit are important aspects of Antigone's ethical values.
From the Paper "In the Greek tragedy Antigone, there is the theme of tragedy that reflects local tradition in obeying the laws of the land, but ultimately, Antigone must follow a more noble cause in using moral and ethical justice against Creon for displaying such ignoble against her dead brother, Polynices. Of course, Eteocles had broken the pact with his brother, Polynices, by refusing to share the throne and breaking the societal bond for family loyalty, which ends in their deaths. For Antigone, this is basis for her ethical role in the play, as she becomes the main barrier between family loyalty and Creon's (as well as her brothers') maniacal lust for power."
Abstract This paper discusses the main thematic conflict in the tragic drama "Antigone". Specifically, the paper relates that the main thematic conflict in "Antigone" is Antigone's rebellion against authority and law. The paper then looks at how Creon represents the power of the state, while Antigone represents the individual. The paper explains how the conflict is resolved in a tragic way; Creon loses some of his pride while Antigone loses her life.
From the Paper "Early in the play, it becomes clear that Antigone is not afraid of the power of Creon or the state. She believes the laws are unfair, and she is not afraid to stand up against them and challenge Creon and his power. She believes the gods are the only ones who can truly make the laws, and this sets up the conflict between Antigone and Creon that lasts through the entire play. She says, "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (Sophocles 1304), and she truly believes this, which is why this tragic conflict continues. She loves her brother enough to sacrifice herself to make sure he is properly buried and she will not let the laws of a powerful king stand in her way."
