Can death be dignified? Is death the only thing that can be dignified? There are three tragedies that deal with the concept of dignified death and what makes it dignified. In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, King Creon indirectly causes the deaths of many because he selfishly keeps a girl from honoring her dead brother. In the tragedy Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus kills his best friend for the good of the majority. In the biography Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Chris McCandless goes into the Alaskan wilderness to discover himself and true happiness. The authors show the different meanings and versions of dignified death by connecting the consequences of the tragic hero to the flaws in distinct ways. In Sophocles’ Antigone,
…show more content…
The remorse for his original wholesome plan and the consequences that occur when he says “Caesar, now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will” (Shakespeare 78). Admitting his mistakes and attempting to repay them demonstrates his purity and integrity that hides in his selfish decision to kill Caesar. His willingness to take the consequences of his actions is admirable, and this trait cannot be seen in Brutus because his previous action of stabbing his best friend makes him seem selfish and prideful. The dignified death shows everyone else Brutus’ heart when Antony says, “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar” (Shakespeare 78). The love Brutus has his for both Caesar and Rome is evident in his death, which keeps everyone skeptical before because he only uses words to express his emotions. However, Brutus now uses his actions to prove his affection, which everyone sees as valid and true. Consequently, the death of Brutus demonstrates how noble and pure he truly is, but it isn’t seen by the people until his selfish desires erase in his
The remorse for his original wholesome plan and the consequences that occur when he says “Caesar, now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will” (Shakespeare 78). Admitting his mistakes and attempting to repay them demonstrates his purity and integrity that hides in his selfish decision to kill Caesar. His willingness to take the consequences of his actions is admirable, and this trait cannot be seen in Brutus because his previous action of stabbing his best friend makes him seem selfish and prideful. The dignified death shows everyone else Brutus’ heart when Antony says, “This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar” (Shakespeare 78). The love Brutus has his for both Caesar and Rome is evident in his death, which keeps everyone skeptical before because he only uses words to express his emotions. However, Brutus now uses his actions to prove his affection, which everyone sees as valid and true. Consequently, the death of Brutus demonstrates how noble and pure he truly is, but it isn’t seen by the people until his selfish desires erase in his