5. Antigone: “But if I die before my time, I count that as / a profit” (Sophocles 462-63). Discuss.
Antigone isn’t as great as she thinks she is she’s just super obsessed with death.
Antigone thinks she is a good sister by burying her brother shown when she says “Yes, bury my own brother- and yours too- if you’re / not willing. I will not be caught in treachery” (Sophocles 45-46). Antigone believes that leaving her brother unburied would be a form of treachery and that to be a good sibling she must give him the burial and dignity he deserves. While making claims of her devotion however, Antigone also accuses her sister of being a bad sibling for not wanting to help her. In being devote to her deceased sibling, Antigone does not …show more content…
Antigone does not conform to this interpretation of being a good citizen.. Antigone’s plans of burying her brother are first shown as unlawful by Ismene when she says “What, bury him? When it’s forbidden to the city” (44). Antigone disobeys the laws set in place because she does not want to follow them. Antigone tries to defend herself with claims that she is fulfilling the laws of the gods, which to her are more important than any laws set by men. When Kreon asks Antigone about how she had the daring to break the law and Antigone responds with “It was not Zeus who made this proclamation; / nor was it Justice dwelling with the gods below” (450-451). Since the gods did not set these laws forth to Antigone they are not necessary for her to follow. The funeral rites of each man is more important for Antigone to follow, since to her those are the laws set forth by the gods. However, Kreon interprets the gods laws differently. When Kreon is talking with a guard who thought the burial could be the will of the gods, Kreon exclaims “Do you see gods bestowing honour on the evil? / It cannot be” (288-289). Kreon believes that the gods would not enforce the need for a funeral for a man who has betrayed his city and people. The difference in Antigone and Kreon’s interpretation of the gods’ will discredits both of their statements. The will of the gods cannot be known for certain by human beings, so Antigone cannot use what she thinks the gods believe to justify her actions on whether they are just or not. Since the laws set by the gods can not be clearly known the only laws a person could follow to prove their goodness is the laws of their city and people. Antigone is not just going against the will of one man but the will of the city. When the plan to bury their brother is first hatched Ismene says “I don’t dishonour him; but
Antigone isn’t as great as she thinks she is she’s just super obsessed with death.
Antigone thinks she is a good sister by burying her brother shown when she says “Yes, bury my own brother- and yours too- if you’re / not willing. I will not be caught in treachery” (Sophocles 45-46). Antigone believes that leaving her brother unburied would be a form of treachery and that to be a good sibling she must give him the burial and dignity he deserves. While making claims of her devotion however, Antigone also accuses her sister of being a bad sibling for not wanting to help her. In being devote to her deceased sibling, Antigone does not …show more content…
Antigone does not conform to this interpretation of being a good citizen.. Antigone’s plans of burying her brother are first shown as unlawful by Ismene when she says “What, bury him? When it’s forbidden to the city” (44). Antigone disobeys the laws set in place because she does not want to follow them. Antigone tries to defend herself with claims that she is fulfilling the laws of the gods, which to her are more important than any laws set by men. When Kreon asks Antigone about how she had the daring to break the law and Antigone responds with “It was not Zeus who made this proclamation; / nor was it Justice dwelling with the gods below” (450-451). Since the gods did not set these laws forth to Antigone they are not necessary for her to follow. The funeral rites of each man is more important for Antigone to follow, since to her those are the laws set forth by the gods. However, Kreon interprets the gods laws differently. When Kreon is talking with a guard who thought the burial could be the will of the gods, Kreon exclaims “Do you see gods bestowing honour on the evil? / It cannot be” (288-289). Kreon believes that the gods would not enforce the need for a funeral for a man who has betrayed his city and people. The difference in Antigone and Kreon’s interpretation of the gods’ will discredits both of their statements. The will of the gods cannot be known for certain by human beings, so Antigone cannot use what she thinks the gods believe to justify her actions on whether they are just or not. Since the laws set by the gods can not be clearly known the only laws a person could follow to prove their goodness is the laws of their city and people. Antigone is not just going against the will of one man but the will of the city. When the plan to bury their brother is first hatched Ismene says “I don’t dishonour him; but