Antigone actions against her uncle, King Creon 's edict, for burying her brother come from her religious beliefs in the laws of the gods being above all else and her inclination to protect and care for her family. Opposedly, King Creon 's actions stem from a need to maintain political stability in the kingdom of Thebes which has just suffered a trauma in the civil war between Polyneices and Eteocles, Antigone 's brothers. Though initially Antigone exhibits signs of wanting to die for her pure belief in her principles of the gods and her loyalty to her family, her desire transcends into an obsession for martyrdom fueled by a great sense of pride. Her incessant desire for death characterizes her as more of an narcissist than a pure martyr;
…show more content…
She chooses to die rather than live, even when given the option. It is not simply that she chooses to die for her principles and belief, which can be considered nobel; rather possibly commits her actions of disobedience with the purpose of death. “So let me and this ill-considered plan of mine endure this terrible thing;for I will suffer nothing So bad as to deny me a death with honor ( Sophocles 57).” Antigone recognizes clearly that she could have taken better actions to honor her brother, and perhaps avoided the actions that she herself refers to as “ill considered”. However, the very real prospect of death she is faced with does not result in fear, rather she revels in the death that faces her, as she wishes for a death that others can admire and respect her for(footnote). Even when given the chance to live despite her actions, she craves the death that Creon threatens. Antigone’s actions for the purpose of death exhibit signs of martyrdom. The term martyrdom highlights Antigone’s actions in favour of death clearly, in that she desires to be killed for her belief but also requires her death to be an exaggerated sympathy inducing spectacle. It is not enough for her to simply die for her belief, she needs for the people in the city to know why she died and that her death unjust, and due to the actions of Creon. She is greedy for the people of Thebes to know of her actions against Creon, and she dictates for Ismene to not remain silent of her doings when she tells her “Oh - denounce me ! I’ll hate you even more if you keep quiet and don’t proclaim all this to everyone ( Sophocles 56)” . Antigone’s death, by her standards need to be one that affects the people of Thebes and causes support for her actions (in the name of the divine law) and against King
She chooses to die rather than live, even when given the option. It is not simply that she chooses to die for her principles and belief, which can be considered nobel; rather possibly commits her actions of disobedience with the purpose of death. “So let me and this ill-considered plan of mine endure this terrible thing;for I will suffer nothing So bad as to deny me a death with honor ( Sophocles 57).” Antigone recognizes clearly that she could have taken better actions to honor her brother, and perhaps avoided the actions that she herself refers to as “ill considered”. However, the very real prospect of death she is faced with does not result in fear, rather she revels in the death that faces her, as she wishes for a death that others can admire and respect her for(footnote). Even when given the chance to live despite her actions, she craves the death that Creon threatens. Antigone’s actions for the purpose of death exhibit signs of martyrdom. The term martyrdom highlights Antigone’s actions in favour of death clearly, in that she desires to be killed for her belief but also requires her death to be an exaggerated sympathy inducing spectacle. It is not enough for her to simply die for her belief, she needs for the people in the city to know why she died and that her death unjust, and due to the actions of Creon. She is greedy for the people of Thebes to know of her actions against Creon, and she dictates for Ismene to not remain silent of her doings when she tells her “Oh - denounce me ! I’ll hate you even more if you keep quiet and don’t proclaim all this to everyone ( Sophocles 56)” . Antigone’s death, by her standards need to be one that affects the people of Thebes and causes support for her actions (in the name of the divine law) and against King