Sophocles’ tragic play has remained relevant for well over two thousand years because the same conflicts that happened in the play still happen to this day. The opposing beliefs of Antigone and Creon lead to their inevitable fate because they are unwilling to compromise due to their firm stance on their beliefs. The main issues that divide them include; Antigone’s defiance of laws and her strong loyalty to her family, while Creon’s pride and obligation to fulfill his commitment as king proves to be his downfall. In the play, themes that parallel the issues in today’s society are gender equality and civil disobedience.
At the beginning of the play, tension is already running high between the King of Thebes, Creon, and his niece, Antigone. This …show more content…
As he says to the Chorus, “...and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare, ––I have no use for him, either” (Sophocles 152-154). This commitment to ruling as king turns Creon into a tyrant who yearns for power and control over his people, which is proven when he threatens the life of a sentry who alerted him that someone buried Polyneices. All throughout the play many people question Creon’s ability to rule, citing his pride as the basis for his inability to listen to reason from others. The first person to point this out is Antigone, who says, “Ah the good fortune of kings, licensed to say and do what they please!” (Sophocles 401-402). Haemon also confronts his father and reveals the citizens’ opinion on the matter, but Creon refuses to change his stance and remarks, “If I permit my own family to rebel, How shall I earn the world’s obedience?” (Sophocles 522-523). This rationale suggests that Creon is only doing what he wants, his actions do not reflect the will of the people. The blind prophet Teiresias tries to make Creon see the error in his ways by warning him of the impending doom that awaits him if he remains stubborn. With Teiresias’ words lingering in his mind, Creon finally decides to change, but, he is too late. Creon’s pride and stubbornness led to not only Antigone’s death, but also resulted in the demise of his wife, Eurydice and their son Haemon. Before their …show more content…
In the play it is clear to see that women were seen as inferior to men, as expressed by Creon, “If we must lose, Let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (Sophocles 539-540). Antigone tries to challenge this thought, but she is only one woman living in a male dominated world (only men were considered citizens). Some of that sentiment has carried over to modern times. For example, in America, women earn seventy-eight cents for every dollar men make (O’Brien). What’s more is that as time has progressed over the last few years, there has been virtually no change in the gender wage gap (ThinkProgress). Another theme that parallels the issues of the past with today is civil disobedience. Antigone refuses to obey Creon’s law of refusing to bury her brother because she argues that this is an infringement on a moral level. As she says, “Nevertheless, there are honors due all the dead” (Sophocles 413). The most recent example of this is Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand up during the national anthem. While he is exercising his right of freedom of speech, he is also raising awareness to social injustices in America. As Kaepernick said, "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right" (Wyche). Like Antigone, Kaepernick is going against what is expected
At the beginning of the play, tension is already running high between the King of Thebes, Creon, and his niece, Antigone. This …show more content…
As he says to the Chorus, “...and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare, ––I have no use for him, either” (Sophocles 152-154). This commitment to ruling as king turns Creon into a tyrant who yearns for power and control over his people, which is proven when he threatens the life of a sentry who alerted him that someone buried Polyneices. All throughout the play many people question Creon’s ability to rule, citing his pride as the basis for his inability to listen to reason from others. The first person to point this out is Antigone, who says, “Ah the good fortune of kings, licensed to say and do what they please!” (Sophocles 401-402). Haemon also confronts his father and reveals the citizens’ opinion on the matter, but Creon refuses to change his stance and remarks, “If I permit my own family to rebel, How shall I earn the world’s obedience?” (Sophocles 522-523). This rationale suggests that Creon is only doing what he wants, his actions do not reflect the will of the people. The blind prophet Teiresias tries to make Creon see the error in his ways by warning him of the impending doom that awaits him if he remains stubborn. With Teiresias’ words lingering in his mind, Creon finally decides to change, but, he is too late. Creon’s pride and stubbornness led to not only Antigone’s death, but also resulted in the demise of his wife, Eurydice and their son Haemon. Before their …show more content…
In the play it is clear to see that women were seen as inferior to men, as expressed by Creon, “If we must lose, Let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (Sophocles 539-540). Antigone tries to challenge this thought, but she is only one woman living in a male dominated world (only men were considered citizens). Some of that sentiment has carried over to modern times. For example, in America, women earn seventy-eight cents for every dollar men make (O’Brien). What’s more is that as time has progressed over the last few years, there has been virtually no change in the gender wage gap (ThinkProgress). Another theme that parallels the issues of the past with today is civil disobedience. Antigone refuses to obey Creon’s law of refusing to bury her brother because she argues that this is an infringement on a moral level. As she says, “Nevertheless, there are honors due all the dead” (Sophocles 413). The most recent example of this is Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand up during the national anthem. While he is exercising his right of freedom of speech, he is also raising awareness to social injustices in America. As Kaepernick said, "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right" (Wyche). Like Antigone, Kaepernick is going against what is expected