“Grief causes the steadiest of minds to waver.” This is a quote from Sophocles, the man who wrote Antigone. Antigone is widely accepted as one of the best and broadly known Greek tragedies. As for the definition of tragedy, Aristotle says in Poetics, “A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language;... in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions” (Aristotle). Antigone accomplishes all of this and fits the mold of a tragedy. Antigone deals with themes like pride, family vs. state, and the effects of power effectively all while drawing in the audience
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The whole issue begins with the death of her brother Polynices, who was considered a traitor by the state. Creon decided that he did not deserve a proper burial as shown, “He has decreed that the wretched Polynices must not be mourned, but shall be left, unswept, unburied, for vultures to batten upon” (Sophocles 64). To heighten the tension Creon declared a harsh treat, “Anyone who dares to disobey shall die-die by stoning in the marketplace” (Sophocles 64). Antigone is distressed and wants to bury Polynices. She goes to Ismene, her sister, for help but her sister is outraged, “You are mad. Creon has forbidden it” (Sophocles 65). Here, Ismene represents the other half of the family vs state conflict. Antigone is compelled to bury him. This brings in another conflict. Instead of just family vs state this is also religion verus state or morals vs state. Antigone tells Ismene, “I owe a longer aliance to the dead than to the living; for with them I shall sleep for all eternity. But you, dishonour the laws of heaven if you must” (Sophocles 65). Antigone sprinkles dirt on Polynices’ body. Creon hears of this and is enraged. He orders that Antigone be brought in so he could question her. Creon questions her saying, “Do you deny or admit this? Look up and answer me” (Sophocles 70). Antigone, placing her faith in her alliance in heaven rather than the one on earth admits to it proudly. She says, “I did not think that a mere mortal could make such decrees of power that they could override the unwritten and eternal laws of heaven” (Sophocles 70). Even when she realizes the immensity of her actions, she stands by them. This shows the ever looming conflict of family vs state or religion vs state. This is still a large issue today as it seems the issues from tragedy follow into the future. Themes in tragedies are universal and this is another example of how these notions carry
The whole issue begins with the death of her brother Polynices, who was considered a traitor by the state. Creon decided that he did not deserve a proper burial as shown, “He has decreed that the wretched Polynices must not be mourned, but shall be left, unswept, unburied, for vultures to batten upon” (Sophocles 64). To heighten the tension Creon declared a harsh treat, “Anyone who dares to disobey shall die-die by stoning in the marketplace” (Sophocles 64). Antigone is distressed and wants to bury Polynices. She goes to Ismene, her sister, for help but her sister is outraged, “You are mad. Creon has forbidden it” (Sophocles 65). Here, Ismene represents the other half of the family vs state conflict. Antigone is compelled to bury him. This brings in another conflict. Instead of just family vs state this is also religion verus state or morals vs state. Antigone tells Ismene, “I owe a longer aliance to the dead than to the living; for with them I shall sleep for all eternity. But you, dishonour the laws of heaven if you must” (Sophocles 65). Antigone sprinkles dirt on Polynices’ body. Creon hears of this and is enraged. He orders that Antigone be brought in so he could question her. Creon questions her saying, “Do you deny or admit this? Look up and answer me” (Sophocles 70). Antigone, placing her faith in her alliance in heaven rather than the one on earth admits to it proudly. She says, “I did not think that a mere mortal could make such decrees of power that they could override the unwritten and eternal laws of heaven” (Sophocles 70). Even when she realizes the immensity of her actions, she stands by them. This shows the ever looming conflict of family vs state or religion vs state. This is still a large issue today as it seems the issues from tragedy follow into the future. Themes in tragedies are universal and this is another example of how these notions carry