Antigone Essay Sophocles’ perplexing play illustrates a heroic journey of the leading protagonist, Antigone. In the play, Antigone suffered through a heartache after she lost her brother Polyneices in war. The ruler, Creon passed a decree that whoever buries Polyneices will die. Family and authority are common themes and misconceptions in the play Antigone. When comparing the essential themes of family and authority, Creon and Ismene characterize the theme of authority, while Antigone and Haemon value family. In the play Antigone, The protagonist Antigone defends her rights to have a proper burial ceremony, for her brother Polyneices who was killed in war. Creon uses his authoritative power and puts a curse on whoever
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Throughout the play, Creon and Ismene portray authority being more substantial than family. For instance, Creon encounters Antigone with wrath and wonders why she, “ dared to break these very law's” (Scene II 507). Creon portrayed the idea of using his authority for evil, as he uses it against Antigone, because she broke the law of burying her brother when she wasn’t supposed to. One moment that encapsulated the idea of obeying the laws of authority over family is when, Ismene spoke with her sister Antigone about obeying the laws over saving her family. Ismene illustrates that obeying the laws is more significant than saving her family , because Ismene wonders why Antigone is ,“ going to bury Polyneices when that’s been made crime for all in Thebes” (Prologue 54). Ismene makes her remark crystal clear, in that she does not want Antigone to break the law to save her brother. Instead, Ismene was looking for Antigone to change her mind and obey the law, in exchange for her life. Creon and ismene validate the importance of obeying the laws to please the Gods, to maintain a suitable …show more content…
Therefore, Antigone displayed valiant actions of love for her family by making sure she buries her brother and gives him a proper burial. Antigone shows true determination and knows that even though she may die, she is still going to,“ make a burial mound for [her] dear brother” (Prologue 99). Antigone shows she will disregard authority, to make sure her family gets the proper burial rights. Therefore, Antigone truly shows her love for her family, even if it means death. Another example of the idea of family over authority is when, Creon and Haemon were having a conversation, and Haemon was trying to persuade Creon that he should not be trying to kill Antigone because Antigone was his soon to be wife. Haemon exemplifies the true meaning of family by standing with Antigone, since he believes that , “ the ways [Creon] act aren’t good” (Scene III, 720). Haemon’s acts of contradicting his father's authority shows that the central theme of family is crucial when dealing with the rights of Haemon and Antigone’s Family. Antigone and Haemon serve as prime examples of how family is the utmost important. Family is a vital theme throughout the play, and is commonly expressed by the characters in
Throughout the play, Creon and Ismene portray authority being more substantial than family. For instance, Creon encounters Antigone with wrath and wonders why she, “ dared to break these very law's” (Scene II 507). Creon portrayed the idea of using his authority for evil, as he uses it against Antigone, because she broke the law of burying her brother when she wasn’t supposed to. One moment that encapsulated the idea of obeying the laws of authority over family is when, Ismene spoke with her sister Antigone about obeying the laws over saving her family. Ismene illustrates that obeying the laws is more significant than saving her family , because Ismene wonders why Antigone is ,“ going to bury Polyneices when that’s been made crime for all in Thebes” (Prologue 54). Ismene makes her remark crystal clear, in that she does not want Antigone to break the law to save her brother. Instead, Ismene was looking for Antigone to change her mind and obey the law, in exchange for her life. Creon and ismene validate the importance of obeying the laws to please the Gods, to maintain a suitable …show more content…
Therefore, Antigone displayed valiant actions of love for her family by making sure she buries her brother and gives him a proper burial. Antigone shows true determination and knows that even though she may die, she is still going to,“ make a burial mound for [her] dear brother” (Prologue 99). Antigone shows she will disregard authority, to make sure her family gets the proper burial rights. Therefore, Antigone truly shows her love for her family, even if it means death. Another example of the idea of family over authority is when, Creon and Haemon were having a conversation, and Haemon was trying to persuade Creon that he should not be trying to kill Antigone because Antigone was his soon to be wife. Haemon exemplifies the true meaning of family by standing with Antigone, since he believes that , “ the ways [Creon] act aren’t good” (Scene III, 720). Haemon’s acts of contradicting his father's authority shows that the central theme of family is crucial when dealing with the rights of Haemon and Antigone’s Family. Antigone and Haemon serve as prime examples of how family is the utmost important. Family is a vital theme throughout the play, and is commonly expressed by the characters in