Freewill, the Foundation of Fate
In Sophocles’ play “Antigone”, how do the universal themes of fate and freewill act together to conclude which is more powerful than the other?
The concept of fate versus free will is a common theme throughout Greek Literature. In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles the author elaborates and fuels the debate of whether fate is more powerful than freewill and to what extent can people act without consequences. Sophocles himself experienced inner conflict between these two topics in his work as a senior administrator and a priest. In most of his stories these universal themes are expressed through the characters, and intertwined in the decisions they make, which ultimately result in tragic outcomes. Throughout …show more content…
Antigone, the protagonist, allows herself to use this concept to determine and accept her fate through following the natural law sent by the gods. The story of Antigone stems from the ill fate of her father, Oedipus, and trickled down to her and her siblings. Antigone battles for the justice of her brother Polyneices, after the King declares his burial illegal while her other brother, Eteocles, burial honorable. Her sister, Ismene, however disapproves of her decision to bury her brother because the civil law states it will ultimately result in her death. During this disagreement Antigone introduces the importance of free will when she states “You [Ismene] must decide whether you will help me or not.” (Sophocles 29). This line exaggerates the fact that Ismene’s decision must be her own and she has the power to choose her own fate just as well as Antigone has the power to choose her fate. After deciding not to help her sister, Antigone states “You have made your choice.”(Sophocles 54). Once a decision is made, fate is sealed due to the way the characters chose to live their life. Antigone sentences herself to and honorable death even after the Chorus warned ”…strength lives in established law: that must prevail. You have made your choice, your death is the doing of your own conscious …show more content…
Creon is a stubborn king and cannot be reasoned with. Creon is so engulfed in the idea of freewill that he allows it to over-power his judgement and try to repress fate. In regards to Antigone’s death, Creon discusses Antigone’s engagement to his son, Haimon. In this scene Creon shows how he uses his freewill to attempt to over-power fate. After being asked if he intended to take Antigone away from his son he replies “No; Death will do that for me.”(Sophocles 459). Creon believes that Death will work for him, therefore saying that fate will work for him and serve him as he sees fit. Unlike Antigone who uses her free will to accept her fate, Creon uses his free will to attempt to over-rule it. The power of civil law hypnotizes him into believing he can outwit fate. When Choragos states “If that is your will, you have the right to enforce it: we are yours.”(Sophocles 179-80), it brain washes Creon into thinking that his will over weighs destiny. As a result of him being King the people follow his orders therefore allowing him to believe that he rules fate as well. The oracle, Teiresias, even attmepts to explain to Creon that “…all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, And repairs the evil.”(Sophocles 804-06). This word of advice is used in efforts to reveal to Creon that he has the power to choose to do the right or wrong thing, but fate will
In Sophocles’ play “Antigone”, how do the universal themes of fate and freewill act together to conclude which is more powerful than the other?
The concept of fate versus free will is a common theme throughout Greek Literature. In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles the author elaborates and fuels the debate of whether fate is more powerful than freewill and to what extent can people act without consequences. Sophocles himself experienced inner conflict between these two topics in his work as a senior administrator and a priest. In most of his stories these universal themes are expressed through the characters, and intertwined in the decisions they make, which ultimately result in tragic outcomes. Throughout …show more content…
Antigone, the protagonist, allows herself to use this concept to determine and accept her fate through following the natural law sent by the gods. The story of Antigone stems from the ill fate of her father, Oedipus, and trickled down to her and her siblings. Antigone battles for the justice of her brother Polyneices, after the King declares his burial illegal while her other brother, Eteocles, burial honorable. Her sister, Ismene, however disapproves of her decision to bury her brother because the civil law states it will ultimately result in her death. During this disagreement Antigone introduces the importance of free will when she states “You [Ismene] must decide whether you will help me or not.” (Sophocles 29). This line exaggerates the fact that Ismene’s decision must be her own and she has the power to choose her own fate just as well as Antigone has the power to choose her fate. After deciding not to help her sister, Antigone states “You have made your choice.”(Sophocles 54). Once a decision is made, fate is sealed due to the way the characters chose to live their life. Antigone sentences herself to and honorable death even after the Chorus warned ”…strength lives in established law: that must prevail. You have made your choice, your death is the doing of your own conscious …show more content…
Creon is a stubborn king and cannot be reasoned with. Creon is so engulfed in the idea of freewill that he allows it to over-power his judgement and try to repress fate. In regards to Antigone’s death, Creon discusses Antigone’s engagement to his son, Haimon. In this scene Creon shows how he uses his freewill to attempt to over-power fate. After being asked if he intended to take Antigone away from his son he replies “No; Death will do that for me.”(Sophocles 459). Creon believes that Death will work for him, therefore saying that fate will work for him and serve him as he sees fit. Unlike Antigone who uses her free will to accept her fate, Creon uses his free will to attempt to over-rule it. The power of civil law hypnotizes him into believing he can outwit fate. When Choragos states “If that is your will, you have the right to enforce it: we are yours.”(Sophocles 179-80), it brain washes Creon into thinking that his will over weighs destiny. As a result of him being King the people follow his orders therefore allowing him to believe that he rules fate as well. The oracle, Teiresias, even attmepts to explain to Creon that “…all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, And repairs the evil.”(Sophocles 804-06). This word of advice is used in efforts to reveal to Creon that he has the power to choose to do the right or wrong thing, but fate will