The German philosopher Hegel construed the play “Antigone” as “the tragic collision of right against right, with both sides equally justified.” This play was written by Sophocles, a Greek playwright, around 441 BC and gives us insight into his mindset on society and culture. The central conflict rises from the clash of the main character, Antigone, and her uncle, King Creon, over the role of man’s laws and god’s laws in society. Antigone’s two brothers Polyneices and Eteocles had slain each other in battle over the throne. King Creon, who was loyal to Eteocles, rendered Polyneices a traitor and decreed that his body shall not receive a burial. However, Antigone challenges Creon’s decree because it is not in accordance with the laws of the Greek
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In this society an absolute ruler heads the government, which is Antigone’s uncle, King Creon. Before Creon came to power, Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polyneices agreed to rule Thebes in alternating years. However, after Eteocles’s year was up he refused to give up his throne. As a result Ployneices gathered an army and invaded Thebes, while in battle the brothers killed each other. When Creon was named King he set forth a decree forbidding Polyneices’s burial, he swore that “No one shall bury him, no one mourn for him, but his body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure for carrion birds” (Sophocles 693). The punishment for disobeying the decree was death. However, Antigone saw Creon’s decree as an abuse of his power and as an infringement on the laws of the gods. Antigone, who placed god’s laws above all else, disregarded King Creon’s law and buried her brother, Polyneices. Antigone’s bravery is summed up when she says, “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy” (Sophocles 694). Antigone is aware of the consequence but ignores it because according to her she is doing the will of her gods. When Antigone is confronted she admits to it without hesitation and is sentenced to death by Creon. The citizens of Thebes take Antigone’s side and consider Creon unjust but are too afraid to confront him. Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé, Haimon, describes the social unrest of the …show more content…
They are ruled by a government with unlimited authority and power, the government consists of the Capitol and is headed by President Snow. Long ago the thirteenth district revolted because of the oppressive government, the revolt was unsuccessful and after the war the thirteenth district was dissolved. To maintain peace and keep the twelve districts submissive to the Capitol the Hunger Games were established. Each year every district must volunteer two children, one boy and one girl. They are then gathered together and battle each other until one remains. The Hunger Games are supposed to serve as a reminder of the revolution and ensure peace. However, in reality the Hunger Games is a violent bloodbath designed to promote fear. The protagonist, Katniss, volunteers as tribute for the twelfth district to protect her sister. As she progresses through the game she provides hope because she challenges the traditional roles of the tributes when she outperforms the wealthier districts and helps another tribute. President Snow sees Katniss as a threat on the Tyrannical system and believes it could lead to another revolt. President Snow’s cruel mindset is displayed when he says, “If we wanted to intimidate them, why not round up twenty-four of them at random and execute them all at once? Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear” (The Hunger Games).
In this society an absolute ruler heads the government, which is Antigone’s uncle, King Creon. Before Creon came to power, Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polyneices agreed to rule Thebes in alternating years. However, after Eteocles’s year was up he refused to give up his throne. As a result Ployneices gathered an army and invaded Thebes, while in battle the brothers killed each other. When Creon was named King he set forth a decree forbidding Polyneices’s burial, he swore that “No one shall bury him, no one mourn for him, but his body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure for carrion birds” (Sophocles 693). The punishment for disobeying the decree was death. However, Antigone saw Creon’s decree as an abuse of his power and as an infringement on the laws of the gods. Antigone, who placed god’s laws above all else, disregarded King Creon’s law and buried her brother, Polyneices. Antigone’s bravery is summed up when she says, “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy” (Sophocles 694). Antigone is aware of the consequence but ignores it because according to her she is doing the will of her gods. When Antigone is confronted she admits to it without hesitation and is sentenced to death by Creon. The citizens of Thebes take Antigone’s side and consider Creon unjust but are too afraid to confront him. Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé, Haimon, describes the social unrest of the …show more content…
They are ruled by a government with unlimited authority and power, the government consists of the Capitol and is headed by President Snow. Long ago the thirteenth district revolted because of the oppressive government, the revolt was unsuccessful and after the war the thirteenth district was dissolved. To maintain peace and keep the twelve districts submissive to the Capitol the Hunger Games were established. Each year every district must volunteer two children, one boy and one girl. They are then gathered together and battle each other until one remains. The Hunger Games are supposed to serve as a reminder of the revolution and ensure peace. However, in reality the Hunger Games is a violent bloodbath designed to promote fear. The protagonist, Katniss, volunteers as tribute for the twelfth district to protect her sister. As she progresses through the game she provides hope because she challenges the traditional roles of the tributes when she outperforms the wealthier districts and helps another tribute. President Snow sees Katniss as a threat on the Tyrannical system and believes it could lead to another revolt. President Snow’s cruel mindset is displayed when he says, “If we wanted to intimidate them, why not round up twenty-four of them at random and execute them all at once? Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear” (The Hunger Games).