American writer and feminist Rita Mae Brown once claimed that “the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself” (“Famous Quotes”). In this, May addresses the moral dilemma of conformity. If one conforms to become accepted by society, they may end up abandoning their individuality, as well as their beliefs. Oppositely, while non-conformists retain their unique characteristics and values, they are susceptible to persecution. Because their potential effects, one may struggle to discover moderation between conformity and nonconformity. This struggle is an idea that can be explored in Sophocles’ Antigone. In this Greek tragedy, Creon, the king of Thebes, wrongfully sentences his daughter-in-law Antigone to death and eventually
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When Tiresias foresees that Creon’s actions unless corrected will cause the downfall of Thebes, Creon denies the legitimacy of Tiresias’ prophecy, stating that “‘the whole breed of prophets loves money’” (Ant. 1118). Through this malicious claim, Creon is declaring that Tiresias was bribed into making a “false” claim that foreshadows the downfall of not only Creon, but the whole city of Thebes as well. Afterward, Creon takes no action whatsoever to right his wrongs like Tiresias proposed, resulting in his foreseen downfall. The fact that Creon is doubtful of Tiresias is ironic in that Oedipus, his former brother-in-law, also doubted the validity of Tiresias’ prediction and ended up suffering his foretold fate as well. From the knowledge of Oedipus’ demise, Creon should have realized that what Tiresias proclaims is true, and should have taken the necessary steps to avoid the consequences of the prophecy. However, because he is hubristic and unwilling to embrace the ideas of Tiresias, Creon eventually experiences his predicted downfall, illustrating Sophocles’ theme that lack of moderation leads to tragedy. Like Sophocles, Salinger uses the iron behavior of Holden to demonstrate how failing to embrace the ideals of others results in failure. Before he explains his dream to be “the catcher in the rye,” Holden asks Phoebe if she “‘know[s] what [he’d] like to be...if [he] had a goddam choice’” (Salinger 191). In his questioning of Phoebe, who he desperately is attempting to protect from the corruptness of the adult world, Holden says “goddam.” This is an example of swearing, which is commonly associated with sin, or in Holden’s case, corruption. As “the catcher,” Holden’s ultimate goal is to protect all children from completing the transition from childhood to adulthood, thus losing their innocence and becoming corrupt. “The catcher in the rye,”
When Tiresias foresees that Creon’s actions unless corrected will cause the downfall of Thebes, Creon denies the legitimacy of Tiresias’ prophecy, stating that “‘the whole breed of prophets loves money’” (Ant. 1118). Through this malicious claim, Creon is declaring that Tiresias was bribed into making a “false” claim that foreshadows the downfall of not only Creon, but the whole city of Thebes as well. Afterward, Creon takes no action whatsoever to right his wrongs like Tiresias proposed, resulting in his foreseen downfall. The fact that Creon is doubtful of Tiresias is ironic in that Oedipus, his former brother-in-law, also doubted the validity of Tiresias’ prediction and ended up suffering his foretold fate as well. From the knowledge of Oedipus’ demise, Creon should have realized that what Tiresias proclaims is true, and should have taken the necessary steps to avoid the consequences of the prophecy. However, because he is hubristic and unwilling to embrace the ideas of Tiresias, Creon eventually experiences his predicted downfall, illustrating Sophocles’ theme that lack of moderation leads to tragedy. Like Sophocles, Salinger uses the iron behavior of Holden to demonstrate how failing to embrace the ideals of others results in failure. Before he explains his dream to be “the catcher in the rye,” Holden asks Phoebe if she “‘know[s] what [he’d] like to be...if [he] had a goddam choice’” (Salinger 191). In his questioning of Phoebe, who he desperately is attempting to protect from the corruptness of the adult world, Holden says “goddam.” This is an example of swearing, which is commonly associated with sin, or in Holden’s case, corruption. As “the catcher,” Holden’s ultimate goal is to protect all children from completing the transition from childhood to adulthood, thus losing their innocence and becoming corrupt. “The catcher in the rye,”