Two major themes that run throughout Sophocles’ play Antigone are loyalty and power. Loyalty and power are what drive the play forward; this theme affects not only Antigone, but Creon as well. Both Antigone and Creon are affected by this conflict, but in different ways. Antigone is first introduced to us as a young and loyal girl to bother her brother and the gods, that only wants to make sure both her brothers have a proper burial; according to the laws placed by the gods if someone does not receive a burial there will be no way for family members to reconnect with them in their life after death. Creon, who is the king and Antigone’s uncle, sets a law in place that no one is to bury or even mourn the death of Polynices. Creon is refusing Polynices
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The law political law Creon set in place goes directly against the law of the gods. It is Creon’s pride and power and the loyalty of his son Haemon to Antigone that causes Creon grief. Antigone goes against Creon’s law, which ultimately leads to the tragic ending. As the play progresses we see how both Antigone and Creon’s decisions have devastating consequences. The theme of loyalty in Antigone causes an issue not only for Antigone, but a conflict between Antigone and her sister. It is Antigone’s loyalty to her brother and the law of the gods that push the plot of the play forward. Upon hearing the law that Creon has set in place denying her brother of a burial Antigone seeks out the help of her sister, Ismene. While discussing with her sister Ismene to help her bury their brother, Antigone states, “ I have longer/ to please the dead than please the living here:/ in the kingdom down below …show more content…
Creon has always listen to the advice Thesias has given before; however, when Thesias tells him he must bury Polynices and let Antigone go Creon says, “You and the whole breed of seers are mad for money!” (Pg.1135, ln. 1171). Creon is accusing the prophet of being a liar and that he just wants money. Thesias is explaining to Creon how he has been un-loyal to the gods and for that he will pay unless he lets go of his pride. Thesias states, “ … a corpse for a corpse given in return, since you [Creon] have…/ ruthlessly lodged a living soul [Antigone] within the grave-/ then you robbed the gods below the earth,/ keeping a dead body here in the bright air,/ unburied, unsung, unhallowed by the rites” (Pg.1135, ln. 1185-1190). Thesias is saying that the gods will take the life of Haemon since Creon put Antigone in a cave to either kill herself or starve to death and left Polynices unburied not letting the gods of death have the body. It takes Creon some more convincing before he lets go of his power and will listen to the prophets advise.
There are many contributing facts to the tragic ending of the play Antigone. Loyalty and power both play an important role. It is Antigone’s loyally to her brother and the gods that leads causes her death, but the fact that Creon is overcome by power until it is to late also needs to
The law political law Creon set in place goes directly against the law of the gods. It is Creon’s pride and power and the loyalty of his son Haemon to Antigone that causes Creon grief. Antigone goes against Creon’s law, which ultimately leads to the tragic ending. As the play progresses we see how both Antigone and Creon’s decisions have devastating consequences. The theme of loyalty in Antigone causes an issue not only for Antigone, but a conflict between Antigone and her sister. It is Antigone’s loyalty to her brother and the law of the gods that push the plot of the play forward. Upon hearing the law that Creon has set in place denying her brother of a burial Antigone seeks out the help of her sister, Ismene. While discussing with her sister Ismene to help her bury their brother, Antigone states, “ I have longer/ to please the dead than please the living here:/ in the kingdom down below …show more content…
Creon has always listen to the advice Thesias has given before; however, when Thesias tells him he must bury Polynices and let Antigone go Creon says, “You and the whole breed of seers are mad for money!” (Pg.1135, ln. 1171). Creon is accusing the prophet of being a liar and that he just wants money. Thesias is explaining to Creon how he has been un-loyal to the gods and for that he will pay unless he lets go of his pride. Thesias states, “ … a corpse for a corpse given in return, since you [Creon] have…/ ruthlessly lodged a living soul [Antigone] within the grave-/ then you robbed the gods below the earth,/ keeping a dead body here in the bright air,/ unburied, unsung, unhallowed by the rites” (Pg.1135, ln. 1185-1190). Thesias is saying that the gods will take the life of Haemon since Creon put Antigone in a cave to either kill herself or starve to death and left Polynices unburied not letting the gods of death have the body. It takes Creon some more convincing before he lets go of his power and will listen to the prophets advise.
There are many contributing facts to the tragic ending of the play Antigone. Loyalty and power both play an important role. It is Antigone’s loyally to her brother and the gods that leads causes her death, but the fact that Creon is overcome by power until it is to late also needs to