Values and Motives Affecting Fate From the beginning of Antigone, the sides are chosen. Creon, the new king, is motivated by his new position and feels he cannot let the people down. Antigone is motivated by her love for her family and the pain of the past. Both allow their values to run their actions despite laws being broken and family being killed. As all of this is taking place, the Chorus is there to guide the way. The Chorus acts as a director by showing the audience the scenes as they take place and then adding his comments at the end. He comments on the divide between Antigone and Creon throughout the play. As for the two main characters, their destinies are determined by their strong grip to their values and this leads to a devastating
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She has a stronger focus on her family, what little is left. As Martha Nussbaum said, “She draws, in her imagination, a small circle around the members of her family: what is inside is family,” (1919). Antigone does not see the battle between Eteocles and Polyneices as a political issue. Her concern is only with her family, therefore when Creon outlaws the burial of Polyneices Antigone feels betrayed and angry. She feels she must bury her brother as not burying him is a disgrace to the body and the soul is denied passage into the underworld (Lansky). During this time, Antigone would see this as unacceptable. She would want her brother to be buried with honor and have access to the …show more content…
The very first scene Antigone is asking her sister, Ismene to help her bury Polyneices. Antigone is brash and stepping out of her woman-role in order to act on what she believes is right. Ismene is shocked at Antigone’s plan to bury their bother. Ismene is also very hesitant and timid about the subject, as a common role of a woman according to Bobrick. This shows the difference between the two character: Antigone is a strong-headed woman who is willing to do what is right even if he leads to her death while Ismene only wishes to play by the rules and do nothing to disrespect anyone, especially the law. She is aware she would be breaking the law and is too afraid to do so. She also reminds Antigone the harsh history of their family. It seems Ismene just wants the death of her family to end and for their fate to be more
She has a stronger focus on her family, what little is left. As Martha Nussbaum said, “She draws, in her imagination, a small circle around the members of her family: what is inside is family,” (1919). Antigone does not see the battle between Eteocles and Polyneices as a political issue. Her concern is only with her family, therefore when Creon outlaws the burial of Polyneices Antigone feels betrayed and angry. She feels she must bury her brother as not burying him is a disgrace to the body and the soul is denied passage into the underworld (Lansky). During this time, Antigone would see this as unacceptable. She would want her brother to be buried with honor and have access to the …show more content…
The very first scene Antigone is asking her sister, Ismene to help her bury Polyneices. Antigone is brash and stepping out of her woman-role in order to act on what she believes is right. Ismene is shocked at Antigone’s plan to bury their bother. Ismene is also very hesitant and timid about the subject, as a common role of a woman according to Bobrick. This shows the difference between the two character: Antigone is a strong-headed woman who is willing to do what is right even if he leads to her death while Ismene only wishes to play by the rules and do nothing to disrespect anyone, especially the law. She is aware she would be breaking the law and is too afraid to do so. She also reminds Antigone the harsh history of their family. It seems Ismene just wants the death of her family to end and for their fate to be more