Polynices

In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses the Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero as a guideline for the characters and their tragedies. Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is someone of nobility who has a tragic, fatal flaw. He believed that there are three characteristics of a tragic hero: Hamartia, hubris, and peripeteia. Hamartia is a tragic flaw that causes the downfall of a hero; hubris is excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order of things; peripeteia is the…

Oedipus the King is a tragedy outlining the fall of Oedipus as he discovers his true identity. The drama focuses on his inability to see past his own ignorance, thus leading to disastrous consequences. As outlined in Aristotle’s Poetics, the mark of a good tragedy is represented by an error done by the protagonist. In the play, dramatic irony emphasizes Oedipus’ compulsion for knowledge which is hindered by his own ignorance, thus resulting in his loss of reputation. Throughout the play, Oedipus…

The Mithridatic Wars were fought during the first century BC between Rome and the Kingdom of Pontus, ruled by King Mithridates VI. Mithridates was betrayed by his own son, and the Kingdom of Pontus eventually lost to Rome, after which Mithridates took his own life (Simpson). The poem “Rain of Statues”, written by Sarah Lindsay, tells a story about the soldiers who fought and died during these wars. “Rain of Statues” gives the reader the idea that people are often viewed as being no different…

Antigone’s Love Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. In the beginning of the book, we find out that Antigone’s brothers have slaughtered each other in war. One of the brothers, Polyneices is considered a traitor and Creon, the king, refuses to give him a proper burial. Antigone decides to disobey the king and give her brother a proper burial. Antigone loves the idea of a noble death and it drives her decision-making at the end of her life. Her death had a major impact on the city and…

Despite its ancient origins, Sophocles’ play Antigone provides a case study through which to examine issues of politics, power, sovereignty, and justice. The final of Sophocles’ trilogy “Three Theban Plays,” the first record of Antigone is around 442 BCE, during the height of Athenian democracy. The play centers around Antigone’s decision to disobey her future father-in-law and king, Creon, in order to give her brother Polyneices, who is branded a traitor and is forbade a proper burial. One of…

The gods secured Oedipus’ fate. When anyone attempts to change their fate they do the exact opposite and trigger the events to occur. Oedipus caused his first ordained prophecy to come to fruition only when he attempted to stop it from happening. As the book progresses the reader reads how a man slowly comes to terms with fate and stops fighting prophecy. In Sophocles’ play The Oedipus Cycle, he creates the dynamic character Oedipus showing that no one can run from prophecy. The beginning of…

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear knowing what must be done does away with fear.” Rosa Parks said this quote knowing she could not let fear stop her from doing what was just. In Antigone and with Rosa Parks, they did not let fear control their actions, they made it their responsibility to stand up for what they believed in. Rosa Parks and Antigone are similar and diverse in different ways. The two of them both disregarded the rules to accomplish…

Hook. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the eponymous title character buries her brother Polyneices, even though the king had made a law stating that no one shall bury him, as he is a traitor to his state. In the real world, the Taliban tried to ban girls’ schooling in the Swat Valley in Pakistan, and resident Malala Yousafzai spoke up through a blog, fighting for every youth’s right to quality education. She was nearly killed when she was shot by the Taliban; however, she managed to recover.…

In “Antigone” Polyneices and Eteocles, two brothers in Thebes' war, both have been killed in battle. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, has stated that Eteocles will be buried and Polyneices left on the battlefield, so animals will destroy the body. Antigone and Ismene are the sisters of the dead brothers and now have to decide what to do. Antigone wants to bury Polyneices’ body, but it goes against Creon's law. Ismene refuses to help Antigone, because fear of death, but Ismene is unable to convince…

The play Antigonê by Sophocles is one of literatures’ great rebel stories about a woman that goes against an unfair king and a society that considers her gender inferior. It is a story of a tragic character of noble birth (Theban King Creon) that suffers an anguished descent from life and power basically on account of his pride. Antigonê, who is King Creon’s niece and future daughter-in-law, defies King Creon’s directive to not bury her brother Polyneices. King Creon declared that Polyneices be…