Polynices

battle against each other and only one is given a burial. Eteocles has been given full military honors (28). “Polynices, who died miserably is left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that scan the field and feast to their heart’s content” (31-35). One brother is buried while the other is left unburied and not honored. Antigone is not happy with this and vows to give her brother Polynices a burial. Her defiance is not what a woman is expected to do. Just as the Athenian woman, Antigone…

In Antigone, Antigone’s idea of a good life revolved around honor. She chose to honor Polynices instead of living her life. Creon chose that public recognition was more important than his family. Everybody has a different view on the good life. Some people’s idea of the good life is a financially prosperous life, and they believe that happiness…

associated with the term. In Sophocles’s play Antigone, it is the character of Creon that is affected most by the trouble that wisdom brings. In the beginning of the play, it is he who disrespects the gods by his decision not to bury his nephew, Polynices, and indirectly,…

values. However, the subsequent events of the play demonstrate that some duties are more fundamental than the state and its laws. The duty to bury the dead is part of what it means to be human, not part of what it means to be a citizen. That is why Polynices’ rotting body is an “obscenity” rather than a crime. Moral duties—such as the duties owed to the dead—make up the body of unwritten law and tradition, the law to which Antigone appeals. Creon’s penitent wailings in the final lines of…

Sophocles's Theban plays demonstrate mastery of tragic irony, character development, and plot. The story surrounds Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who murders his father and sleeps with his mother, as was prophesied. The main character exhibits several character flaws which impact his actions during the play. Oedipus reflects his hubris through his intelligence and arrogance, as seen in his treatment of Tiresias and his confidence in finding the murderer of Laius. His hubris harmfully affects his…

Sophocles is the great Greek dramatist, who gave us one of the most delightful works of human civilization - the tragedy of "Oedipus Rex". The plot revolves around a man standing, defining the topic of the tragedy - the theme of moral self-identity. The social standard is the understanding of individuals of what can impact our conduct in the everyday premise. Social standards in the public eye are tenets which, are known as the not talked but rather, learned them when you went amiss the govern…

ruler, “How, if I tolerate a traitor at home, shall I rule those abroad?”(Sophocles). Sophocles puts Creon between a rock and a hard place during this moment in Antigone, After his son, Haemon, gives him a different view on the issue of burying Polynices and freeing Antigone, Creon stands his ground but is then swayed to follow his morals. Together these two situations are nearly mirror-images of each other. In each situation, a person has to choose between their morals or the law while their…

The Yin and Yang of Sophocles’ Antigone “A round of yin, then a round of yang, that equals Tao” (Fallon). Just like yin and yang, obligation to one’s people and one’s family must be balanced in order to achieve harmony. This is best seen in Sophocles’ Antigone, where Antigone is the yin with a fatal commitment to her brother and Creon is the yang with a staunch resolve to uphold the laws of his kingdom. Both these characters are lacking a crucial element of the other, and consequently reach a…

life he followed a traditional view of ancient Greek religion and society in his tragedies. As a result we as an audience get such characters as Antigone who deviates from the role and personality of ancient Greek women. In the tragedy Antigone, Polynices is left unburied and Antigone his sister believes he must be buried because it is the will of the gods. Creon, the king of Thebes, orders that no one will bury the body, but Antigone defies him. Antigone herself is the catalyst for the action…

the play Antigone. Antigone is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles and translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. The play is about a royal family that consists of four siblings, two of which fight for control of the kingdom (Eteocles and Polynices), both brothers are killed and their uncle Creon becomes the ruler of Thebes. Creon is very angry and sentences Antigone to death. In the end Creon changes his mind after Teiresias predicts bad things for his future and runs to release…