Essay on Oedipus and Antigone

Submitted By sheshes11
Words: 737
Pages: 3
Open Document
In the play Antigone the characters Antigone and Ismene have personalities that

are contradistinction of each other. In the time of the Greece's Golden Age of Drama,

women did not have the ability to speak what was on their minds. Antigone is an

outspoken person," Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (l.26). Antigone will

not at all let anyone get in her way to bury her brother Polyneices, not even Creon.

Antigone does not mind her words. "Oh, tell it. Tell Everyone!" (l.76). When Ismene

tells her that she will keep the secret of her burying Polyneices, Antigone reveals that

she wants everyone to know what she is about to do. Antigone knows what she desires

and does not care what others thinks of her. She says, "I am not afraid of the danger, if it means

death" (l.87). Antigone has no fear of death coming in the way of what she wants to

accomplish. On the other hand, Ismene is opposite compared to her sister Antigone.

Ismene has a personality that she will pleases anyone, rather then herself. She cares what

other people will think of her "But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do! (l.35)

She does not believe that her sister Antigone will bury her dead brother, Polyneices. "I have

no strength to break the law that was made for the public good" (l.66). She does not have the

courage to join with her sister Antigone. Ismene is not the muscling person in the play, she has

trouble believing what she things is right. When Antigone is going to be sentences to death, Ismene

says, "What do I care for life when you are dead" (l.156). She comes to her sense that life without her

"armor," Antigone, she is a nonentity in the world. Laws to follow are a main part of the Ancient Greek belief system. Antigone's main goal in the

play is to bury her brother Polyneices. Antigone tells her sister about that "Creon

buried...their brother Eteocles" (l.32), She knows that is the right thing to do. However, Polyneices will

not get the proper burial to go the underworld. Antigon's loyalty to the gods is as strong

as her devotion to her family. When she appeals to her sister for help in burying

Polyneices, she explains the plan she has in mind: "But I will bury him; and if I must die,/

I say that this crime is holy"(l.88). Antigone defends her love to her family and says this comes

before the laws. Proclaiming that she will "bury the brother I love" (l.69) even if it brings death,

shows her strong beliefs. Antigone tells Creon, "That rules the world below makes no such laws"(l.66)

that when death comes, his laws will not be important to the gods. On the other hand, Ismene follows the

laws of the man. She does not have the
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Oedipus and Antigone

Oedipus And Antigone Analysis

Two of these seven plays are Oedipus the King and Antigone, which both have very similar themes. Oedipus the King takes place in a city called Thebes where a plague occurs. The king of Thebes, Oedipus, is trying to save his city, trying to figure out what is causing these tragic events, but he is blind to the fact that he is the problem. In the play Antigone, Creon, the new king, has a tragic flaw very similar to Oedipus’s, which is arrogance. Oedipus’s daughter Antigone wants to bury her brother Polyneices…

Words 1092 - Pages 5

Oedipus And Antigone Relationship

valued and honored by their children, yet in others the roles are reversed. Throughout the entire story Oedipus is led by his strong willed daughter Antigone; it is her job to make sure that his whereabouts are safe and essentially handicap accessible. Once leading him to the holy ground, Antigone helps her father connect with those in power that can help better his exile circumstance. Antigone, who we know is tremendously family oriented, must feel an obligation to take care of her father; she seems…

Words 409 - Pages 2

Antigone The Role Of Fate In Oedipus

1. With reference to the text, compare the role of fate in Oedipus the King and The Eumenides. Explain what the idea of fate shows us about human nature and/or the situation of choice. It is acceptable for this answer to treat the Furies as ‘human’ rather than ‘god’ but you can also think of them as gods. The role of fate in Oedipus the King and The Eumenides correlates with one another because it is pre-determined that Oedipus and Orestes would kill their parents. The concepts of Greek philosophy…

Words 984 - Pages 4

Oedipus and Antigone Essay

Journal 3 Antigone goes against Creon because she does not want to see her brother rot in the desert. She believes that he should be buried, and considering he is family, how could she bare to know that he is going through such “pain?” She happens to not even care about whether Creon will execute her or not, because she believes that if she dies, she will be dying in honor. That she will be proud of her actions, because she decided to do the right thing. She figures that, she’d rather die now…

Words 1195 - Pages 5

Oedipus and Antigone Essay

JT and Jordan Argument 3 Block 2 Antigone Is Justified Antigone was courageous and willing to die for her cause. She thinks burying her brother was the right thing to do. When she approaches her sister Ismene for help to bury Polyneices, she speaks fearlessly about her willingness to die for her cause, “But if I must bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy, I shall lie down with him in death and I shall be as dear to him as he to me” (1.2.57-60). She disobeyed Creon and buried…

Words 289 - Pages 2

Antigone: Oedipus and Father Essay

of being a conspirator in Polyneices' burial. Ismene confesses and says that she and Antigone were partners in the crime. Antigone, however, refuses Ismene's confession and says that she will not allow the penalty to fall on her sister. Indeed, she says she has witnesses from the gods of who did the work, and that she will not accept a friend who is only a friend in words. Ismene is devastated, and tells Antigone not to despise her. She says that they should die together so that they can sanctify…

Words 1471 - Pages 6

Similarities Between Oedipus Rex And Antigone

The productions Oedipus Rex and Antigone differ greatly in many topics, including their level of seriousness and dedication to original format. Despite bearing some superficial similarities, the productions Oedipus Rex and Antigone’s’ differences are made clear. First of all, Oedipus Rex goes great lengths to remain true to the original format, whereas Antigone makes minimal effort to remain authentic. For example, in Oedipus Rex, The actors use exaggerated movements and impisese every word. However…

Words 199 - Pages 1

Oedipus 'Familial Honor In Sophocles' Antigone

Antigone is an ancient Greek, tragedy play written by Sophocles. Oedipus had 4 children named Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polyneices. Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other and Eteocles received a proper burial, while Polyneices was left for the birds in a field. The King, Creon, has declared the if someone is to move the body they will be put to death. Antigone and her sister Ismene must decide what to do. Antigone and Ismene differ in their priorities and views of authority Familial Honor…

Words 298 - Pages 2

Fate In Sophocles Oedipus Rex And Antigone

meaning an inevitable outcome. As English evolved from languages like Latin, the word ‘fatum’ became what we know as fate. The idea of an inescapable outcome can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it is prominently seen in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Summary of points in order. Finish it up. Fate is inescapable because of it’s essence, which is that it is a concept made by humans. Fate is not something that is found in nature or could be assigned values. It is a concept that is very…

Words 191 - Pages 1

Oedipus Rex And Antigone Critical Lens Essay

Knowing the future can destroy a character’s life. In Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles, Laios, Oedipus, and Creon try to break free from their known destinies because they are too proud, and this leads to their overall downfall. In both plays, the characters hear prophecies that they instantly deny. By trying to alter the inevitable, they cause more suffering for themselves and the people around them. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Iocaste, Oedipus’ wife, describes how Laios received a prediction…

Words 585 - Pages 3