Who Is Creon's Loyalty In Antigone

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Cullen Craig Professor Baldwin Literary Tradition III 28 February 2024 Divine Duty vs. Earthly Pride The discussion that I found most exciting during our class lectures was the moral debate over Sophocles’ Antigone, as she is a character that struggles to balance her conflicting demands of familial and religious duty, with those laws set by her uncle in King Creon. The question that I found most interesting during class was surrounding Antigone's attempt to bury her brother in Polynices, despite Creon's rejection of the idea. Nicholas argued in favor of Antigone, as he emphasized her complete loyalty to familial duty and divine law, which are both in favor of a proper burial. While some may be sympathetic towards Creon's notion of prioritizing law and order over his own family, I personally agree with Nicholas on this …show more content…
Despite the dangers associated with her desire, this unyielding determination truly shows her loyalty to her family. This fiery passion is represented when she stated, "I will bury him myself." And even if I die in the act, that death will be glory" (Lines 85-86). Antigone's willingness to sacrifice her own life, fully demonstrates her deep love to preserve her family's honor, this familial bond is something that proves to be more powerful than the decree of the king. The sanctity and honor of a family is a very important aspect of Greek mythology, as the dishonoring of the family could bring serious consequences from the gods. This very aspect is what Creon neglects when making his judgment over the situation, as he completely neglects these values in favor of his own earthly authority. Lastly, Antigone's actions are not solely driven by family duty, but also deeply embedded within divine

What Is Creon's Reason In Antigone

reason, in the play Antigone, the king, Creon, is largely viewed as the play’s antagonist because he does not allow for the religious burial of his nephew, Polyneices. Thus, his motivations often clash with the more religious citizens in his city, such as his niece, Antigone, who defies Creon and buries her brother despite his edict that anyone who does so will be put to death. In Sophocles’s play Antigone, Creon’s complex character…

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Essay On Antigone Vs Creon

survived. Among these was the play Antigone. The tragedy follows a young woman named Antigone as she fights her newly appointed uncle King Creon for a proper burial of her brother Polyneices. He does not receive a proper burial unlike his brother Eteocles due to the fact that he is viewed as a traitor to Thebes. Creon and Antigone both display the qualities of a tragic hero, but Creon would be more qualified. First off, both characters are born into nobility. Creon’s noble background puts him in the…

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Authority In Antigone

Antigone is a greek tragedy written by Sophocles around 400 B.C.E. The main character is a woman named Antigone who lives in a time when women had only one right, burial of family members. All throughout the story Antigone struggles whether to bury her brother and respect family over authority, or to follow Creon’s law; which in the end, reveals that Sophocles values family over Authority. In the story, Antigone feels a tremendous obligation to her family. She wants to bury her brother, Polyneices…

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Antigone vs Creon Essay

Christy Mrs. Yoshiyama English 2; Period 1 30 October 2013 Loyalty or Morals: Which is More Important? Being a big part of a kingdom or being part of family forces one to have responsibilities and duties that are needed to be fulfilled. In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Antigone, Antigone has the responsibility of being loyal to her brother, Polyneices. However, Creon has the responsibility of being loyal to the people of Thebes. Therefore, both Antigone and Creon have been loyal to whom they have wanted to…

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Creon Antigone Analysis

Chanakya, an old teacher, philosopher and royal adviser, once said, “It is better to be without a king, than to have a bad one.” In the traditional play Antigone written by Sophocles in 442 B.C.E., it can be argued whether or not the city of Thebes is better off without Creon as a ruler. In the play, Creon has proven himself to be a strict and conceded ruler, taking no opinion but his own. Many of his loyal subjects are frightened by him and prefer not to endure his company. The Sentry, too afraid…

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Antigone: The Tragic Hero

Antigone is considered the hero of the play, and she has many tragic flaws which lead to her downfall making her the Tragic Hero. One of Antigone's tragic flaws is her loyalty to the gods and,her disloyalty to King Creon. At the beginning of the story, Creon says that Polynieces, shouldn't be buried because he was a traitor to his country, and traitors shouldn't be respected and honored. This is unacceptable to Antigone, as she says, “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime…

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Antigone: Capital Punishment and Antigone Essay

D. Hutchinson Professor K. English 110 2/15/2013 Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone introduces us to the main character Antigone. She shows many characteristics and distinctions that allow her to break the boundaries of the typical Athenian woman. Although Antigone may be a woman, she is portrayed as the brave, headstrong, and courageous woman Sophocles intended her to be. Antigone’s decision to bury polyneices shows her rejection to the state’s idealized image of the…

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Essay on Antigone: Sophocles and Creon

Creon and Antigone are both honorable people and yet, both are fatally proud and that is the source of the tragedy. To what extent do you agree? During the time of Ancient Greece, tragic plays were commonly used to deliver a moral message to their audience. Sophocles’ “Antigone” demonstrates the dangers of hubris and the disaster it can cause using the conflict between the two central characters, Antigone and Creon, as the basis of the tragedy. Although they are honourable in their own different…

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Free Will In Antigone

Oedipus killed his own father, the king of Thebes, without knowing it was actually his father and then married his mother, Iocaste. Together they had four children; including a girl named Antigone-- from which the play gets it's namesake-- who is the heroine of the play discussed in this essay. When Oedipus discovered who he was and what he had done he left the kingdom and cut out his own eyes. Iocaste’s cousin, Creon, took over as King of Thebes. Creon manipulated Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices…

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What Are Antigone And Creon's Tragic Flaws

6th hour 26 September 2016 Antigone - The Tragic Flaw A tragic hero is usually a noble and influential person who meets destruction because of a personal flaw and the opposition of others. Who do you consider the tragic hero, Antigone or Creon? In the ancient Greek play, “Antigone” written by Sophocles, Antigone is described as the tragic hero. It can be debated that in the story, there are two tragic heroes; Creon and Antigone. Antigone has a few tragic flaws. Antigone is extremely loyal to the…

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