Antigone essay. Reflection on the Sophocles' Antigone Free Essay Example 2022-10-31

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Antigone is a play written by Sophocles in the 5th century BCE. It tells the story of Antigone, a young woman who defies the orders of her uncle, the King of Thebes, in order to bury her brother Polynices. Polynices had been killed while fighting against Thebes, and the King had decreed that his body was to be left unburied as a punishment.

Antigone believes that it is her duty to her family and to the gods to give her brother a proper burial, even if it means going against the laws of the state. She argues that the laws of the gods are higher than the laws of man, and that she has a moral obligation to follow her conscience.

This conflict between individual conscience and the laws of the state is a central theme in the play. Antigone's actions spark a debate about the nature of justice, and whether it is more important to follow the laws of the state or to follow one's own sense of right and wrong.

On one hand, the King and his supporters argue that it is necessary to maintain order and stability in society by enforcing the laws of the state. They view Antigone as a threat to this stability, and believe that her actions must be punished in order to uphold the authority of the state.

On the other hand, Antigone and her supporters argue that it is more important to follow one's own moral principles, even if it means going against the laws of the state. They believe that it is better to do what is right, even if it is difficult or unpopular, than to do what is easy or convenient.

Ultimately, the conflict between Antigone and the King is resolved when Antigone is sentenced to death for her actions. However, the play leaves the question of who was right and who was wrong open to interpretation. Was Antigone justified in disobeying the laws of the state in order to follow her own conscience? Or was the King justified in enforcing the laws of the state, even if it meant punishing someone who was acting out of a sense of duty and honor?

In the end, Antigone remains a timeless tale of the conflict between individual conscience and the demands of society. It is a story that continues to resonate with audiences today, as we struggle to balance our own sense of what is right with the expectations and demands of the world around us.

Sophocles’ Antigone

antigone essay

You get the sense that you really know and understand them even if they are not present in front of you on the stage. As the king, he seems to care more about the loyalty and the obedience of the laws in his city than his own proper family. Antigone meets the second requirement of a tragic heroine, by fulfilling the criteria of being neither entirely good nor completely bad. They both remind me of how a lot of humans do these days. Some could argue that people are just trying to be mindful of the vulnerable people who are not capable of saving themselves, but some could disagree and say that women and children are the future in society.


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Antigone Essay Examples

antigone essay

Creon realizes his mistakes and goes to repair them. She tried to enlist Ismene to help her, but Ismene was to afraid. . Some characters become so involved with their goals that they forget of any other options and accept harsh penalties for their actions. Yet this encomium to the victory of Thebes through Zeus has a cunningly critical edge. Society Ismene faces this conflict of conscience vs.

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Reflection on the Sophocles' Antigone Free Essay Example

antigone essay

Each of the plays ended in some sorts of fatalities, but. Although no one would help her, Antigone took a stand against injustice and honored her brother by burying him, even though Creon said this act would be punishable by death if anyone committed this act of insubordination. As we see pride lead to the destruction of both Antigone and Creon. The better would be Creon because he has more tragic hero traits then antigone. Another variant is to write about Antigone as a strong female character depicted by different authors in their literary works. I relate to her emotion-fueled decision because I would do the same if I were in her shoes, and I can understand why she would disregard Creon. The chorus explains the existed battle that transmitted between Eteocles and Polyneices.

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Free Essay: Antigone

antigone essay

She got word that her brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, were going to fight each other until one was dead. Creon becomes even more stubborn and tells his son that he is foolish to let a woman seduce him. The main character I am going to be focusing on is Antigone. But the protagonists in the two texts develop different attitudes towards death. Antigone is the protagonist who believes that it is better to disobey a law from the king than to disobey a principle. He makes an immense mistake by having Antigone executed that triggers his demise and loses everything he loves before fixing his mistake. Although Creon's own niece turns out to be the one that went against his word, he still chooses to follow through with the punishment even though the deed Antigone did was morally right.

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Essay about Antigone

antigone essay

The body of Polyneices would be unburied. Antigone was correct in disobeying Creon because Creons Law was flawed and she had good reasons for her actions. From the very beginning of the play, Sophocles shows the importance of family over authority. Eteocles, who defended Thebes, is buried as a hero with honors. Many people know the story Antigone by Sophocles, a kingdom set in ruins as two brothers end up killing each other over a land given to them by their father. This all goes back to the characteristics of being a tragic hero.

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Sample Essay On Antigone

antigone essay

The first trait a civilization needs is a system of specialized workers. In this case, Antigone is fighting to protect philosophy while the king is fighting to protect history. He follows through with his word making the biggest mistake in his life and Antigone is sent to her death. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, he demonstrates the many ways an unjust leader can overpower those who fight for what is right Adams 1. His pride led to all the other conflicts and he was involved in every problem, whether it was family wise or ruling wise. It also presents a moral dilemma as to whether a person should follow the law of the state of the law of conscience. Once the Sentries caught her they eagerly brought the criminal to Creon.

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Antigone Essays and College Papers

antigone essay

She committed a supremely precarious action, especially for a woman. The main characters introduced in the play are of Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon. Essay On Justice In Antigone 1224 Words 5 Pages The search for justice is never ending. Imagery of Sophocles Antigone. Tiresias is trying to tell Creon his mistake which is that he didn't burry polonaises and he is punishing antigone for wanting to burry her brother.

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71 Best Antigone Essay Topics to Write About

antigone essay

They state Creon will be punished in the future for his disobedience and lack of respect for the gods, but Creon is too prideful to see his fate. His pride was what let him to his downfall and he acknowledges it far too late, not listening to what others had to say about his ruling. Would you follow a law if it serves no purpose to you or others? He regrets his actions and wishes his pride had not gotten in his way of listening to others because he knows he could have avoided all of his heartache. The piece is timeless because it shows true human nature and characteristics that are still true today. She asks Ismene her sister to join her in this act of rebellion but Ismene does not want to get in trouble for going against her kings orders so Antigone does it on her own. It is surprising to see how Antigone is willing to use whatever she has to protect what she considers right.


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Antigone Tragic Hero Essay Example (500 Words)

antigone essay

Antigone had too much pride for her family resulting in the crime of the burial of Polyneices. This infuriated Antigone because without a proper burial ones soul cannot go to the after life with the gods. At home, meanwhile, the rivalry for power between the brothers Polyneices and Eteocles begins. Antigone is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles set in the Bronze Age at the dawn of day in the royal palace of Thebes. After Creon receives advice from Teiresias, the Chorus insists that he take it, reminding Creon that Teiresias is never wrong. After being caught breaking the law, Antigone is appointed to be locked away, isolated in a cave until she dies, but she hangs herself at the end.

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Antigone Essay Sample

antigone essay

. Creon's pride is excessive and causes him to become the tragic hero of the story. Certain examples throughout the play prove this to be true, but in some instances the end result is negative. The throne has already been inherited by Creon after the death and the burial of Eteocles. Antigoné faced a dilemma of picking a side between her family. By not allowing Antigone to bury her brother, Creon loses all that is dear is to him simply because he cannot let go of his own self-importance.

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