ipl-logo

Antigone Research Paper

405 Words2 Pages

Antigone: Gender Difference and Power
As we are all aware that for generations, gender difference and power have been an issue for centuries. That being said the play Antigone by Sophocles, displays many examples of these struggles. The main topics that will be discussed, are: Antigone’s background history in Oedipus the King, the conflict between Creon the king of Thebes and Antigone, the gender difference and power.
In order to know who Antigone is, you must know some of her and her families background, which is from the play of Oedipus the King. In Sophocles play Oedipus the King, the King Laius and his wife Jocasta, who ruled at that time had a child and was foretold by an oracle “that the child born by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother” (ancient-mythology.com). The child that was born had a birth defect leaving his legs bound together, so the King and Queen wanted to prevent this prophecy from happening so they left the baby to die on Mount Corinth. The infant boy was found by shepherds and adopted by the King of Corinth who named him Oedipus (ancient-mythology.com). Many years later Oedipus ventured to Thebes and on his way there he encountered a man and killed him. Whom was Laius …show more content…

In the beginning of the play Antigone, both brothers, Polynices and Eteocles fought each other over the throne of Thebes, and both die. According to heythropthinkingsociety.wordpress.com, Creon took over the throne after their death, Creon denied having Polynices body buried “as punishment for his rebellion against Thebes.” His body was to stay outside the city walls to decay. This outraged Antigone. She and her sister Ismene argue about Antigone’s decision to bury their bother against King Creon’s orders. Seeing it unjust to not allow her brother to be buried. So she plotted to bury Polynices deifying the

Show More
Related

Religious Law In Sophocles 'Antigone'

734 Words | 3 Pages

In the story of Antigone, Eteocles and Polyneices are both fighting to be the king of Thebes. They both die in the fight but Eteocles is buried while Polyneices is left to the vultures. Antigone is both Polyneices and Eteocles’ sister, With both brothers dead the throne was given to their uncle Creon, who believes Polyneices is a traitor and should not have a burial. Antigone strongly disagrees with Creon, thus sneaking out and giving him a proper burial. This action was considered punishable by death.

Read More

Similarities Between Antigone And Creon

543 Words | 3 Pages

This doing was by Creon her uncle who crowned himself king, which is part of his downfall. Antigone believes it’s her duty to bury Polyneices because she is his sister, but Creon believes Polyneices is the enemy. In Antigone the play, Creon says “He’ll be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate. ”(lines 234-236) and also Antigone says “No, no.

Read More

What Is Creon's Responsibility In The Burial At Thebes

601 Words | 3 Pages

As king of Thebes, it is an absolute duty to uphold command and peace within his territory. Part of this responsibility is to execute orders and to punish any wrongdoers who chose to defy the orders. In the play, “The Burial at Thebes”, it follows princess Antigone who recently lost both her brothers. While one brother was given a proper burial, Polynices, the second brother, was forbidden to be buried by King Creon. Despite the king’s order were that if anyone were to bury Polynices, they would receive a death sentence, Antigone disregarded the warning and buried him.

Read More

Creon's Culture Of Death In Antigone

1318 Words | 6 Pages

After Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other in battle, King Creon has only Eteocles properly buried but proclaimed regarding Polyneices: “No Burial of any kind. No wailing, no public tears. Give him to the vultures, unwept, unburied, [to] be a sweet treasure for their sharp eyes and beaks” (Sophocles 2-3). Despite Creon’s direct orders and threat of stoning, Antigone covers Polyneices’s body in a layer of dirt as a sign, similar to the process described in “Ancient Greek Burial Customs.” When Ismene, Antigone’s sister, asks why she is so willing to risk her life for the dead, Antigone reasons that she “must be good to those [who] are below” because she “will be there longer than with [her]” (Sophocles 4).

Read More

Sacrifice In Antigone

765 Words | 4 Pages

In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, burial customs of the ancient Greeks play an extensive role. The women of the family perform the burial rites, and believed that if their distinct methods were not followed, the soul is destined to suffer between worlds until the correct rites were performed. Antigone, the sister of Polynices and Eteocles, is aware of this and is not going to stand by and let her brother, Polynices, linger between worlds in pain, after being killed by Eteocles. With her ambition and determination she does the deed, and of doing so she follows the god's laws, but breaks Creon’s laws in the midst of it. Creon is also aware of the burial rites but still decides, through his stubbornness, that Polynices shall not be performed these rites, because of his actions against Thebes.

Read More

Antigone Gender Roles Essay

1218 Words | 5 Pages

In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone and Creon are the main characters, each a girl and a boy. Antigone is an assertive and bold young woman in her community where women are seen as just subjects. Creon perceives women as beneath him. Sophocles portrays the women in the play with no rights nor any freedom. Gender roles are portrayed over and over in the play by blatantly disrespecting women and giving men all the power.

Read More

Argumentative Essay On Antigone

765 Words | 4 Pages

Would you follow a law if it serves no purpose to you or others? or if you felt that it was wrong to a certain group or ethnicity? 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. As said in lines 165-175 Creon states “Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied.” Being as how both brothers fought fighting for their beliefs they should both get a proper military honored burial as believed by their sister Antigone.

Read More

Character Determination In Antigone

813 Words | 4 Pages

So now Antigone when she is done burying Polynices ( Sophocles 751). This shows determination of Antigone because she is wanting to bury him and that she was

Read More

Theme Of Civil Disobedience In Antigone

1786 Words | 8 Pages

In the play, Antigone, daughter of Oedipus learns about the death of her two brothers (Eteocles and Polynices).Creon, the new king of Thebes passed a decree to the city on the burial of the two brothers. In the decree, Creon declares that Eteocles body should be buried with honor and fame for his courage of saving the city from the enemy. Whiles Polynices body is left unburied and rotting for beasts to feed on because he came to destroy the city and enslave the people. Antigone defies Creon 's decree, buries Polynices body and gets caught. Creon imprisons her

Read More

Who Is Creon's Loyalty In Antigone

318 Words | 2 Pages

Some may say that Polyneices was a traitor well he is, that 's the reason why Creon wants Polyneices not buried. She was trying to look out for her family but, her uncle did care about this. Most people would have done the same thing. Antigone is correct for bold rebellion to bury her brother because she was loyal to the gods, what her religion was and her family means to her.

Read More

Examples Of Respect In Antigone

827 Words | 4 Pages

Antigone was forced to respect the law. She broke the law that states” Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied; and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like” scene 1 line 169-173. This says that if you bury Polyneices, who was Antigone’s brother would be punished. So they are

Read More

Creon's Mistakes In Antigone

686 Words | 3 Pages

The burial of Polyneices is viewed nobly, yet Antigone is not faultless in that act. One of Antigone’s largest mistakes is that she burns bridges with those that care about her. Pleading with Antigone, Ismene laments “why would I care to live when you are gone?” (548). Antigone dismisses this heartfelt plea by deferring Ismene to Creon, thus isolating herself from her only kin.

Read More

Antigone Sacrifice Essay

385 Words | 2 Pages

When people defend what they believe in or who they love that is sacrifice. In order to be certain that her two brothers she loved had a proper burial and that their souls could rest, Antigone sacrificed her life. Regardless of the potential outcome; even if that means that she was going to have to challenge her uncle (King Creon), she plans on pursuing her quest. Polynices and Eteocles killed each other in battle for control over Thebes, leaving the city to the new King, Creon Jocasta’s brother and Antigone’s uncle. Because of the actions that Polynices took during the war, Creon labels him a traitor and halts any burial process, leaving his body for the animals (222-234).

Read More

Internal Conflict In Antigone

759 Words | 4 Pages

In Antigone, there was two brothers who shared being the King and one of the brothers, Polynices, wanted to start a war with the kingdom because he wanted to be the main ruler. Polynices and his brother Eteocles fight and they both end up killing each other. Their Uncle Creon, who takes position as King when they are both killed, decides that only Eteocles will have a proper burial and Polynices will be left to rot. Antigone, Polynices and Eteocles sister, thinks that Creon’s decision is unfair and takes upon herself to give Polynices a proper burial. When their other sister Ismene finds out, she is stuck between helping her sister bury their brother and following Creon’s demands.

Read More

Essay On Justice In Antigone

1224 Words | 5 Pages

The search for justice is never ending. Justice may be delayed, denied, or postponed, however, the search is timeless. To be just is to argue for fair rights for all. It is to be someone that will help the people of the community. However, many times justice is not sought and not given to those who need it most.

Read More

More about Antigone Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document