Me: Hello Dr. Butler, I would like to interview you on your views towards Antigione for my research into classical representations of queer individuals.
Butler: Of course. If you should require any additional information about my views on this matter you can likely find my opinion in my book Antigone’s Claim.
Me: Thank you so much for your time. Well if you don’t mind would you explain how if at all your view of performativity attaches to Antigone herself?
Butler: In my opinion Antigone models the performativity of queer perfectly. She not only acts in opposition to the head of society, but her existence exists in opposition to society as a whole. Her existence is so oppositional in fact that even she recognizes her familial origins as not only cursed but having the ability to curse those related to it. Like I have stated in my article Criticaly Queer, "The resignification of norms is thus a function of their inefficacy, and so the question of subversion, of working the weakness in the norm, becomes a matter of inhabiting the practices of its re-articulation.” This relates back to the
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So her religion is what is truly queer-like. Would that therefore make all of Hades followers Queer? Or all non-worshipers of Zeus queer?
Butler: Potentially. If being queer is but one part that constitutes the self then it is possible for something to be queer that is not a person or individual. Under these rules, it could be that Antigione’s religious views are what are truly queer. Her religious views exist in exact opposition to the dominant discourses around her. As I stated in my article Critically Queer, “The hyperbolic conformity to the command can reveal the hyperbolic status of the norm itself, indeed, can become the cultural sign by which that cultural imperative might become legible.”
Me: Thank you Dr. Butler for this very insightful interview. I will be sure to send you a transcript of this for your own records. Have a wonderful
Juan Gonzalez, one of the men who had a homosexual relationship with Dr. Gonzalez, confessed to his sins and was then garroted and burned at the stake (Spurling, 48). Dr. Gonzalez exercised aggressive agency by having these homosexual relationships and using his power to dodge legal punishment by the ecclesiastical court. Gonzalez was part of a close knit circle that benefited off his well-maintained reputation and socioeconomic status, accordingly giving him a defense system to protect himself (Spurling, 55). The normative dimensions of a man with Dr. Gonzalez’ responsibilities were challenged almost entirely when el pecado nefando was committed multiple times. In conclusion, justice was reached in the case of Dr. Gonzalez, although it serves almost as an archetype of defiant actions being taken against the social structure, all due to a sexually intimate
Sophocles play “Antigone” introduces a lot of debatable topics such as Human law vs Divine laws, pride, but most importantly the topic of woman’s movement for empowerment. Long before 442 B.C.E, women were belittled because of their gender however, after the birth of “Antigone” it demonstrated a strong outreach towards women and their roles in society ”Antigone, a woman who defines King Creon’s edict without any fear, doubts, or regrets. This courageous woman, the fruit of incest, has fascinated philosophers in the nineteenth century, inspired playwrights in the twentieth century, and intrigued feminist thinkers and activists for decades” (Söderbäck). Birth from a respected bloodline, Antigone doesn’t feel respected at all within her town, especially from her uncle Creon who became entitled as the King after Antigone’s blood
Influenced by her works, the Economist article titled “Why Lesbians Flock to Lesbos” explains that fans of Sappho’s work began using her likeness as a demonym in order to identify homosexual attraction between women (Anonymous 1). As a result of Sappho’s poems, many were inspired to use the word “lesbian” in order to represent themselves as women in same-sex relationships. However, though the term “lesbian” was simply used to represent homosexual relationships without negative connotations throughout history, due to the Christian evangelism that followed during the eighteenth century, our society became increasingly conservative, ultimately forcing the term “lesbian” into a
The definition of moral is this: “Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character.” But, what is right, and what is wrong? Is there a straightforward, universal answer to that? The play Antigone addresses this. The two main characters are both acting upon what they see as morally just and right.
INTRODUCTION: Open your argument to the audience and give them reason to listen on. I. Hook (Opening Statement): Get your audience’s attention! Consider a quote from the story. Are there any circumstances in which the law should be ignored?
To accept the premise of the second meaning is to undermine Antigone’s commentary on authority and dissent. Antigone as her brother’s lover has no moral or thematic point, and it means that Antigone is listening to her own personal desires rather than following a mandate from the Gods or fulfilling a sister’s role in Greek society at the time. In essence, it invalidates the point of the debate between the mortal and godly laws and it paints Antigone as a weak character motivated by a man, which is an altogether too familiar narrative that lacks the depth of the real message of the play. Antigone as a feminist hero shows the potential for everyday people to stand up to authority in order to hold them to the standard of a more just cause; a higher power even mortal humans must answer to. Whether this is interpreted as God, Gods, natural laws or unalienable rights, there is always a greater power that we hold our leaders
DP1: Within this Narrative, Antigone frequently uses the emotional values of others to convince them of what she believes to be right. The first illustration of this phenomenon is when Antigone compares her willingness to face death as the result of giving her brother an honorable burial, to her sister Ismene 's unwillingness in doing the same. The main character feels as though it is her personal and moral obligation to retrieve the afterlife that’s been taken from her brother. Therefore, she does not agree in abiding by Creon 's man-made legislation and makes it her mission to concede to the laws of the gods.
Him putting Antigone to death because she went against his power clearly shows his feminism towards women. This also shows that all males had full power over society, economy, and women, which isn’t fair. Antigone displays her feminist qualities when she goes against the most powerful male, the king Creon. Her going against him shows her disrespect for Creon, her doing this and speaking like a male figure shows her push for equality between the sexes. Antigone throughout the whole play pushed for equality but she never seemed to get what she wants.
“My journey as a celibate gay catholic” written by J. Frank Pate, delves into the author's upbringing raised in the Catholic faith since birth as well as growing up as a gay individual who follows celibacy. Although Pate grew up in a Catholic community, he felt that he lacked a strong religious foundation (Pate, 2023, p.2). Pate knew from a young age that he was gay and that being gay publicly was not safe or acceptable in the Catholic community he belonged to. Furthermore, Pate realized that while attending mass, he was not exposed to an environment in which he could understand or learn about homosexuality from a religious perspective. Due to this, he stopped attending mass regularly.
She’s been openly gay since the 1970’s and has always been fighting for gay rights with her poetry.(Marilyn Hacker, 1). She especially wrote about love between two women in “[Didn’t Sappho Say Her Guts Clutched Up Like This?]”. The poem itself is pretty self-explanatory and extremely descriptive over a love between two women. This is just one of Hacker’s pieces that shows how much she cares about equality for all people. In “On Marriage”, she basically just testifies to the ideal that marriage isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, and how people just rush into the decision and celebrate something that could potentially hinder two peoples’
“I am not the man, not now: she is the man if the victory goes to her and she goes free,” Creon proclaims (541-42). This statement along with many others found in Antigone represent the ideas of how different genders play a part in ancient Greece. Sophocles powerfully compares the voice of Creon, the Chorus, Ismene, and Antigone to demonstrate the differences of opinion and beliefs surrounding the idea of masculinity and femininity. Through both Creon’s and Antigone’s beliefs surrounding the issues of gender bias and inequality, Sophocles attempts to transform the set definitions of masculinity and femininity that existed in ancient Greece by contrasting what it was then to what he wants it to become.
Antigone challenges this stigma in Ancient Greek society throughout the play. A man was considered more superior than women and had more rights in society. For example, Ismene admits to herself that women are oppressed and can’t fight with men.
She calls her daughter a “slut” and wants her to see she is not a boy. She tells her, “on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming; don’t sing benna in Sunday school; you mustn’t speak to wharf-rat boys...” (180). She must keep her reputation up. She thinks her daughter already knows too much about sexuality and that she is being disobedient by singing the benna in Sunday school.
Joey Cho Mrs. Middleton English 10 17 October 2016 Persuasive Research Essay Outline Introduction LGBT/ same-sex marriage is one of the most heated and controversial debates in our current society. Unlike the past thousands of years whereas marriage was defined as a legal union between a man and a woman, now the concept of marriage has been extended to a broader context. “Homosexuality” in most cultures is viewed as a disgrace, and it is often considered as a great sin from a religious aspect.
The play Antigone written by Sophocles is a Greek tragedy which incorporates themes of divine law vs. man made law ,conventional role of a woman vs. a defiant role portrayed by a woman, but the very essence of the play and other major themes are created with the defiance of the conventional role of women shown by Antigone. This is the primary aim of the essay. A little insight into the Greek society gives us a brief idea about the status of women and help do a comparative study with the unique character of Antigone and her role in the development of the plot. Women in ancient Greek were considered inferior to men in every sphere ,from the intellect to the physical state. Their freedom was monitored by the dominating male in the family