Creon's Core Values In Antigone

The fact that Creon overruled the burial of Polynices did not stop Antigone in the slightest from pursuing what she believed was moral. Respecting her brother in the said afterlife was her mission and she was determined to follow through. Antigone explains: “ I will bury my brother; and if I die for it, what happiness? Convicted of reverence- I shall be content to lie beside a brother whom I love “ (Lines 60-63). Although her actions would defy the commands of her ruler, she follows through with the rebellion to achieve justice for her brother.

Above all, it is the proper thing to do, to pay admiration to the dead. Antigone’s act of valor throughout the play challenged gender roles of her time. Her first action of bravery is when she insisted to bury her brother unaccompanied by her sister, “I will bury him. I will have a noble death and lie with him…” To Antigone, this was the honorable thing to do. She knew there would be consequences for her actions and she deliberately disobeyed.

Antigone defies Creon 's orders and buries her fallen brother in spite of the law forbidding the act. This action seals her fate and causes Antigone to be sentenced to death. Ultimately, what makes Antigone a tragic hero in this play are the traits she possesses which lead to her downfall. It is not necessarily her actions, but her convictions and values which cause her to be such a tragic figure. Antigone’s tragedy comes because of her unswerving loyalty to her brother, Polynices, and her determination to give him burial honors despite the personal danger.

She continues with the plan because she believes that her love for her family overrules the law. Ismene is more timid and obedient than Antigone. When Antigone was attempting to convince Ismene to help her bury their brother, she refused by saying it is too dangerous and that she doesn’t want to suffer the consequences. Ismene speaks her feelings to her sister, “They mean a great deal to me, but I have no strength to break the laws that were made for the public good” (Sophocles). This informs the reader that she doesn’t like to take risks and do ambitious things.

Antigone knew that she would be put to death if she buried Polyneices but she would rather die doing the right thing, rather than living and being surrounded with evil. Likewise, Rosa Parks believed that God was not pleased with racism and segregation. Rosa Parks thanks God that she was able to hold her ground and said, “I was fortunate God provided me with the strength I needed at the precise time conditions were ripe for change. I am thankful for Him every day that he gave me the strength not to move”(Hare 1). Rosa Parks was quiet and respectful to others, and she expected the same kind of respect in return.

In Seamus Heaney's translation of the epic poem Beowulf, descriptions of deaths are often followed by the concept of avenging the murder. Rather than pick a fight for no reason, the characters do so in the name of their fallen family member. Because of this, vengeance conveys the Viking culture’s value of loyalty to their kinsmen. When Beowulf recalls stories of the past, he focuses on the story of King Hrethel and the accidental killing of Herebeald, his eldest son, by Haethcyn, his other son. Following the tragedy, the king “begins to keen and weep for his boy” (2446-2247).

But they keep their tongues in leash.” (Page 507) When Antigone says this it shows how she will not say that people are mad at her for breaking the law, she will not give in and say she did something wrong. When Creon is told something and he choses not to believe it he says the other person is wrong and that they do not know what they are saying, this is just like Antigone. “...I have done no wrong, I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death. But if the guilt lies upon Creon who judged me, then, I pray, may his punishment equal my own.” (Page 518) Here, Antigone states that she believes she has done no wrong.

At many times people will just follow a law even if their personal beliefs are in conflict with that particular law. In Antigone by Sophocles, Ismene, Antigone’s sister and Creon’s niece, decides to follow the law not to bury Polyneices. Antigone, in disbelief, claims that Ismene that “the laws of the god mean nothing” to her. Ismene replies back to Antigone that the laws of the gods “mean a great deal to me, but I have no strength To break laws that were made for the public good.” Ismene does not believe in the law to not be able to bury Polyneices, but she still follows the law. Most children in schools under a dress code will be in compliance with the school’s policy to prevent themselves any “punishment,” “typically being removed from class or sent home.” Even if the students disagree with the school’s dress code policy, most will school to follow

“‘One nation under God’ is indisputably a statement of religious belief. By including it, the government is unconstitutionally using patriotism as a secular cover for advertising that particular belief” (Sherman). When people politely refuse to utter these words, they are often persecuted and considered as citizens lacking in nationalism. They are simply refusing to take part in the recitation of a false statement. The United States is categorized as a secular, free country, and should live up to the expectations that accompany such title.

Mama is galvanized when Beneatha announces her thinking about God : “Beneatha Mama, you don’t understand. It’s all a matter of ideas, and God is just one idea I don’t accept. It’s not important. I am not going out and be immoral or commit crimes because I don’t believe in God” (Hansberry 51). Not to mention, Beneatha is saying that she does not have faith in God and relies on herself, express that she is independent , and does not need God to solve all her problems or do the work that she has to do.