Imagery In Antigone

“She wailed out loud that sharp sound of bitterness a bird makes when she looks in her nest and it's empty, it's a widow's bed in the baby chicks are gone”(Sophocles 515-518)

Sophocles uses a metaphor and imagery to compare Antigone to a bird as well as to emphasize Antigone's devotion to her brother. The metaphor used in this quote states, “She wailed out loud that sharp sound of bitterness a bird makes when she looks in her nest and it's empty”. the Sentry compares Antigone's cry to a bird’s to convey how distraught Antigone is to find her work undone the way a bird would be distraught to find their nest empty. the imagery used in the second half of the quote, “it's a widow's bed and the baby chicks are gone”, shows that Antigone prioritizes her brother over children or a husband. The Sentry’s comparison of Antigone to a bird, which symbolizes innocence and beauty conveys how he, and to a further extent the people of Thebes, view Antigone and her actions. The pitiful tone used in this quote also supports that the people of Thebes secretly side with Antigone which would show Kreons punishment in their opinion to be unjust. Since this is written from the point of view of the Sentry it helps the reader understand that he and the rest of Thebes motivation for their actions are their fear of Kreon’s power. This quote aids the reader in understanding the Antigone is loyal to her brother more so then she'd be to her husband or kids. It also shows that she is loyal enough to her brother to be upset that her attempt to go against Kreon was foiled. this enhances the reader's understanding of Antigone because it shows that she, unlike other Thebans values loyalty and family over law and Power.

In the same way the man who tightens the halyard and doesn’t slacken it, is capsized.”(Sophocles