Antigone is last book in a play trilogy by Sophocles about the tragic downfall of a family. The play focuses mainly on Antigone’s conflicting motivations developing Creon as the tragic hero in the play, causing him to be greedy and power crazed and unwilling to take others opinions. This leads to Creon’s tragic downfall and the death of Antigone and others important to Creon. In the play Antigone’s motivations contrast Creon’s due to the difference in beliefs.
To analyse the hero archetype, we must first look to Greece and the poet Homer. The word 'hero' itself comes from Ancient Greece, meaning, at first, an aristocratic man, but later came to mean a specific dead person, worshipped at their tomb because of their fame during their life time. In Homer's epic poem 'The Iliad', we see one such hero in the form of Achilles, a hero that, even today, we hear stories of. This is partially because he epitomizes a specific type of hero, a Homeric hero, that follows key characteristics seen in both of Homer's 'heroic epics' (the characters Achilles and Odysseus). Achilles shows valiance, furor, individualism and pride, making him an extremely self-centred hero and in turn, making his character an extremely
Both Agamemnon and Odysseus, have wives besieged by suitors and a son who, logically, dislikes them. The story of Agamemnon parallels that of Odysseus. But Agamemnon's story turned negative: the suitor killed him and married his wife, though his son, Orestes, avenged his death. This foreshadowing effect is only a brief statement by Zeus in Zimmerman’s interpretation as time is a vital resource in a play while in an epic it is held in excess. Homer’s ability to enhance the epic with secondary characters came from years of oral history and time but pays off tenfold.
After discovering the Creon’s news that Polynices would not be allowed to receive a proper burial, condemning him to a cursed afterlife as punishment for treason, Antigone and Ismene reacted very differently. Antigone believed that Polynices deserved a proper burial and was determined to bring honor to her family and her brother, regardless of the consequences. Ismene also believed in bringing honor to her family, but had very little opinion toward Polynices’s burial. Instead, Ismene argued with Antigone that suffering for their deceased brother would solve nothing. Ismene argued that everyone in their family except themselves and their uncle, Creon, had faced death and facing it themselves would solve nothing.
Iliad, the epic poem is written by a great epic poet Homer. This poem is a classic in real terms and recounts some historic facts about the last ten years of Trojan war and the Greek siege city of Troy. Tracing back its history, Iliad is thought to be written back in 8th century B.C. and it is considered one of the earliest works in western literary tradition. It captures the scene of blood, abductions, murders, wrath of Achilles, revenge, anger and intervention of gods. The scene of warfare and blood are presented in the poem through oral tradition initially.
They were all gods of something important. Since Poseidon was the God of the sea, he had a magical trident. This trident was crafted by the Cyclopes. It was the same Cyclops that Odysseus and his men stabbed in the cave. After the Trojan War, Odysseus blamed all of the gods for not helping them through the war that lasted ten years.
Gilgamesh is an epic that has been passed down for thousands of years. The epic narrates the legendary deeds of the main character Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is two-thirds immortal and one-third mortal; however, he cannot accept his fate that one day he too will die. The entire epic tells the story of Gilgamesh’s life and searche for immortality. Through his many trials and tribulations, Gilgamesh proves that he has great physical strength.
Antigone would not accept this law, as she was proud of her brother, even though it damaged Creon’s pride. So Creon ordered her execution. Due to this showing of pride that abandons reason, Creon’s son killed himself.
On the other hand, Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, remains loyal to her lost husband. She proves this allegiance by sulking in tears in nearly every scene. Penelope, in this way, can be compared to Argos as she remains neglected out of sheer devotion. Meanwhile, the suitors feast on the kings supplies: the ultimate betrayal. Overall, characters’ behaviors are used to express how the theme drives the Epic
Do you not see how now these flowing-haired Achaeans have built a wall landward of their ships, and driven about it a ditch, and not given to the gods any grand sacrifice? Now the fame of this will last as long as dawnlight is scattered, and men will forget that
Romeo 's personality of peace, loving, yet vengeful caused his own doom once he was exiled for killing Tybalt who killed Mercutio. Thus 'evidently causing pain for Juliet who lost both her lover and cousin. Juliet 's father arranging Juliet 's marriage to Paris made her mourning worse, already being married to Romeo yet being separated made her to reason with Friar Laurence. The plan that was supposed to reunite both Lovers indefinetly brought upon their own doom. Juliet herself drank the sleeping potion when Romeo was on his way earlier than anticipated, whom bought poison upon hearing of her "death" , planning to kill himslef on her tomb alongside her.
Danielle Okuly Professor Dann Online Mythology 1222 12 December 2015 Hercules Comparison Paper Hercules is a classic Disney movie that tells a story of Zeus and Hera’s son but turned mortal due to Hades’ evil plan to take over Olympus. When Hercules finds out the truth of his family background he goes on a journey to pray to his real father Zeus. Although there are many similarities, there are quite a few differences as well.
Throughout Sophocles’ tragic play, Antigone, main characters King Kreon and Antigone dramatically argue without compromise over the burial of recently deceased brother of Antigone, Polyneices. Antigone, while attempting to mourn for her family, symbolically buries Polyneices, going against the King’s decree (93-100). Out of anger, and an effort to establish his power, Kreon sentences her to an undeserving death just because she decided to respect her kin (441-496). In this case, I sympathize with Antigone more than Kreon because she peacefully acts on her beliefs knowing the consequences at stake. It takes a lot to stand up for what you believe in, especially knowing that the outcome will not bode well for you.
Comparison of Gilgamesh and Achilles In The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Iliad, Gilgamesh and Achilles carry the burden of being powerful heroes and assume the leadership roles that follow. We see both characters make selfish decisions, experience the effects of companionship, and undergo moral change throughout their journeys. Tracing their decisions shows how they change, and more importantly exhibits what drives their change. Gilgamesh’s main internal struggle is rooted in the well being of the people of Uruk versus the well being of himself. Gilgamesh’s practice of prima nocte and lack of compassion for his people inspires resentment from the public of Uruk.
Gilgamesh is an epic of extraordinary affection, trailed by waiting sorrow that causes a critical change in character. It is the narrative of a man who is dreaded and respected, a man who cherishes and despises, a man who wins and losses and a man who lives. Gilgamesh's adventure is overwhelming, yet closes so ordinarily with death. Through Gilgamesh, the destiny of humankind is uncovered, and the unavoidable component of progress is communicated.