In the Theban Antigone by Sophocles, the author reveals a theme that the laws of the Gods are greater than those of man. The beginning of this play shows king Creon refusing to bury Polynice on account of him attacking Thebes, this begins a conflict with Antigone; Polynice’s sister who believes that she must bury her brother sending his soul to the heavens even though fully knowing the consequences of her actions could lead to her own death, Creon discovers this treason and sentences Antigone to death, despite the numerous objections by his son Haemon and the blind prophet Theresis. Through the use of conflicts and tragedy Sophocles reveals a theme that is relevant even in a modern society. Sophocles uses the interpersonal conflict between Antigone and Creon to represent that upholding the laws of the Gods are higher than the laws of man. Creon sets laws that he believes no man is bigger than while Antigone believes that
Because of the hubris, or hurtful, over bearing pride, of each of the characters, destruction descends upon them. Antigone’s destruction comes from her being to stubborn to back down, but Creon’s downfall comes from attempting to be just and right by enforcing the law. Since Creon acted as he thought right and just, then suffered tragedy because of an error he made, he displays the image of a tragic hero. Antigone is the law of the gods in her beliefs. She also holds her family above the laws of man.
The king’s rule was unjust in the eyes of Antigone. Antigone tries to bury her brother, who asked Antigone, in Oedipus at Colonus, to give him a proper burial if he was killed in battle. Antigone was fulfilling a promise she gave her brother and a creditable one. Event thought it was against the will of Creon, the king, Antigone was right to defy this law. There is a distinction between the laws of man and the laws of god.
Creon, the tragic hero, performs actions with a very clouded judgment. Haimon and Therieseis notice his foolishness early on and attempt to correct him but he refuses to admit his faults. Because Creon became king for his blood and not ability, he has no sense of how a king is suppose
There were times where Bone recalls “afterward, Mama would cry and wash my face and tell me not to be so stubborn, not to make him so mad” (Allison 110) which places the blame completely on Bone. I think the biggest factor into engagement was Anney’s refusal to leave Glen even after she knew, Bone’s lack of identity, the pre-existing idea that the family was trash, and her constant desire to please her mother even telling her mother “I could never hate you” after she witnesses the abuse. As Bone gets older she finds even more reason to blame herself for the abuse. She even blames her looks saying that her ugliness explains why Daddy Glen is
When Creon forbids the burial rites of her beloved brother Polynices, she fails to comply with his demands, and goes out of her way to give him a proper burial. She knows the dire consequences of death if she disobeys Creon’s orders, but “she shows her father’s stubborn spirit; to not give away when everything’s against her.” Antigone even goes as far as to speak out against the King, by stating that his ‘edicts are not strong enough” because his laws do not overrule those of the gods. “She [I] knows her [my] duties… where true duty lies”, and Creon has “no right to keep her [me] from her [my] own.” Her determination and her pride is so immense, that she is not frightened of her possible death if caught going against the King. She also justifies her action by saying she is fulfilling her fate of the family curse. “This is the expiation…for the sin of my [your] father.” She is abiding in the wills of the gods and respects all their laws.
and quit my sight...Which thou dost glare with!”, a quote that displays Macbeth running in an endless stream of self-doubt and conflict over the death of Banquo. Many believe this scene to be one that of the king’s last sense of morality, the feeling of pain and hallucination of fearing the loss of power that murdering a friend seems justifiable. The lack of honor Macbeth held for his subjects continued on, his interests never aligning with the responsibilities of the crown, but who to be rid of in order to maintain it. Not even in the last few moments of his life did Macbeth hold honor toward Scotland or the respect that is entailed by his majesty. “Then yield thee, coward,” Macduff began in the final fight scene.
This play suggested that familial values and love dominate political values. Antigone had a strong sense of duty to her family that made her to disobey Creon and to respectfully bury Polyneices, her brother and willing to die for dignity and a display against the authority. The play called that civil disobedience is tolerable and that justice can not be given by an unsuitable, tyrannical man.
Creon may think she is just as stubborn as her father Oedipus once was. But, she had to have a real burial for her brother rather than him just rotting away. King Creon asks her: “Did you by any chance act on the assumption, Antigone that a daughter of Oedipus, a daughter of Oedipus’ stubborn pride, was above the law?” Antigone answers back, “No, I did not act on that assumption. Creon answers back, “Because if you had acted on that assumption, Antigone, you would have been deeply wrong. Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law-makers, a daughter of Kings, Antigone.
Thus, all of the mistakes he made from the beginning and not seeing each one he was making, it leads him into death. Macbeth is a man blinded by his ambitions. Every step he took made people be suspicious of him and not want him as a king, for the way he was. He was unaware of death getting close to him. Due to this he payed the consequences by his head being slaughtered.