Family Vs Authority In Antigone

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Today if you were to ask someone the question “family or authority?” One would say family without even having to think. However, in the play “Antigone” written by Sophocles, many would hesitate to pick family. They may even pick to abide by the rules over family. The characters Antigone, Ismene, Haemon and Creon must choose what is more important to them; their family or authority. Throughout the play, both are extremely important to each character, but family happens to dominate obeying the laws of Thebes. Antigone, the protagonist of the play, is loyal to her family from the beginning. Upon hearing the news that her brother, Polynices, will be left unburied and left to rot, she has one mission. Antigone is determined to bury her brother, aware that she is breaking Creon, her uncles, rule. Antigone is also aware of the consequences of her actions, which may result in death. However, her determination remains fierce. When Antigone asks her sister, Ismene, for help, she mentions that “if I die for it, what happiness” (128), showing Antigone's willingness to die for…show more content…
Oedipus, from the play “Oedipus” also written by Sophocles, asks Creon, his brother in-law, to take care of his two daughters Antigone and Ismene. Creon happens to keep his word and continues to care for the two girls right up until the conflict that arises in the play “Antigone.” Creon also reveals his bond between himself and his son, Haemon. Once Creon announces Haemon's soon to be wife, Antigone's execution, Creon asks Haemon if they're “Still friends, in spite of everything, my son?”(143). Towards the end of the play, Creon's inability to recognize the love that ties Antigone to her brother results in his downfall, and he is left to suffer with the loss of his family. Sophocles shows through the character of Creon that if you do not put family first, you will not have a family at

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