Although Antigone and Creon both exemplify the characteristics of a tragic hero, Antigone is heroic for standing up for what she believes in while Creon is cowardly. Antigone, being the tragic hero of the play, has to make the decision of giving her other brother a proper burial or not, which puts her sister, Ismene, and her life on the line. Even though Ismene says.... which means she doesn’t want to be involved with the whole situation. Antigone is careless over the whole situation even if that means burying him may kill her. She was not afraid to admit to the burial.
To fulfill ones ethical obligation at the expense of being shunned by others and the threat of being ostracized by neighbors and citizens throughout the community demonstrates a strong and confident sense of moral duty. Once Antigone made a promise to her brother that he would be buried, it then became her moral duty to follow through with that promise. Creon thought that he possessed the authority to determine who got buried and who went to the underworld, when clearly it is not at his discretion – it is the Gods who decide. The consequences of Antigone’s actions were not anything to look forward to, but she made the right decision when she carried out her promise to her brother and fulfilled her duty to the family by burying Polynices and making sure that he made
She criticizes and reproaches Macbeth about his foolish decision and eventually alters his mind by saying “What beast was’t then that made you break this enterprise to me?” By stating such phrase, she lowers Macbeth’s self-esteem and self-worth. In addition, she also brings up the issue of love to intimidate Macbeth by stating if he does not kill Duncan, he does not truly love her. This harsh yet sly comment of her confirms Macbeth’s decision of killing Duncan. After they both decided to kill the king, it’s Lady Macbeth who specifies and sets forth the plot. This very fact further substantiates the point that although Macbeth is ruthless in some sense, Lady Macbeth is much more
This change of emotions is caused by her overpowering love for Romeo. Her intense love for Romeo gives her to forgive him, as she thinks of reasons to justify Romeo’s actions. From “That villain cousin would have killed my husband” and “My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, / And Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband.”, she convinces herself that Tybalt would have killed Romeo even if he did not die first, hence showing her loyalties lie with Romeo, not Tybalt or the Capulets any longer. Therefore eventually she reaches a conclusion, “Back foolish tears, back to your native spring”, that “All this is comfort, wherefore I weep then?” that it should be a good thing that Tybalt is dead so that Romeo can live and they can be
She also holds her family above the laws of man. She finds the thought of not burying her brother Polynices unacceptable and vows to do so even if it means a death sentence for her. Even Ismene, her sister, doesn’t understand her thoughts on the
Before Antigone is taken away to die, Antigone says that Ismene shouldn’t feel guilty and shouldn’t want to die with Antigone because she was in no was part of the plan to bury Polyneices. Ismene responds by saying “But now I know what you meant; and I am here to join you, to take my share of punishment” (Scene 2, line 133). Ismene has changed her mind from being completely against Antigone’s idea to wanting to die with her sister. She finally realizes that no matter what the situation, the divine laws always come before Creon’s. Not only did Ismene change her opinion on the situation of burying Polyneices, but many other characters did,
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.
One might argue that Antigone acted not to disobey her uncle, but because she cared for her brother. However, Creon created a law that Antigone intentionally and knowingly broke. Whatever her motives, Creon knew she had to be punished
Although fate as coincidence plays an important role in the play, Romeo and Juliet are doomed by their own actions. Actions which were done without thought and done impulsively can have many consequences. Yes, Romeo and Juliet’s actions were done without any consideration, and they paid a price for it – death. Firstly the killing of Tybalt, secondly falling in love and getting married quickly, and lastly the fact that they killed themselves lead them to their tragic end. Killing Tybalt was a foolish decision of Romeo’s.
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.