Preview

Character Analysis of Antigone

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
345 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Character Analysis of Antigone
Oedipus was king of Thebes, he was hated and infamous. He lost the throne to Creon by tearing out his own eyes and killed himself. His two sons Eteocles and Polyneices fought each other for the kingship but ended up killing each other. Creon was hailed king of Thebes.

Antigone and Ismene were sisters to Eteocles and polyneices. Creon favored Eteocles and he perceived him as the cities champion and ordered that Eteocles could be buried in a grave with every rite of sanctity given to him as a hero. Polyneices was rejected by Creon because he felt that Polyneices would have led them to slavery so he proclaimed that he not be given a burial but rather watch him get chewed up by birds and dogs because he was a wicked person.

Antigone felt that despite the law of the land which prohibited a proper burial for her brother she would rather be a religious criminal by giving her deceased brother a decent burial and face the consequences. Antigone, troubled by her inner conscience asked if her sister Ismene would join her in burying their brother Polyneices but Ismene did not want to dishonor or act in defiance of the citizenry so she rejected. She knew the consequence was death.

Antigone decided to take it upon herself and bury her brother . Gossip got to Creon about Polyneices missing body. Sentry was chosen to report the issue to Creon who was very angered by the situation. His anger was diverted to Sentry to find out who moved the body or else will be hang alive. Sentry soon found out that Antigone had removed the body so he escorted her to Creon. Antigone admitted that she could not leave her dead brother unburied because that would have caused her more pain and guilt.

Creon angerly charged Antigone and her sister Ismene of breaking the law by plotting their brothers funeral and as such will be sentenced to death. He hated the fact that when one is caught in evil they make the evil look

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The purposes of this lab include learning how to measure the pH of several different liquids as well as learning how to change the pH of those liquids by adding other acidic and alkaline mixtures.…

    • 1094 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon, as the ruler of the land, is obligated to carry out social order. He has ordered that the body of Polynices should be left to rot because he was a traitor to the city. Antigone has disobeyed Creon’s orders by digging up her brother’s grave after his proper burial rites were forbidden. She has already buried her parents and brother Eteocles, who died fighting Polynices, and feels obligated to honor her brother’s life. Antigone is also determined to obey the gods, because it is against morality to leave any corpse unburied. She informs Creon that “Death longs for the same rites for all”.…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Similarly, both women's decision and actions starts their tragic path. Antigone is decided to bury her brother, Polynices, being aware that disobeying will lead to death. While talking to her sister, Ismene, she said "he has no right to keep from my own"60. Antigone believes that as the woman of the family is her responsibility to bury her brother and it's the law of god which should overrule the law of state. She doesn't fear confrontation and admits to Creon that it was her who bury his body at the time of accusation. Antigonie says "give me glory! What greater glory could I win than to give my own brother decent burial?"561 She believed her death was her glory. Her pride and ambitious way to be remembered made her fearless of death.…

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone disobeys the king by burying her brother who Creon views as a traitor to Thebes. She realizes that this action will result in her death but is still willing to do so as long as…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Antigone believed that not burying her brother Polyneices and burying her other brother Eteocles due to the command of her uncle Creon was a very wrong thing to do and being the loyal person she was she did not accept this law carried by her Uncle and disobeyed him with the mindset knowing burying her brother Polyneices was the right thing to do know the consequences that came with it.…

    • 70 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Antigone asked her sister Ismene to help bury their brother, Ismene denies, saying that she “shall obey to those who are in authority (Sophocles line 67).” However, Ismene changes her mind later on and wants to share the punishment with Antigone for keeping her plot a secret. Ismene admits, “I share in bearing the responsibility (Sophocles 537).” Antigone’s courage inspires Ismene to join her, even though she wants Ismene to stay away, which shows that Antigone is a credible leader. Ismene, not Antigone, was then in control of her own…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The play Antigone supports Creon’s claims that the rule of the king must be obeyed even if it is wrong in order to avoid anarchy and chaos. It is tragic that so many lives had to be lost. It is hard to be a king and maintain the rule of law. King Creon is a strong king that demands to be obeyed no matter what the cost. Tragically he lost so many that he cared for. First his brother dies, then his two nephews fight over the throne and end up killing each other. Eteocles was the king however his brother Polyneices fought to take his place. To no avail they both die. Eteocles was giving a proper burial for a king where Polyneices was just left to rot on the battlefield.…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone says the gods want her to bury Polynices, which she does. While burying her beloved brother, she is caught by the guard, taken to the palace where she awaits her fate. When she's is being questioned by Creon for her crime she announces to Creon “take me and kill me-what more do you want?” (Line 266). She accomplished what she needed and buried her brother. She does this bringing out Creon’s determination to kill anyone who buries Polynices, Even if it’s his son's fiancee. So determined to stick to his morals he responded “Me? Nothing. With that I have everything.” (Line 267). When she announced what she did to Creon it brought out his determination to kill anyone who buries Polynices, and nothing would stand in the way of his punishment, even if it meant deeply saddening his son with his Fiance’s…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Antigone, Antigone buried her brother, Polyneices, against Creon’s law. Creon warned the city of Thebes that if anyone were to bury Polyneices, a stoning would take place as a punishment in front of the public. Antigone, Polyneices’ sister, went to her sister asking for her help in burying her brother and when she refused to help, Antigone went ahead and buried Polyneices herself. Once Creon found out what Antigone had done, he sent her away to the middle of the woods in a closed tomb where she then hung herself. The burying of Polyneices ultimately caused Antigone’s death. While Ismene and Antigone may have differed in their opinions on burying their brother, they both had good intentions.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Burial In Antigone

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Continuing on, knowing the consequences of her act, she will bury her brother because it is the will of the gods that a family gives its members a proper burial. And because of this, she will face the punishment of death for disobeying Creon’s order. For fighting against Thebes, but Antigone being an honor sister will give him a proper burial knowing what he did. Creon by doing this will let the city know that by unburied Polynices action will show others to think before thinking in betraying their city if anyone had the intention to do it. Also since he's the king, he needs to gain the respect of the people. When at the same time it was…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Antigone decides to go against Creon’s order and bury her brother without her sister’s help. Afterward Creon finds out from the sentry what she has done. This creates the clash of Creon and Antigone to begin when he brings her and interrogates her on her treachery. She denies nothing and confesses to her actions…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I believe that Antigone is correct in burying her brother. Now, although Antigone’s brother betrayed the city of Thebes and its law of the new king, their uncle, he rightfully…

    • 1807 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Antigone Is Right

    • 115 Words
    • 1 Page

    Antigone, in my opinion, did the right thing. Antigone had the right to bury her brother. Everyone deserves to be buried, especially when the action is upholding a family’s honor. Antigone wanted her brother to be buried in honor because she loved him. I think her actions were noble. Ismene was not strong-willed when it came to burying her brother. Ismene wanted to respect Creon’s wish, even if the wish would dishonor her family. Ismene seemed to love her sister greatly because she tried to protect her from Creon’s wrath, but nevertheless, Ismene bowed down to Creon’s wish. Ismene surprised me because she was different then Antigone, but still loved and got along with Antigone.…

    • 115 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The three branches of government each serve as a crucial aspect to how the United States runs. The Executive Branch houses the president, vice president, and the many cabinet members. The Legislative Branch is made up of Congress, and the Judiciary Branch is made up of the courts. While all three have very different and important roles, the one that has the most power is the Legislative Branch.…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Right from the prologue, Antigone expresses her ambitions of breaking Creon’s law in order to honor her dead brother, Polyneices. “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way” (774). She argues with her sister Ismene, a character opposite in personality who portrays an ideal woman in ancient Greek times- obedient, fearful, and overall inferior.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays