October 20, 2013
Third Hour
Antigone
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.
Antigone is a woman living in a family of many leaders. Her father (Oedipus) once the king is dead. Now her brothers are waging a war against each other in a battle for the throne of Thebes. Antigone and her sister Ismene race to the city of Thebes to salvage what they can of their family and see who will be taking over as king. An infuriated Antigone intends to defy the law and bury her brother Polyneices. She says “I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory.” Antigone’s sister Ismene warns her against defying the city and thinks it is a losing battle. The King Creon arrives to announce to a gathering group that Eteocles behaved honorable in defending the city, Polyneices was a dishonorable exile. The king offers this as an explanation for why Eteocles gets buried but Polyneices is left of to rot and be eaten by the birds. Antigone was inclined to trouble just like her father, she sneaks out during the night to give her brother Polyneices a proper burial, going against the Kings orders. Antigone is engaged to the Kings son Haemon, so this can cause many issues for Antigone. Upon Antigone’s return home during the night a nurse is there and inquires as to where she has been. Antigone denies being nowhere. Moring comes and the King comes to speak to his Niece Antigone as he learned someone had buried Polyneices. Antigone denies nothing and is not afraid. The king tells her to go to bed and pretend to be ill. The king was covering it up for Antigone. As word got out Antigone was sentenced to death, Haemon her fiancé and sister fight on her behalf and beg the king to let her go. The king agrees but it is too late, Antigone took her life. Haemon is devastated by this news and fights with his father ending in Haemon taking his own life. King Creon’s wife Eurydice, arrives and asks what is going on? King Creon desperately regretting his mistake. Soon a messenger arrives to tell the king that his beloved wife Eurydice is now dead too. She took her life upon hearing of the news of their son. King Creon asked to be killed but was told no, he asked for pins to gouge out his eyes and he was told no.
Creon claims that the rule of the king must be obeyed even if it’s wrong in order to avoid anarchy and chaos. He proves that by staying strong in his beliefs. He sentenced Antigone to death for going against his rule which sets off a chain of events that will cost the king nearly everyone he loves. His son is so distraught he takes his own life. His own wife takes her life when she discovers her son is dead. He followed the law and paid the ultimate price. In the end there was no anarchy or chaos, just a ruler with no family. After all that has transpired Creon says “My Countrymen, the ship of the state is safe. The gods who rocked her, after a long, merciless pounding in the storm, have righted her once more.s
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