Preview

Antigone Analysis Essay

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1836 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Antigone Analysis Essay
Creon has decided to sentence Antigone to death by execution for the crime of burying her dead brother, Polynices, against his own decree. Creon first heard of this from the Sentry, who at the time, did not know who did it. The Sentry later informs Creon that it was indeed Antigone who committed the crime. After confronting Antigone, and ignoring Ismene’s desperate pleas for mercy, Creon ends the scene by having the guards escorting Antigone and Ismene into the palace. Since the plot scene is ending, and the chorus scene is starting, this cliffhanger sets the mood at this point in the story to be frustration and anxiety. The readers are left hanging, not knowing what will become of the main protagonist, Antigone. This cut-off leaves a mist of mystery; the plot is now a thick fog, no one knows what or who is on the other side. It is all surprising and unexpected by now. Based on the scene, the tone at this point in the story is dramatic. The word choice displays the effect of …show more content…
“Zeus, yours is the power, Zeus, what man on Earth override it, who can hold it back? Power that neither Sleep, the all-ensnaring no, nor the tireless months of heaven can ever overmaster-young through all time mighty lord of power, you hold fast the dazzling crystal mansions of Olympus.” (678-684). The chorus is asking Zeus who can overthrow the curse or stop it. It goes on to describe how no matter how much time has passed and if the youth gains power, none of them can break the curse nor hold a candle close to Zeus. No one in the next generations could ever surpass the power of Zeus. Zeus holds the most power out of all the gods on Olympus. He holds more power than ever his own brothers, Poseidon and Hades. What the quote is essentially saying is that the only way the curse can be released is if Zeus lifted it with his own power. Other than that, the curse will stay

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Inner Turmoil in Antigone

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Antigone proves herself to be a very loyal family member when she states, “That must be your excuse, I suppose. But as for me, I will bury the brother I love” (Pro. 64-65). She cares not of the law set forth by Creon when it conflicts with her beliefs concerning loyalty to loved ones. She chose the law of the gods above all other decrees, disregarding that the cost is her life. Even after the body’s guards brush off the thin layer of dust to negate the effect of the prompt burial given by Antigone, the heroine risks life and limb to see that Polynieces receives a proper burial, and she is arrested in the process. Her retort to Creon’s accusations was, “I do. I deny nothing.” Antigone is confident in her choice at this point. She even stands up for Ismene’s fraud confession, and she will “not have [Ismene] help” because Antigone’s loyalty to her family is too great (1. 132).…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis of Antigone 1

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Before reading Antigonê by Sophocles, discover some background information on the play, the author, and the time. In about 150-200 words compile that information and submit it in the submission window below. Learning some background information will help you understand the play. Look for information that will pertinent in understanding Greek Tragedy. Make sure you use your own words, quote when necessary, and include in-text citations. Keep the bibliographical information for inclusion on your works cited page if you choose to use any of this information in your final essay. This assignment will not be accepted after the due date and time.…

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone begins with Antigone asking Ismene to help bury Polyneices, but Ismene refuses and reminds her that Creon forbade the burial. Antigone defies the law and buries Polyneices anyways, when she is caught Creon locks her away. Meanwhile, a prophet informs Creon about the mistake Creon has made, causing him to reluctantly release her. He is too late though, Antigone has taken her own life. In despair, Creon's wife and Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiance, have killed themselves also. This leaves Creon to realize that everyone who is important to him are now…

    • 95 Words
    • 1 Page
    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

    Oedipus Vs Creon Analysis

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Chorus is impressed by Antigone’s fearless acceptance of death and comments on “What woman has ever found your way to death” (225). Women were expected to be weak and try to escape, but instead Antigone welcomes death so she can be with Polyneices and she knows that she has followed the Law of the Gods.…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He insists that Antigone’s brother does not deserve a proper burial. To Creon, an act such as this would be dishonorable to the Gods. He exclaims, “I’ll string you up alive”, (Line 138, pg.780), to Antigone while arguing. Creon has the type of pride that comes with power, he is head strong and believes his word is law and no one is above it. “Who is the man here, she or I, if this crime goes unpunished?”(Line 95, pg.784) Creon says to exemplify that he is just in the situation. The King ends up causing a tragedy. After Antigone kills herself, his son, Haimon, attempts to kill him but fails. Haimon ends up stabbing him own self to death. Creon’s wife found out and as he carried his son’s dead body to her, he came home only to find that she too had took her own…

    • 653 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

    Antigone Research Paper

    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages

    When U2’s Bono sings “women of the future hold the big revelations” (Bono “Get On Your Boots”), he is referencing the rise of women’s roles in Africa in the twenty-first century. Yet, this phrase can also apply to women in other time periods such as in ancient Greece seen in the Sophocles’ play entitled Antigone. In Antigone, the protagonist, Antigone, is a daughter of the house of Lauis, which is a noble, ruling family that has been through much affliction from deaths in the family. When a law forbids Antigone to honor her traitorous (to the state) brother in a proper burial, Antigone disobeys it to honor the gods’ instructions. This act eventually leads to the deaths of Antigone and other main characters. For the twenty-first century reader, it is important to understand how gender roles and relationships vary from time period to time period in order to fully appreciate the equal status of women in today’s society. The authors of the feminist play, Antigone, portrays the society’s perspective of women as vindictive people, the limitations of women, and the growing strong-willed quality of some women that start to rise in the respective time period.…

    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Antigone Essay

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The third of the three Theban plays, known as Antigone, written by Sophocles is a great tragedy with characters who each have distinct personality traits, morals, and flaws; one being Haemon who possesses many. Haemon, the son of Creon and spouse-to-be to Antigone, has absolute loyalty towards Antigone and the people of Thebes, respect for his father’s decisions initially, and rashness which leads to a shattering ending. Haemon helps protect Antigone by speaking on her behalf to his father, the King, vindicating how “of all women here she’s least deserves the worst of deaths for her most glorious act. When in the slaughter her own brother died, she did not just leave him there unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds. Surely she deserves some golden honour?”(Sophocles ). This shows how he defends the moral basis of Antigone's actions while warning his father that the people of Thebes sympathize with her determination to bury Polyneices. Haemon’s devotion to Antigone is represented as a dog face structure of the mask, showing his faithfulness because dogs exhibit to be extremely loyal to their owners. When Creon asks Haemon whether he still has his full support, Haemon replies “Father, I am yours; with your excellent judgment you lay the right before me, and I shall follow it. No marriage will ever be so valued by me as to override the goodness of your leadership” (Sophocles ). Even though his father, Creon, is going to kill Antigone for her actions, he still respects his decision formerly. Another symbol, to express respect is a handshake icon, with one hand having a crown, on the masks side of the face to show Haemon’s regard for Creon as the king. After a previous antagonistic disagreement with his father, before he kills himself, Haemon spits in his father’s face and “drew his cross-hilted sword and thrust it at [himself]” (Sophocles ).…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Antigone, being Polyneice’s sister wants a proper burial for her brother because he after all no matter what action he may have taken is still her brother. She believes that if Creon orders Eteocles to receive a hero burial, her brother should deserve the same ending. However on the other hand, Creon refutes this idea and decides to bury Polyneice’s body in the field of battle to rot. He also proclaims that anyone who tries to honor the traitor’s death will be sentenced to death.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Research Paper

    • 1354 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The feminism movement is a moderately new advance, which has grown increasingly popular over the past two hundred years. Even though the venture of women gaining equality with men is relatively fresh, women who have stood alone as feminists have been around for a surprisingly long amount of time. Antigone is only one example of a classic role model to contemporary feminists. Antigone is comparable to modern-day feminists for three reasons: she confronts an authoritative institution run by men, attempts to defend her state from an intrusive supremacy, and she refuses to conform to her culturally uniform role as a woman.…

    • 1354 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Research Paper

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The play exemplifies the love that a family can protect each other with, and how this can connect an audience to the characters. Antigone’s love and respect for her brother was unlike any other character in an ordinary story. Her sacrifice of her life for her family makes her a true tragic hero, especially because she does not hesitate to bury her brother’s body. The emotions of fear, love, pity, and more are aroused from the play and entice the reader further into the story. Antigone is a true classic example of tragedy, and the tragic qualities found in this play can assist the audience in analyzing other tragedies as…

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone Fate Essay

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the play, "Antigone", fate plays a vital role in the story because fate controls the people, according to beliefs Greek culture. For example, Antigone accepts her inescapable fate and the consequences of burying Polyneices, despite Creon’s refusal to give him a proper burial. Her acceptance of her fate is shown through her respect towards the gods and her disdain towards Ismene’s lack of respect: “Since apparently the laws of the god mean nothing to you,” (line 63). Antigone’s loyalty to fate and the gods is shown through her final words, “You will remember what things I suffer… Because I would not transgress the laws of heaven,” (line 734-736). Although the consequence is death, she will not disobey the inevitable powers of fate.…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antigone is an award winning play by Sophocles, one of the three best Greek dramatists of all time. Antigone is a mythical princess of Thebes. She is the product of the accidental incestuous marriage between King Oedipus and Jocasta, whom is Oedipus’ mother as well. Antigone had two brothers and a sister: Polynices, Eteocles, and her sister, Ismene. After Oedipus discovered that he had married his mother, he fled, leaving Thebes to be ruled by his sons. Polynices and Eteocles had their differences arguing over the throne. Polynices left Thebes and returned with an army to declare war on Thebes. The two brothers killed each other during the war, leaving Thebes to be ruled by Jocasta’s brother Creon,…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    as the reader wants to know why this particular moment in time is significant to the story. The reader is oblivious to what they are talking about and…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays