The Life Of Antigone Essay, Research Paper

In Ancient Greece, new ideals surfaced as replies to life & # 8217 ; s complicated

inquiries. These new beliefs were centered around the spread outing field of scientific discipline. Man

was focused on more than the Gods or heavenly concerns. A authorities that was

ruled by the people was suggested as opposed to a monarchy that had existed for

many old ages. Freedom of faith was encouraged to be exercised in city states. These

new ideals, though good in purposes, frequently conflicted with each other making

complex moral quandary.

Such was the instance in Antigone a drama written by Sophocles during this epoch of

alteration. In the drama, Antigone and Creon conflict a philosophical war covering with the

contention of the Grecian ideals. They both based their actions on their beliefs of what

is right and incorrect. The struggle arose when the ideals that backed up their actions

clashed with each other, doing it contradiction between ethical motives.

Antigone & # 8217 ; s side of the struggle held a much more heavenly attack, as opposed

to the mundane route that Creon chose to follow. Antigone feels that Creon is

ignoring the Torahs of Eden through his edict. After she is captured and brought to

Creon, she tells him & # 8220 ; I do non believe your edicts strong plenty to overturn the unwritten

inalterable Torahs of God and heaven, you being merely a man. & # 8221 ; Antigone & # 8217 ; s steadfast sentiment

is one that supports the Gods and the Torahs of Eden. Her logical thinking is set by her belief

that if person is non given a proper entombment, that individual would non be accepted into

heaven. Antigone was a really spiritual individual, and credence of her brother by the

Supreme beings was really of import to her. She felt that & # 8220 ; It is against you and me he has made

this order. Yes, against me. & # 8221 ; Creon & # 8217 ; s order was personal to Antigone. His edict invaded

her household life every bit good as the Gods.

An of import ideal in Ancient Greece was the belief that the authorities was to

hold no control in affairs refering spiritual beliefs. In Antigone & # 8217 ; s eyes, Creon

betrayed that ideal by non leting her to properly bury her brother, Polynices. She

believed that the entombment was a spiritual ceremonial, and Creon did non hold the power to

deny Polynices that right. Antigone & # 8217 ; s strong beliefs finally led her to her decease by

the manus of Creon. Never, though, did she halt supporting what she thought was right.

As Creon ordered her to her decease, Antigone exclaimed, & # 8220 ; I go, his captive, because I

honored those things in which award truly belongs. & # 8221 ; She is straight mortifying Creon by

naming his sentiments and determinations weak and unfair. She besides emphasizes & # 8220 ; his captive, & # 8221 ;

which tells us that Creon & # 8217 ; s determination to captur

vitamin E Antigone was his ain, and was non

backed up by the bulk of the people. She feels that Creon is mistreating his power as

male monarch and covering with her undertaking to a personal degree.

Creon & # 8217 ; s actions are guided by the ideal that states & # 8220 ; Man is the step of all

things. & # 8221 ; The chorus emphasizes this point during the drama by saying that & # 8220 ; There is

nil beyond ( adult male & # 8217 ; s ) power. & # 8221 ; Creon believes that the good of adult male comes before the

Gods. Puting the illustration utilizing Polynices & # 8217 ; organic structure left unburied is a symbol of Creon & # 8217 ; s

belief. & # 8220 ; No adult male who is his state & # 8217 ; s enemy shall name himself my friend. & # 8221 ; This quotation mark

shows that go forthing the organic structure unburied is done to demo regard for Thebes. After all,

how could the swayer of a city-state award a adult male who attempted to occupy and suppress

his metropolis. From that position, Creon & # 8217 ; s actions are wholly merely and supported by

the ideals.

Though most of Creon & # 8217 ; s concluding coincide with the Grecian ideals, one ideal

strongly contradicts his actions. The ideal provinces that the population would be granted

freedom from political subjugation and that freedom of faith would be carried out.

Creon defied both of these. First, Antigone was & # 8220 ; his captive & # 8221 ; , non needfully the

populaces. In fact, the general population supported Antigone, though they were excessively

scared to state anything. Haemon, the boy of Creon, knew of this, and told Creon, & # 8220 ; Has

she non instead earned a Crown of gold? – Such is the secret talk of the town. & # 8221 ; This

proves that Creon was exerting complete domination of political power, which is

purely forbidden in the new ideals. Besides, non leting Antigone execute her spiritual

ceremonial of burying her brother is interfering with spiritual personal businesss. This denies

Antigone freedom of faith, hence, disdain for this ideal.

The contradictions between the beliefs of Creon and Antigone are strong

throughout the drama. Both have well-structured statements, but neither wholly

dominates the other. Antigone is motivated by her strong spiritual feelings while Creon

is out to do good for his city state. The chorus & # 8217 ; sentiment is the finding factor, as

in the terminal, they convince Creon to put Antigone free. Creon had to weigh each factor

carefully, and in the terminal, he had to make up one’s mind between ideals. His head was torn in two.

& # 8220 ; It is difficult to give manner, and hard to stand and stay the coming of the expletive. Both ways

are hard. & # 8221 ; The contradiction of ideals was what led to Antigone & # 8217 ; s, Haemon & # 8217 ; s, and

Megareus & # 8217 ; decease. Both sides were merely, all beliefs were supported. Creon was forced to

make up one’s mind the unanswerable, decipher the encoded, complete the impossible, and

find right from incorrect when there was no clear reply.