Lolita Wong Due Date: December 14, 2005
E7X-01 Mr. Tarallo
First Draft: Antigone Essay
As a reader, when we read and study a novel or a play we want to learn something morally new. In Sophocles?play Antigone, the protagonist who is Antigone creates a new role for women within her society, establishes the morals she believes in through her taken actions, and lives up to the consequences of her actions. Antigone acts as the reformer in the play, which implies that though she is a woman her thinking could exceed the way men think.
A difference in the gender role was created in the play, Antigone when Antigone rebelled against Creon new regulation for the State of Thebes. Antigone was warned by her sister, Ismene, who is obedient and plays the traditional role of women that trouble would raise to the surface once Antigone takes action. But nonetheless, Antigone was still determined to help let her brother soul rest in peace. Relevant to Antigone qualities, she was the first person to point out the flaws of Creon. Her possession of courage and righteous mind gave the people of Thebes a realization that Creon new regulation was unreasonable. Instead of being quiet like Ismene, Antigone took the risk to justify Creon decision about not letting anyone to touch the corpse of Polyneices by secretly applying dust onto her brother decaying body. Antigone demonstrated that gender is not an issue when you want your voice to be heard.
According to Antigone beliefs, she believes that God laws will always overrule man laws. Because Creon regulation was not part of God proclamation it was not necessary for Antigone to follow it. Hence, Antigone showed no sign of remorse when she was interrogated by Creon for her actions, since she thinks that it was natural for her to give her brother a proper burial. The rules of God play an important role in this play because they imply that the people of Thebes should not follow man laws when such laws are morally wrong against their conscience. The influence of the faith in God further develops Antigone character as a strong-minded woman who takes actions relevant to her heart.
Like always, there are consequences behind all actions taken and in this situation, Antigone would face her punishment, which is death. In contrast of those who fear death, Antigone does not fall under this category because she understands the concept that she is mortal. Antigone was proud of what she had done and she perceives death under an amicable degree. Ending her life meant that she will be granted the privilege to reunite with her family. Under this kind of thinking about facing death, it revealed that life will always be continuous, even without the shell.
Lastly, the reader was being offered something new when the actions of the protagonist in Antigone shows that life is meaningless if she were not able to express her opinions. The role of women should not be limited but as equal as men, when women can make fair and some times even better judgment than men. That is why Antigone was willing to sacrifice her own life to prove to Creon about his own flaws. Antigone also elaborated that the rules of God should always be taken under consideration before making man laws official. |