That which cannot be seen can be created by the mind, while what is exposed to the eye stimulates in the audience a memorable impression. In the tragedy, Antigone, by Sophocles, the reader undergoes a calamity in regards to the ideals of Ancient Greek society. The work describes social and political problems of a woman challenging the state, and in return she receives a fatal punishment. Sophocles uses elements of technique and style that create effects in the work and audience. Furthermore, he manipulates the use catharsis and, the concealment and revealing of imagery as elements of style and technique. This causes the audience to imagine what is not being described and a significant impact of the readers’ emotions.
The conflict within Sophocles’
…show more content…
The Messenger recounts the image of the tragedy that was Antigone’s death by saying “Found we her, as she had been hanged by the neck,/ Fast in a strip’like loop of linen” (Sophocles 46). Through the vivid imagery, the reader notes the manner in which she died: suicide, an unexpected death. The dreadful image of “hanged by the neck” causes shock and sorrow as the audience is able to picture the scene and feel touched by her doomful fate. This produces in the spectator/reader a purgation of pity and fear also known as catharsis. Another image described is “loop of linen”, a symbol for Creon's denial of her right to wed. This increases the reader’s compassion for Antigone, as she not only died, but she died without ever marrying the one she loved: Haemon. In the same scene, the Messenger is responsible for delivering the unfortunate news to Creon about his son Haemon’s death. The messenger says, “Upon the sword-point family planted in/ The middle of his breast, and conscious yet/ Clings to the maid...so he lies dead with his arms round the dead” (Sophocles 46-47). The imagery displayed is overwhelming and a major moment of catharsis. Haemon’s love for Antigone goes beyond his family, and once seeing her dead, he kills himself and clings on to her, demonstrating his adoration for her. The audience also feels pity for he was not able to marry due to his father’s willful actions. In Haemon’s last moments, the only thing he wanted was to lie dead “with his arm round the dead” because he wanted his last moments to be with Antigone. This scene is essential for Sophocles to cause a significant moment of catharsis. The imagery disclosed is detailed and evokes mixed
Theatrical performances such as Greek tragedy's, even when written years ago can still teach lessons and tell stories. One of these tragedies called Antigone, is about the downfall of a king named Creon during the aftermath of two brothers’ feuds during which they both are killed, one is buried and the other is not. Along with this, the sister of both brothers Antigone, rebels against the king's rule to honor one the unburied brothers and while she ends up successfully burying him, Antigone ends up getting caught committing a crime the king made illegal. This consequently leads to her death along with the tragic ending of Creon. In the Greek tragedy Antigone, written by author Sophocles, the audience can see Haemon being a foil to Creon highlighting
But of who you are, you can’t perceive all the things men say or do or their complaints. ”Even the people have discussed how Creon may be wrong and that Antigone should be rewarded for her courageous act to bury her brother who was left by creon for the dogs. Haemon believes that his father Creon should give Antigone the right to be free. “They say of all the women here she least deserves the worst of deaths for her most glorious act. When in the slaughter of her own brother died, she did not just leave him unburied, to be ripped apart by carrion dogs or birds.
INTRODUCTION: Open your argument to the audience and give them reason to listen on. I. Hook (Opening Statement): Get your audience’s attention! Consider a quote from the story. Are there any circumstances in which the law should be ignored?
Antigone: I think she leans towards humanism, from what I saw in the beginning of the play. She ignores the King’s wrath, and feels the need to bury her brother despite risking her own life. She tells Ismene that it must be done. She proceeded to Creone that she did not abide by his laws, but rather God’s laws. She believed that it was better to treat her brother, as she wanted to provide for one another, under her faith in God.
In the classic play by Sophocles, Antigone is a tragic story of the bold Antigone who defied her uncle, King Creonʻs, edict by burying her brother, Polyneices, who died attacking the city of Thebes, trying to take the power away from their brother, Eteocles, who refused to share the throne with Polyneices. Even though Antigone knew that going against Creon and burying her brother would not end well for her, she still choose to risk her life to do what is right. After being caught breaking the law, Antigone is appointed to be locked away, isolated in a cave until she dies, but she hangs herself at the end. At the same time, things for Creon are not looking good, as everyone around him seems to be against him in his decision for punishing Antigone. Everyone Creon cares about kills themselves from a curse that is put on Creon for not following the Godsʻ laws.
She says, “For never had I, even had I been mother of children,” and, “ Cut off from marriage feast, unlasting wife’s true joy, or mother’s bliss, with infant at her breast…” (Sophocles 34). Antigone tries to provoke emotion in Creon by also saying, “ ...I last and far most miserably descend, before my term of life is full…” (Sophocles 33), to bring attention to the fact that she will die young and will be kept from everything she is looking forward to in life. She is saying that she will never marry, she will never have a child, and she will die before it is her time, because of Creon.
The play, Antigone, is a tragedy written by the Greek poet Sophocles. A common theme among tragedies is that they have a tragic hero, and Antigone is no different. The tragic hero of this poem is Creon, the King of Thebes. Creon is faced with the difficult task of punishing his niece, Antigone. She has broken one of his laws stating that no one is to give proper burial rites to Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, because he tried to overthrow Creon.
She concludes her story by committing suicide without regard to the lives that will be affected by her loss. Haemon “tumbled around her[Antigone], hugging her waist, grieving for his marriage lost,” resulting in his death as he “drew his two-edged sword” and drove it through his body (1223-1224; 1233). Consequently, Haemon’s mother “died at the alter [by] a sharp sword-thrust” because she could not bear the demise of her beloved son. Antigone’s mistake in disregarding those who love her affected many, which leads the reader to better understand that both characters
In Sophocles` play, Antigone, he shows a story of a crazed man who lets pride takes over his actions causing the deaths of his loved ones. This essay will discuss Haimon, King Creon`s son, through statements that Sophocles himself wrote and inferences of his perspective. During the story Haimon does major actions such as; plea for his fiancée, commits suicide and even cast death upon King Creon. I believe that Haimon plead for Antigone`s life for more than one reason. He pleads for her because she was his fiancée and also because he heard the rumors the citizens passed around about King Creon.
Haemon’s misuse of words and actions, Creon’s development of a tragic hero, and the interactions between Haemon and Creon brings the reader to Creon’s eventual downfall. Fore he was to late, Antigone had hung herself, causing Haemon to follow through with his suicide out of love for his Antigone, in which causes Creon’s wife to kill herself as well. Making Creon realize how he destroyed everything he loved. Leaving him with nothing except a crumbling
In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon, the king of Thebes, best represents a tragic hero. Creon demonstrates goodness in his intentions for Thebes as well as his fragile state due to the fact that he recently lost several family members. Creon, newly named king, finds himself as highest ranking official around, showing superiority. Creon often acts stubborn and prideful, his tragic flaw. And lastly, he must come to terms with the fact that he caused the death of his wife, son, and niece.
Antigone’s selfless sacrifice in which she surrendered her life for her brother’s burial portrays to the audience her allegiance to tradition; therefore, giving meaning to the work as a whole.
Power is present in all role of the story and the character who symbolises it is Créon. But power of goods are omnipresent as well, represented by Antigone, and there is a confrontation between both of them. Following examples of passages of the book are presented to evince the presence of the authority and power in the play. Starting from the beginning, even if is not represented in the play, the first power conflict was between two brothers. Polynice betrayed his brother Eteocle when he did not want to cede the throne of Tebas, they died fighting each other and Creón became king of Tebas.
In the play “Antigone”, Sophocles uses many features that would classify the play as a Greek tragedy. The reason why this tragedy stands above many others is due to the use of various techniques that enable the reader to feel the emotions of fear and
Antigone’s love is so great for her brother that she went against the king and buried him with religious rights. Then Haemon kills himself because Antigone had died and he wanted to be with her. In the end Creon’s wife killed herself because her son had died. Creon is perceived as the tragic hero of the play when he is talking