Antigone And Creon example essay topic

... er in the play who walks into her fate with her eyes open all along the way" (Classic Notes: Themes). The unities of time, place and action are key elements of the form of tragedy. "action may be though [t] of simply as motive or 'movement of spirit'... The action in Antigone is 'preserve rightness and order in Thebes'. Antigone is a strange case because the 'movement-of-spirit' arguably comes form two directions: Antigone and Creon are both championing what is right, but they define rightness through different sets of values.

Key elements include the moments of reversal and recognition, although not every tragedy has these moments. Reversal means a great and unexpected turn in events when the action veers around and becomes its opposite. Antigone experiences no reversal, but Creon does: at the Chorus' prodding, he finally backs down and listens to the advice he has been given, turning against the preservation of the kind order he cherishes. Recognition means that a character gains sudden and trans formative understanding of himself and the events he has experienced, moving from ignorance to knowledge.

In Antigone, Creon finally recognized that he has been misguided and that his actions have led to the death of his wife and son. Ideally, according to Aristotle, the reversal and the recognition hit at the same instant, as they do in Oedipus the King" (Classic Notes: About Antigone), another great work of Sophocles. "The Antigone is much admired for being the first and most enduring statement of the conflict between the need for social order and the feeling that on occasion higher law may supersede human law" (Encyclopedia Mythica). Antigone's persistence in disobeying Creons decree falls under the themes of Individual verses State: Conscience versus Law: Moral or Divine Law versus Human Law. These three conflicts are closely related, but this "crude set of pairings helps to untangle some of the central issues of the play.

Antigone and her values line up with the first entity in each pair, while Creon and his values line up with the second" (Classic Notes: Themes). Antigone decides that she must disobey Creons orders arguing that a law of man, which violates religious law, is no law at all (Encyclopedia Mythica). The moral focus of the play Antigone is the conflict between phys is (nature) and nomos (law), with phys is ultimately presiding over nomos. "Throughout Antigone, King Creon is the symbol for nomos, while Antigone stands on the side of phys is. To portray these ideas, light and dark images are used as a recurring motif to reinforce the theme.

Light is used to show something good that is happening, whereas dark is utilized to show of something of which the gods disapprove. Following with tradition, this play uses light to portray what is right in the eyes of the chorus and darkness to reproach the other side. As the play is carried out, the chorus is constantly changing its opinions, first believing in the actions of Creon with respect to nomos, then unsure of what to believe, and finally seeing that Antigone's actions are more consistent with the morality of the gods and the truths of phys is. Light and darkness are used to support in an emotional way the action of whoever the chorus is siding with at these various stages of the play" (Wilf 1). "Because the sole purpose of Antigone is to get a moral point across, the parallels between light and dark and phys is and nomos are associated together, and used metaphorically to add diversity and imagery to an otherwise redundant script.

In the first scenes, these light and dark images show the reign of Creon. These are followed by the indistinct and ironic middle scenes, and ending with the gods choosing Antigone's actions over Creon's, leaving Creon spiritually dead and paying for his poor choices and conduct. These are very effective techniques, which allow Sophocles to more fully develop his play, and give it a more emotional edge" (Wilf 3). Antigone's determination and persistence challenge the status quo and Antigone continues to be a subversive and powerful play. "She invokes divine law as defense of her actions, but implicit in her position is faith in the discerning powers of her individual conscience. She sacrifices her life out of devotion to principles higher than human law.

Creon makes a mistake in sentencing her but his position is an understandable one. In the wake of war, and with his reign so new, Creon has to establish his authority as supreme. On the other hand, Creon's need to defeat Antigone seems at times to be extremely personal. At stake is not only the order of the state, but his pride and sense of himself as a king and, more fundamentally, a man. Sophocles use of a variety of themes adds depth and character to his work. His understanding of humanity and society are illustrated through his characterization and content and has marked him as an insightful, literary mastermind.

His play Antigone has been called the defining work of tragedy and has become a classic for literary exploration and interpretation.

Bibliography

Article: Antigone". Encyclopedia Mythica. Online. Internet. 17 Feb. 2001.
Available web "Classic Notes: About Antigone". Online. Internet. 17 Feb. 2001.
Available web "Classic Notes: Antigone Major Themes". Online. Internet. 17 Feb. 2001 Available web "The Antigone".
Online. Internet. 17 Feb. 2001.
Available web published in The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 1 ed. Alfred Bates. London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906.
Pp. 112-123. Wilf, Meredith. "The Use of Light and Dark Images in Antigone". 14 Sept. 1999 Online.
Internet. 17 Feb. 2001.