Antigone's Act example essay topic

In the story, Antigone, by Sophocles, the character Antigone goes against the king because of her own beliefs and values, this is what makes her human. She speaks out and protests to the king and his guards. She believes that the law is unjust, that her brother deserves a fair burial, and that the rules of the gods go before the rules of man. She stands up for what she believes in, even though she knows it will result in death. She is able to think for herself, which gives her, her own personality and attitude, making her human.

Antigone did the right thing by defying Creon's strict orders on burying Polynices because the unalterable laws of the gods are higher than the irreverent laws of man. Creon gave strict orders against the burial of Polynices because he had led a failed rebellion, in Thebes against their omnipotent king. Antigone could not bear to watch her brother become consumed by vultures and animals. He's to be left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that scan the field and feast to their heart's content. (line 35) These feelings that Antigone has for her brother's right to be buried shows that she is human because she realizes that something is wrong and acts upon it to correct it. Creon found out that someone had buried Polynices' body and he sent people out to apprehend the person who performed the burial (p. 71). Antigone was guilty, and although she was to be wed to Creon's son, Harmon.

The tyrant sentenced her to be placed in a cave with food and water and left her to the whims of the gods (p. 90). He was warned by a blind prophet not to do this, but he chose to anyway. The foolish decision left him with a dead son, a dead wife, and self-imposed exile. Antigone had good reasons for her actions, which also shows that she is human because she is able to think for herself, and determine for herself what is right and wrong. She did obey the laws of her gods, which states that any dead body must be given a proper burial, with libations.

This, along with wine as an offering to the gods, would prevent the soul from being lost between worlds forever. Antigone couldn t obey Creon's edicts and ignore her morals. She chose to share her love, not her hate. She couldn't bear to see one family member chosen over the other because of the faulty judgment of a misguided ruler. Why condemn somebody who stood up for what they believed in and is now dead for it anyway?

Bringing homage to the family was very important to Antigone. The gods' laws come before mortal laws according to Antigone's point-of-view. In death, you will answer to your god and no man will have control of your fate in the world of the hereafter. Therefore, obeying the gods, hopefully, will result in a happy afterlife, which is what most people strive for in ancient times, as well as in the present. If man does not honor you for noble efforts, your gods' will. Antigone was able to realize this again showing that she could think for herself and not be persuaded by other people, displaying that she has a mind of her own.

Antigone's act was honorable. She stood up to the highest of powers so she could honor her brother, knowing the consequence would be death. Most likely she believed there is only a certain amount man can do to you, so it was in her best interest to stand up for not only her family and beliefs, but her gods as well. Creon could have easily changed his mind, and there were fair amounts of warning, but his decisions lead him into an empty life. It all could have been averted if only he would have put his pride aside for a while. Simply because he was too egotistical and too temperamental, his son died along with his wife.

He was left a depressed wreck and with a deep sense of deplorable sorrow, which led to his self-imposed exile. Antigone, He amon, and Creon's wife all could have been saved if only one man could have put aside his pride. It is clear that Antigone was not responsible for the calamity that befell the characters, but rather this was Creon's doing. She did not do anything to cover up the illegal acts that she committed, showing that she was proud of what she did and would have done it again if she had had the chance. Not ashamed for a moment, not to honor my brother, my own flesh and blood. (line 575) Ultimately, she felt that her beliefs were worth dying for. She is human because she knew that she would die for her acts, but she did not care.

Standing up for what she believed in let everyone know that she was there and was not afraid to speak her mind. She changed how people felt about the king, the laws, and her after protesting this unjust ruling. If she didn t stand up for what she believed in, than why should she even be alive or be human? Being an iconoclast made people realize that she was alive and not to be reckoned with because she spoke her mind, helping her establish that she was human.