Antigone

Antigone

Sophocles' "Antigone" is pertinent for all ages and any individual who has experienced conflict can relate to the play. The essence and theme of this tragedy is personal conflict, with two extremely stubborn individuals locked in opposition. The problem is that neither Antigone nor Creon is willing to compromise. Sophocles complicates the conflict by depicting the two central characters as being remarkably similar. In addition, he invites sympathy for both characters. However, as in all Greek tragedy, the fundamental conflict in this play is not between Antigone and Creon, but rather is located in the laws of the gods as opposed to those of human beings."

Antigone was a baffling play to read. Sophocholes wrote this play during the Ancient Greek times. During this domocratic time government was just beginning. The rulers were kings and councils; it was not like our times with a president and the government

branches. Antigone had an itch for medaling with problems that weren't her own. She did it in Oedipus at Colonus and in Antigone. Creon is always full of anger and seems to be seeking the throne of Thebes in Oedipus at Colonus. Once he received it, he found out what tragedy his pride and weak knowledge brought to him and Thebes. Who was in the right and who was in the wrong?

Although, I believed that Creon's behavior as a king was incorrect and insensitive. Through my research I have found that his actions were merely to pervade duty in Thebes to keep it from chaos. If he would have mercy on Antigone, he could be for seen as a weak king. As for Antigone, she should not have rebelled against the king. Doing so made her a traitor not to her brother but to her king. Under the Greek law traitors are criminals. Her sense of religion was strong, but according to Adkins "The Greeks had no religion. Gods were thought to be everywhere and [this] was part of everyday life" (p.284).

Creon, with only the slight idea of how to rule, knew he had to get the trust of the people in or to impose order. Creon states, "I have nothing but contempt for the kind of Governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best of the state" (Antigone I, 20-22). With this speech he ease the people of Thebes. He was now bond to stick to the laws and punishments set for them regardless of who broke the law. If he would have giving Antigone forbearance, the people would rebel and not take him seriously. As Antigone points out, "All these men in here would praise me Were their lips not frozen shut...they are with me. But keep their tongues in leash"

(Antigone I, 100-104). He is afraid she might be right and hold his ground. Adkins commented that most Greek kings held their "hearts in a box" so it does not interfere with setting order of their lands (p.300).

Adkins states, "IN the Greek world men, not women, were citizens" (p.26). Females weren't held very high in monarchy. With this in mind, Antigone was the one to break the law. So not only was she family, she was a woman which could really hurt Creon's credibility. The women role in Greek civilization was important but in only in the home. They had very few rights during these times. As Adkins remarks, "Women were not regarded as citizens and had no political rights...Their role was primarily in the home, and at times even confined to their own quarters" (p.28). Creon could not let Antigone mock the king. He had the obligation to put her in her place in society, as she felt she had obligation to Polynieces. Antigone states "It was not God's Proclamation. That final Justice that rules the world below makes no such laws" (AntigoneII, 58-59). She felt it was her duty to bury Polyneices. Adkins wrote "Within religion women did play an important role, such as a dominant role in funerals" (p.408).

Creon still treated Antigone with the rights of a prisoner. He also allowed her to speak to the council of advisors that surround the king. Adkins wrote,

For most offences...there was no public prosecutor...[there were] two classes of action: a private case brought by the aggrieved person, often called a dike (case), and a public case brought by an individual on behalf of the entire community (p.37).

Creon gave her a dike trial. Adkins stated "In trial the accuser and the accused had the same amount [time] to speak...The accuser spoke first and then the accused" (p.37). Creon followed the way of the courts. He asked her if dusted Polyneices. In response

she admitted to her crime and gave reason. With her confession, Creon was unable to help her but lay down her punishment. In ancient Greek times according to Adkins "Punishments were usually fines, exile, loss of civil rights or death. Imprisonment was rarely used, except for those awaiting trial or execution" (p.36) Creon was doing what any king needed to follow. This did not faze him being that he had bad relations with the root of that family to begin with. In Oedipus Colonus, Oedipus shows the emotions they have for each other, "You brazen hypocrite! You'd stop at nothing. Twisting every righteous motive to your ends" (Roche, p.131). At this point in the play Creon had seized Antigone and Ismene to manipulate Oedipus to do want Creon wants. Creon had put his heart away long before he became king.

Adkins explains that Greek kings were prideful and some lead their land through a personal conflict and anger. Creon fits this description. Segal describes "Her defiance has already presented limits opposing Creon's civic