Shouting, Stubborn, and Sorrowful

3. When Antigone realizes that she alone would bury Polynices, Ismene decides to comfort her by assuring her that she would remain silent–an attempt to pledge loyalty to Antigone despite not wanting to share the full responsibility of burying their brother. Antigone believes that she should not only bury Polynices but also “shout it out” because she is proud of doing what is more honorable to the gods, and desires only their approval. Following the conversation, Antigone clearly indicates her higher regard for the divine law than common law when she tells Ismene that she will die and lay with the one she loves and is loved by, “an outrage sacred to the gods.” Following her stating her decision to shout about her accomplishment and victory of burying her brother, she justifies herself by stating “I know I please where I must please the most.” Thereby showing a clear pride and confidence in her decision resulting from the security of the eternal, spiritual world, as opposed to the fleeting and shallow human world.

4. Although Antigone and Creon are the main conflicting characters throughout the play, they are similar in their unswerving stand for their values, beliefs, and sentiments. Both characters represented two extremes of personal conviction. The reader gets a more clear picture of an extreme approach when both characters have instances where they are talked into reason. The author uses Ismene to show how radical Antigone was through her regard for her sister who opposed her. While Ismene is guilty of wanting to be a silent, passing bystander, Antigone tells her that even if she changes her heart she would not be worthy of sharing the glory and responsibility of burying Polynices. The reader sees an unwillingness to be compassionate and reasonable even with those close to her heart and blood. The author similarly uses Haemon to expose a similar quality in Creon when he opposes his decision to punish Antigone. Haemon warns Creon of his fate and sadness if he continues to refuse to bend his standards. Even being shown the reality of the situation that the very people he is trying to protect do not feel protected in his decisions by someone close to him in heart and blood, is not enough to break Creon’s strong will. It is pride that consumes them both and causes them to go through much sorrow on the way to their demise.

8. Antigone relates to many themes such as love, determination, family values, pride, and selfishness, but arguably most interestingly, it raises the question of which force is a greater determination of one’s life– fate or free will.  The play begins by mentioning the simple misfortune of one who’s family has been cursed by the gods. It shows that there is no escaping a certain route one takes in life because it has been predetermined and beyond human control. However, in the latter part of the play, the chorus actually blames Antione’s own pride and temper for her own destruction. Sophocles uses this factor of the play to further emphasize the very dichotomous nature of life itself.  In everyone’s beginning, there is a part of their lives that they cannot control. Antigone had no responsibility or choice in who she would be born to. However, it is no coincidence that toward the end of the play, the chorus shifts the perspective to reflect on what Antigone did and could have avoided. Antigone’s decisions in response to what was already determined are where she really finds her downfall. The play shows us that we may not be able to control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond to it–thereby endorsing both fate to some extent and free will to another.