Suicide, Determination and Sexuality

Suicide: Antigone committed suicide in prison. In Dante’s Inferno people who die by taking their own life are exiled to the ‘Wood of Suicides’ in circle 7. Analyze Antigone’s life and death through Dante’s eyes. Would he look upon her life (and death) nobly or disgracefully? Do you think that he would place Antigone in the 7th Circle of Hell? If so, describe her afterlife in Hell.
Determination and self-sacrifice: Antigone and Shahrazad are determined almost to a fault. They put their lives at risk in order to do what they feel is just. It is their determination and self-sacrifice that ultimately drives the plot. Analyze their determination, respectively. Do you agree with their stance (and actions)? If not, how do you view their actions? Lastly, if put in their shoes, would you do the same?
Sexuality: Beatrice in the Inferno and Shahrazad in A Thousand and One Nights both hold integral roles in the respective texts. They act as guides to King Shahryar and Dante. How are they able to use their sexuality to further their agenda? Describe and give examples of other strengths and qualities that they possess. Do you think that their roles would be less significant had they been portrayed as less ‘alluring’?

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