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Summary And Analysis Of Antigone

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Sophocles, born at Colonus in 496 or 495 B.C. and died after 413 B.C. is one of the three major Greek tragedians whose work partially succeeded to the new generation. He is the author of Antigone, one of the seven plays that cross over the time. This story belongs to the legend attached to the city of Thebes. According to Greek mythology, she is one of the children born of the incestuous union of Oedipus King of Thebes and his own mother, Jocasta, and is the sister of Ismene, Eteocles and Polynices. She demonstrated a dedication and magnanimity unparalleled in mythology. The hubris desire of Creon changed the natural order of things and cause of the whole tragedy. The scene is about a real duality between him and Antigone, a fight between idealism against political realism, the torture of Polynices against the funeral with great pomp of his brother, honoring Eteocles would be trivial if we gave the same honor to Polyneices. It is the fight of the state against family, life against death. Antigone is the tragedy of the opposition, and especially that of the law of justice and of social life.

During the War of Seven Heads, her brothers Eteocles and Polynices killed each other. Creon, Jocasta's brother, then in power gave to Eteocles a proper burial, but ordered that the body of Polynices, considered as a traitor to his country, remained unburied where he felt. Antigone, believing that divine law should prevail over humans’ decrees, decided to pay honorable funeral to his brother. She conveyed to her sister, Ismene, of her intention to defy the ban. Because the ban was issued by King Creon, Ismene refused to follow her in this business ("

What, would you bury him?

Against the proclamation? ,

When Creon has forbidden it?

While Antigone went to accomplish what she considered being her religious duty, Creon developed, with some bombast, before the chorus of Theban elders - chosen for their docility - his political philosophy. Meanwhile, a guard came to inform the king of the violation of the decree. The Coryphaeus suggested then him that his ban was perhaps a bad decision like a message sent by the gods.

My lord, my heart misgave me from the first

This must be something more than natural

Creon became angry and ordered them to silence.

Truce to your speech, before I choke with rage,

Lest you be found at once grey-beard and fool!

Right after, he accused the guard of being the author of the package reported, because for money he can sell his soul. The king threatened him to be punished with the worst abuse if he did not return quickly with the guilty to prove his innocence.

The Guard returned with Antigone, caught in the act. The confrontation was immediate and total. She claimed the illegitimacy of the royal edict by referring to divine laws, unwritten and eternal.

Because it was not Zeus who ordered it,

Nor Justice, dweller with the Nether Gods,

Gave such a law to men; nor did I deem

Your ordinance of so much binding force,

As

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