LRJ#2: Antigone

In Sophocles' Antigone, he uses imagery to portray the body of Polyneices'. This repeated image provokes the concept of the entire play. In the opening, Antigone describes the body: "But his body must lie in the fields, a sweet treasure for carrion birds to find as they search for food" (Sophocles 816). Antigone goes on to say how this is not the way that Polneices'(her past brother) would want to be remembered. Creon then argues and pursues, "...he shall lie on the plain, unburied; and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with it whatever they like" (Sophocles 819). Polyneices' body lying on the plain is the entire controversy that the play is revolving around. If the reader could not picture this image, they would be unable to comprehend the essence of the story and Antigone's reasoning later in the play.




A fatal flaw in, Antigone, is that of Creon. He is stubborn, and unwilling to admit his mistakes and decisions. Even before Tiresias speaks with him, Creon's rigidity is exposed. This becomes evident in their conversation when he exclaims, "Whatever you say, you will not change my will" (Sophocles 837). When stating this, Creon implies that no matter what the prophet is going to say to him, it will not change his mind or alter his actions. Their conversation again exposes Creon's "know it all" mindset. He says to Tiresias: "From my experience I can confirm the help you give" (Sophocles lines 106-107). When Creon says this he suggests that he already knows what Tiresias is going to predict. Tiresias goes on to tell him that his "luck is is once more on fate’s razor edge" (Sophocles line 109). Creon's stubbornness is results in the deaths of his loved ones.


The anagnorisis of Creon is when he realizes his stubbornness and admits his mistakes. Creon reluctantly speaks of his errors: "Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride" (Sophocles 837-839). He finally is able to come to a realization and accept that he has made mistakes in judgment. His epiphany causes him to say, "It is right that it should be. I alone am guilty. I know it, and I say it" (Sophocles 841). At this moment in the play, it is clear that Creon knows what he has done wrong and why things resulted the way they did.


Peripetia in Antigone, is when Creon's fortune is reversed. Once Tiresias tells Creon to free Antigone from her cave, he immediatly goes to fetch her thinking that all will become right again. He is unfortunately too late and discovers that Antigone and his son, Haimon, have killed themselves--just as the prophet had predicted. His genuine sorrow is portrayed when viewing their bodies: "When Creon saw him the tears rushed to his eyes" (Sophocles 840). Creon feels bad that he is the cause of their deaths and learns his lesson. The chorus leader tells him, "Alas, it seems you’ve learned to see what’s right—but far too late" (Sophocles lines 1269-1270). Creon goes into the situation thinking that everything is going to be fine, but as it turns out all goes wrong.


Catharasis, an emotional release of the reader, happens near the end of the play. Emotions such as pity and resentment are removed from the mind of the reader when Creon makes the decision to give up on his own life. He explains this emotion in the statement, "...for now what I am in life is nothing" (Sophocles lines 1321-1322). Creon feels such shame and lifelessness that his emotions bring him to say, "Oh, let it come, so that I never see another dawn" (Sophocles lines 1331-1332). His sadness and emptiness are the release of his inner feelings and tension building up inside of him.



In Antigone, women are characterized as brave and noble people. Creon however, looks down upon the female gender. His opinion becomes apparent throughout the play, and through several comments. In response to Haimon's pleading he says, "It seems as if this boy is fighting on the woman's side" (Sophocles lines 704-705). Although Creon puts down Antigone, he does not stop her. Antigone's bravery is shown throughout the play. She bravely and defiantly states: "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (Sophocles line 34). The courageous actions she takes to have her beloved brother Polyneices' body be buried shows her strength. She states this feeling, "For me meeting this fate won't bring any pain. But if I'd allowed my own mother's dead son to just lie there, an unburied corpse, then I'd feel distress" (Johnston 526-529). Antigone explains how she would feel if Polyneices was not buried. Overall, women are characterized as loyal and courageous, but are looked down upon by King Creon.


Works Cited

Sophocles. "Antigone." Literature Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 814-826.

---. "Antigone." Johnstonia. Trans. Ian Johnson. May 2005. 24 November 2008 < http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/Sophocles/Antigone.htm >.