Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Antigone and Creon

Who is more correct in their actions or words, Antigone or Creon? Who is more fair or rational? Argue one or the other while referencing specific parts of the play (paraphrasing is fine). Remember: Tragedy may make you feel, but you need to think in your response.

I believe that when it comes to the matter of who is more fair and rational it would be Antigone. I believe this because even though Creon ordered the body of Polyneices to lay unburied because he knew that if he buried his nephew, an enemy, soon the whole kingdom would be in chaos. So he refrained from honoring his nephew and instead honoured his kingdom, because this is for the greater good. But he then let his ego get in the way, and his good intentions wavered. He then wanted to execute Antigone not for putting the good of her family ahead of the good of the kingdom, but because she insulted his pride. He then ordered the execution of Isemene as well, just for the reason she is Antigone's sister. While Antigone's belief never wavered, she believed that when it came down to ethics or morals, she believed that morals were more important. Antigone wanted to honour her brother's death, he did not deserve to lay unburied in a battlefield. Antigone is more fair and rational because she believed in heaven's laws over man's, she loved her brother more than her own life. Creon stopped being the fair and rational one when he let his pride come before his ethics and morals.

1 comment:

  1. Excellent. Do you think this applies to real life as well? What happens when someone allows their pride dictate their decision-making process?

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