Antigone Paper

Enzo DeLuca

Ms Peifer

English 10 IB Hour 5 

11/26/08

A Guilty Man

Creon was guilty of overriding the Gods laws with his own insensitive, hastily planned laws.  His anger at Polyneices'  be trail caused him to create a law that ignored the existing burial rites required by the Gods.  He didn't think about the consequences of changing the law and what effects it would have on surviving family members and friends.  Therefor, the tragedies that resulted from this new law and the personal suffering that Creon endured because of his actions were justified.  

Creon's first mistake was his law about burial rites.  Creon talking about Polyneices said, "... he'll have no burial mound, no funeral rites, and no lament.  He'll be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate" (Sophocles 233-236).  Antigone had also heard of this law.  While she was talking to her sister Ismene about the burial, she clearly states that, "He's honouring one with a full funeral and treating the other one disgracefully" (Sophocles 26-27). Antigone is referring to he brothers Eteocles and Polyneices.  While he may have been angry at Polyneices for acting out against the country, he had no right to take away Polyneices' burial rites.  In fact, it is against the gods law to deny someone burial rites.  The Gods law states that one must get the dead body ready for the Hades and the after life.  Anyone who goes against the gods laws will be damned for eternity.

Creon was also very self absorbed, he never thought of anyone else but himself.  He never considered the consequences of changing the law , the need for mourners to grieve and lovingly take care of the dead or  the effect it would have on his family as a whole.  When Haemon first enters the palace Creon says, "My son, have you heard the sentence that's been passed upon your bride? And have you now come here angry at your father? Or are you loyal to me, on my side no matter what I do" (Sophocles (716-719).  This is quite the biased question.  Creon does not care about his sons feelings.  Creon only wants to hear Haemon say that he is not angry at him for sending Haemon's fiancé to death.  The father, son conversation ends badly and Haemon exits saying, "No. Don't ever hope for that.  She'll not die with me just standing there.  And as for you your eyes will never see my face again.  So let your rage charge on among your friends who want to stand by you in this" (871-875).  Shortly after this Haemon killed himself with his own blade just to be with Antigone who had hung herself.  Creon's wife had also killed herself because of the death of her son.  Creon finally realized what his absurd law had done, however, this realization came to late his family  were already dead, and no one can cheat death.

Creon is guilty of the deaths for three very important people.  He is also guilty of not obeying the laws of the Gods and placing his own law above the God's which is sin that no one can return from.  Creon will be stoned to death, and Hades shall have him with the rest of the damned for eternity.

Work Cited

Sophocles, "Antigone."  Sophocles Antigone.  Trans. Ian Johnston 

09 Aug. 2008 Vancouver Island University 24 Nov. 2008 

LRJ #2 Antigone

Enzo DeLuca

Ms Peifer

English 10 IB Hour 5

11/26/08 

Antigone

Through out the play of Antigone, the image of death, and rotting corpses are repeated.  When Creon firsts enters the play he said about Polyneices, "He'll be left unburied, his body there for birds and dogs to eat, a clear reminder of his shameful fate.  That's my decision.  For I'll never act to respect an evil man with honours in preference to a man who's acted well" (Sophocles 234-239).  This image shows how Creon will have no mercy for those who have done wrong to their country.  That they will be given no burial rights, and be left to die while their corpse gets eaten by wild animals. 

Creon has the most flaws out of any of the characters in the play Antigone.  His biggest flaws are how stubborn he is.  He believes that everything he says and does is correct and no one can tell him otherwise.  Such as when he is talking to Antigone after she has pleaded guilty to burring Polyneices, he says to her, "And yet you dared to defy the law" (Sophocles 823).  He is believing that his law his high above everything else in existence.  Creon also believes that his word is better then a profit.  While talking to the blind profit Teiresias, he says, "No doubt. Speak: whatever you say, you will not challenge my will" (Sophocles 837).  Tieresias was trying to help Creon change his mind before he made a mistake that would take the life of his loved ones. 

Anagnorisis happens after Creon is finished talking with Tieresias.  Creon desides to go and set free Antigone and make amends for what he has done.  The messenger stops him before and tells him that his son Hamion has committed suicide because he was angry at his father for everything he has done.  It is also mentioned that Creon's wife is also dead.  He has an epiphany when he realizes that he has know to support him anymore, that he wishes that he could die just to be with his family.  No matter how bad Creon has acted through out the play, the audience's feelings turn to sadness at Creon's loss.  That's where catharisis happens in the play after Creon has realized what his laws has done to his family.  Creon really doesn't have a peripeteia because he can not change the past, he can not bring back his loved ones from the dead.  There is no change in fortune for him.  Only sadness and misery. 

Women in the play might be seen as anarchists through the acts of Antigone burying Polyneices.  Though they could be shown as disciples following the acts of the Greek gods and goddesses.  Yes, Antigone did break the law.  However, she broke a law that was set down by a mortal king.  Antigone could have been doing her duty to the gods assuring them that Polyneices got to the after life.  She could have been obeying the law of a higher power.      

Thebes news paper article

ANARCHY!!!

Anarchy in our kingdom!  Creon's royal decree has been disobeyed!   Early yesterday morning, Antigone was spotted at the scene of where Polyneices was buried.  She was brought to the palace, and Creon could not believe what he saw; his own blood has turned against him.  Antigone his niece broke one very important rule that Creon had made.  He said that anyone who has fought against the city should not be given a proper burial.  That they should be left out in the wilderness and the birds, dogs, and any other animal will feast on their decaying body.  

Creon found it hard to believe that Antigone buried Polyneices all by herself.  Our king being the intelligent and clever man knew that as Antigone was speaking, that she was trying to hide that her sister Ismene also helped in the burial of Polyneices.  Ismene too claimed that she helped Antigone though Antigone denies that Ismene helped her.  Antigone says that Ismene returned home after she had denied her help.  Antigone goes on to say later that her sisters death would be unnecessary seeing as though Ismene never had anything to do with the burying of Pelneices, that she never wanted to do so in the first place.  

What devil is inside these girls to have made them perform such a treacherous action?  If they had just done what they were supposed to do, they would not be in this situation right now.  Their punishment is their death.  It seems quite foolish to burry the dead when one is not supposed to, only to die in return.  This should prove to all citizens that our king will not give mercy to law breakers.  That anyone who breaks the law will be punished with death.  

Technology

The internet, one of the most handiest tools for human kind today.  Surfing the world wide web, checking out facebook, and myspace.  Talking to family that may be far away.  Talking to people who may be from a different country, then after a few minutes talking like you have been friends for years.  But do people know when enough screen time is enough?

Personally, I have been around technology my entire life.  I remember playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the original Nintendo system (NES).  Watching the two dimensional pixel characters jumping hitting the evil pig.  Alas, when certain circumstances did not go my way, I remember throwing a fit and chucking the controller and the television, or trying to snap the controller in half.  I never thought for a second that maybe it was operator error and not the characters fault.  

Computers another story completely.  Playing games on the old kid friendly Macintosh.  Games with a weird gopher that would try to tell you how to build a train.  But when you put a nail in the nail spot he says, "That doesn't go there" and then he laughs.  So you try other spots and he still says that it doesn't go there.  And all the time you are sitting in the chair wondering why that nail doesn't go anywhere that you try inserting it.  Going on the old Netscape internet browser and wondering when the home page for the pokémon website is going to finally load all the way.  Sitting there for five minutes eagerly waiting and then waiting just a bit more.  Until the anxiety becomes to overwhelming for a certain seven year old child and starts yelling at the computer to go faster (which I still do to this day).

In the words of the English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, "Techmology what is that all about? Is it good, or is it wack?" I think that technology wonderful and highly useful.  I look back sometimes and wonder how I ever survived without a cell phone: to call or text friends, call the family to let them know what is going on.  How did I survive without an Ipod: for long trips in the car watching videos, or listening to hours of music, on the bus to school attempting to wake myself up fully.  

Though there are sometimes when I believe that everyone should unplug themselves from their television, or Nintendo Wii, PSP, Ipod.  The way some people walk around they look like robots having wires coming out every end of their body.  Some people do creep on others on the internet, or they live their life in an online game.  

This is the first actual blog and I have to say that this blogging thing will be a fun and interesting.  

   

Start Up

Ok, let's edit this so they don't count me as a spammer.  This is my blog, for all kinds of english stuff, and blogging. Hopefully this will be long enough so they don't delete my blog. Bloody robots...