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Sophocles writes the Antigone play in expressing his view points regarding several issues that include Fate. The play reveals that, Sophocles had a belief that, all people are control by the action they take. Throughout the play, the actions which Antigone takes unmistakably identify the belief of Sophocles that people are controlled by the choices they make. She contributed to her ultimate death. The first mistake she did was violating Creon’s rule through burying Polyneices. She made the choice although she knew the penalty for burying Polyneices. Her stubbornness led to her death. She shows her naivety by viewing that, Creon is not strong to stand in her way. This is unrealistic, because Creon is the leader of Thebes who has a vast influence and supremacy in leadership. Antigone belief of underestimating Creon put her in danger.

Because of Creon supremacy, infringing his law was enough to get Antigone killed. Antigone refused to be subjected to the law despite the fact, the fatal was the king. Her virtues made her choose actions that later had negative outcome of loosing her life. She had purposed to honor the sacred laws instead of common laws. In her understanding, if the conflict occurred, the sacred laws override the man-made laws. The prohibition of Creon’s law of burial is not viewed by Antigone as a legitimate law given that; it contradicts the holy tradition and her goal to defend the sacred laws. Her duty to defend sacred laws, reinforced the virtue of strive in religious ideals. On the Contrary, Creon’s virtue are based on adheres to the man made rules along with traditional of the society. Creon saw Antigone as a threat in the society stability and the order of his law.  Therefore, her virtues could not be accommodated by Creon which led to the tragic event of her death (Johnston et al2007),

According to, Johnston (2007), in the ancient Greek, life had complicated questions that expanded the knowledge on the field of science. Freedom of religion was exercised within the states and man emphasized the concern of honoring the Gods. As a result, many surfaced new ideas and beliefs. Though the intentions were good, they often created conflicts and moral dilemmas. Such is the case in play Antigone. In the play, Creon and Antigone encountered a philosophical war that concerns their ideas on what they belief to be right. The conflict arose when their ideas on burying Polyneices differed, thus created a contradiction in their beliefs. Antigone felt Creon was ignoring the sacred laws through ordering it unlawful for anyone who was provided burying Polyneices. She views that, if an individual is not given a proper burial, he will not be accepted in heaven. Because of her religious aspect, her brother being accepted by the Gods was an important aspect. The orders of Creon were impractical to Antigone.

An important custom in Ancient Greek was a belief that the government was to have no power in matters of religious beliefs. In Antigone opinion, Creon betray ideal of not permitting her to bury her brother. She viewed burial as a religious ceremony and Creon had no power to deny Polyneises those rights. Her beliefs eventually led to her death. Within Ancient Greece, there was a belief that good men are from God. An example is Creon who never wanted to give respect to the man who attempted to attack his city. He denied Polyneices burial in order to show honor for Thebes’s community. The reasoning of Creon coincides with Greek ideal, apart from there are differences in his actions. For instance, he exercised domination of political authority, defies the ideal through holding Antigone as his prisoner instead of the public. Even though the people from Thebes supported Antigen, there were scared to talk about it. Creon action of trying to protect the integrity of the city is identified in ancient Greek. Through protecting his integrity, he was convinced to set Antigone free after weighing the facts. Nevertheless, it was too late for the disagreements of their ideals were the cause for Antigone’s, Megareus and Haemons death.

The role of men in ancient Greece had power, honor and prestige. Men were given most of the responsibilities and were considered to be important people. Men were the individuals who held supremacy in the city and their behavior were praised and celebrated in the society. Antigone plays display the reactions and relationship that was between women and men portraying their differences. In factual, Antigone opinion was not regarded worth by Creon. In the play, Creon plays the role of a leader. He continuously comments how women are weak. At discovering Antigone had exercised the burial rights he sentenced Antigone to death. He limited her to exercise her opinion on what seemed significant. Antigone plays a major role in her family. She stands to what she believes is right even though opposed by Creon. To my opinion she seem to be the older sister in that, when she was sentenced to death, her sister Ismene claimed, “My older sister, how can I live without her here” They had a strong relationship.

The author of Antigone play has had a regard on several issues that include Fate. The play reveals how people believe and some of the actions take thereafter. The play is worth reading.

 

 

References

Johnston, Ian C, Sophocles. (2007). Oedipus the King. New York. Richer ResourcesPublications.

 

 

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