Psychology of Characters in Antigone - Essay Example

? Oedipus the King Task Introduction The world of literature orbits around many literal aspects. Theses aspects make a certain work to gain stature and have a flow. Therefore, diverse literal works integrate themes, characters styles, motifs and creativity that flavor literature. Different characters have dissimilar qualities enabling them to take diverse roles in a play. Themes play the greatest role in building of a plot. The essays will seek to explore two different works: One of the works is Antigone and the other is Hamlet. The essays comprise of characterization in Antigone and exploration of multicultural themes in Oedipus tyrannous respectively. Antigone (1500 A.D) Psychology of Characters in Antigone Antigone is one of the Sophocles woven in tyranny and culture. The play contains many characters helping in laying the plot of the story. One of the characters is Antigone, the protagonist of the play. Antigone is determined. This is because she decides laying her brother to rest. She refutes King Creon’s decision that Polinices does not entail to be buried (Anouilh & Sam, 2002). She goes ahead to bury Polinices despite the consequences that may befall her. Her sister Isemne tries convincing Antigone, her sister to refute this decision .This is because she worries that her life may be at threat if she buried Polinices. This is in regard to the King’s order that Polinices deserved no burial. Her determination is a trait that compels readers interested in the play. She is also daring because she undertakes burying Polinices, knowing that her life is at threat. This trait helps build the plot because the king pursues her deeds. She is also sallow. Antigone is shown not to be as stunning as her sister Isemne. The other trait is that she is obstinate. This is true concerning the way she disobeys that kings ruling that no one ought to bury Polinices. Disregarding that her life may be at danger, she still resolves burying Polinices. Creon Creon, as a character, depicts various traits that explain diverse issues in the play. One of the traits is that he is powerful (Anouilh & Sam, 2002). After the death of Oedipus, Creon becomes the next heir. This is because everyone trusts him with the task of becoming a king. He also makes rulings that demonstrate that he has authority. For example concluding that Polinices required no burial, this shows his might and authority of ruling. The other trait is that he is unreasonable. His action of deciding that Polinices burial would not happen is a clear proof. The king is inhuman because he tries scheming for the execution of Antigone after she goes against his rulings. Plotting to kill someone is something that is exceedingly wrong. In addition, Creon is cruel concerning his acts of scheming and ordering for Antigones execution. This is because killing is something that is brutal to a person. Moreover, Creon is timid pertaining to his response to Teresia’s prophecy that he would be struck by fury of the spirits. This makes him stop pursuing to kill Antigone. Isemne Isemne, the sister of Antigone, displays various traits. One of the traits is that she is beautiful as conflicting to her sister. The other trait is that she is calm. This trait has its explanations from remaining unruffled despite demise of Polinices. When her sister is exceedingly vibrant about burying Polinices, Isemne has no issues to do with his. The other trait is that she is collected. This aspect is well depicted in her ability to stay withdrawn to things surrounding the burial of Polinices. Isemne is also reasonable concerning her act of defying rebellion. This is because she persuades her sister not to defy rulings of King Creon (Anouilh & Sams, 2002). In addition, Isemne is also lovable. This is because of the fact that she plays the role of advising her sister, and the fact that she is not disobedient. Another trait is that she is good-natured. This is following the fact that she undertakes telling her sister to obey the king’s rulings. This is however something that her sister Antigone does not listen. Haemon One of the traits of Haemon is that he is loving. This is concerning the he tries to persuades his father, King Creon, not to execute Antigone. This is because the father is cruel enough to order for her murder. However, the father refutes Haemon’s ideas that Antigone should not be executed. The other trait is that Haemon is humane. This is concerning the way he pleads with the father to stop scheming for Antigone’s death. Haemon is also loyal. This is pertaining to the way he stands with Antigone up to her fateful death. Eurydice Eurydice is a kind lady who stays way from the weird rulings of her husband. This is because King Creon has a lot of power. The other trait is that she is pessimistic. This can be displayed in the way she takes her life at the end (Anouilh & Sams, 2002). This is because he she tires of stomaching her husbands ruthlessness. Chorus The other exceedingly crucial bit of characterization is the chorus. Antigone comprises of a chorus that helps in building of the play’s plot. The chorus helps in introducing certain acts of the play. One thing is that it helps introduce is the characters taking part in the play. This is by ensuring that the audience aware of the preceding events. The last aspect where Chorus helps the spectators is on how to trail the happenings of the play without deviating. Nurse The nurse in the play assumes the position of taking concern of the king’s daughters. One of the characters to deduce from the play is that compassion. She is extremely mindful of the welfare of the girls and does her best in bringing them up. These actions compel readers to brand her with this trait. In addition the nurse is also caring. This is because of the fact that she does her best in caring for Isemne and Antigone. In conclusion, characterization plays an exceedingly vital task in developing the play. Therefore, the characters in the play help knit the play into one. The diverse characters included in the play have distinct functions. These characters have different responsibilities in the play. Essay 2, Multicultural themes in Hamlet Introduction The play Hamlet also has several themes that help in building of the plot. The play comprises of various aspects that make it have connection. The aspects include matters of characterization and themes. This essay seeks to explain multicultural themes emanating in the play. Tradition One of the themes of the play is that of tradition. Tradition refers to the way a certain group of people is conservative to their way of life. For example, the belief that a seer can predict the future is one thing that has a basing in culture. This is true from the way Hamlet tries getting information from a messenger who is perceived to be a seer (Duggan, 2008). This means that Hamlet believes that the messenger can contain him with useful information about his fate. Therefore, when the messenger explains to him that Claudius is the one concerned with his death, he goes ahead to try killing Claudius. Christianity The other theme is that of Christianity. This is well depicted in the play Hamlet. One way in which Christianity has its exploration is in the mansion of spirits. Spirits in the play reappear after the demise of King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet is the person that was given news concerning the cause of King Hamlet’s death. It is after that confirmation that we see prince Hamlet trying to track the one who killed his father. The person blamed with execution of King Hamlet is Claudius. What follows the revelation of the executioner is scheming for the execution of Claudius. Therefore, Prince Hamlet plans to assassinate Claudius, but gets him praying. Praying is something connected to Christianity and Christian beliefs. Therefore, this aspect builds the theme of Christianity in the play. When Prince Hamlet, finds Claudius praying, He resolves to stop executing him (Duggan, 2008). This is because he believes that executing Claudius as he prayed would not be revenge enough. This is because; Claudius would go to heaven out of his acts of praying. The belief about heaven shows us that there is Christianity. This is because Prince Hamlet believes that people go to heaven after their demise. One of the upright deeds is praying, the same way Claudius did. Therefore, this theme of Christianity is expounded deeply. Superstition Superstition is another theme explored in Hamlet. This is through the way in which they believe in spirits. Spirits are beings that do not have body physique, and usually found in dead form. This is in the way Prince Hamlet believes the spirit that claims to be his father (Duggan, 2008). More believe in spirits is shown in the way Prince Hamlet tries to pursue the person concerned with the father’s demise. If he failed to listen to pleads, then it would be easy to claim that his belief had nothing to do with spirits. Madness The other theme evident in the play is that of insanity. Lunacy is as a theme concerns different characters. One character who turns into being a lunatic is Prince Hamlet. Prince Hamlet turns mad after getting the news that Claudius executed his father. This means that he got disturbed to the level of becoming mad. The madness was out of the fact that he wanted to pursue for the one charged with his father’s execution. This further exuberates when the spirit visits Prince Hamlet to inform him about the death of the father. This is because the spirit notifies him that Claudius was responsible for this death. Therefore, madness helped King Hamlet try killing Claudius. However, his plans boomeranged after finding Claudius praying. It is his madness that later makes him move to England. While in England, he becomes killed out of a plan by Claudius to execute him. The other character that becomes mad is Ophelia (Duggan, 2008). The concept of lunacy has its depiction in the way Ophelia, the daughter of Prince Hamlet, acts. Her insanity shows how the daughter gets into melancholy after termination of his father. This insanity shows that the bereavement of King Hamlet made his descendants remorseful. Death of the two characters helps grow tragedy in the play. This is because the play has various tragic moments facing characters. Demise of the characters contributes in developing the play of Hamlet, and brings out the tragedy in the play. Vengeance Vengeance is one theme expounded in the play. For example, Prince Hamlet undertakes revenging after noticing that Claudius was responsible for the demise of King Hamlet. This is because the spirit of his father explains to him that Claudius was responsible of King Hamlet’s execution (Duggan, 2008). Therefore, Prince Hamlet is one character that displays a lot of vengeance in the play. However his efforts become futile when he gets Claudius praying. This is because he has the conviction that Claudius would go to heaven if he died during the praying time. This would make his scheme inadequately vengeful. In conclusion, themes in Hamlet help in building the plot. The themes include tradition, Christianity, superstition, vengeance and madness. The play entangles itself in rich ways that make it captivating to the readers. The themes make the play easy to follow and flow. Therefore, the themes are multicultural because relate diverse issues concerning life. Hamlet splendidly explores the various themes. References Anouilh, J. and Sam, J. (2002). Antigone: a play. New York: Samuel French. Duggan, T. (2002). Hamlet. New York: Prufrock Press Inc. Read More