Antigone - a Play by Sophocles - Research Paper Example

Antigone - a Play by Sophocles Antigone is one of the three greatest Theban plays created by the distinguished playwright of ancient Greece Sophocles. The celebrated playwright maintained outstanding command over producing tragedies in an astounding manner, which could particularly be found by going through and analyzing his marvelous work Oedipus the King and other tragedies. All these tragedies reveal Sophocles’s observation of the political and social system of his times as well as his deep insight into the nature and emotions prevailing in the heart of women, who leave no stone unturned to fulfill their obligations towards their blood relations because of the unconditional sentiments they contain for their family members, and even put their life at stake in order to save the life and honor of their blood relations and lovers. Hence, the play displays the author’s vast knowledge and in-depth surveillance on woman psychology, and the wisdom and compassion women exercise at the eve of crisis occurred in their life. The play under study i.e. Antigone depicts the same magnitude of concern and sacrifice that is submitted by Sophocles by drawing out the powerful character and personality of the protagonist of the story i.e. Antigone, who defies the royal edict regarding the humiliation of the dead body of her brother Polyneices. Since Polyneices has been declared as rebel to the city by the King, he has lost his status as the respectable and loyal citizen. Consequently, the King has issued decree that being rebel to the state, Polyneices could neither be buried in a dignified manner, nor would he be lamented and mourned altogether; on the contrary, his corpse would keep uncovered in the fields, so that it could be torn and tattered by kites, vultures, crows, dogs and other birds and animals. (Lines 196-201) Here appears the conflict in the role and responsibilities of Antigone’s as a citizen and as a sister. As a responsible citizen, she has to obey the royal commands; and as the loving and dedicated sister of Polyneices, she has every right to secure the corpse of his brother from becoming the prey to desecration. But she is not such sort of lady, which lacks decision power. On the contrary, she is well aware regarding her duties and obligations. So, Antigone is not ready to comply with such an indecent, immoral and inhuman royal edict of humiliating the corpse, which is also vehemently against divine law. The divine law, according to Antigone, lays stress upon mercy, kindness and charity, and prohibits humans to desecrate human body even after death. She is not ready even to tolerate the humiliation of her brother’s dead body; it is therefore, she is determined to bury the corpse according to the prevailing norms and rituals of the Thebes city. (Lines 19-25) Though she has unabated attachment with his dead brother Polyneices, yet she does not perform it mere out of sheer love for him; rather, she also looks for observing of religious cult, rituals and customs prevailing in Thebes of her times. Consequently, she has poured thirsty dust on the corpse with her hands in order to hide it from the eyes of jackals and other beasts, as the guard states that their appear no signs of chariot wheels or tools to be applied to safeguard the corpse. (Lines 236-238) But she has to face the music for her defiance to the royal decree, and undergoes the displeasure and wrath of the King Creon. As a result, she has to pay ransom amount for her insolence to the King’s orders, and suffered imprisonment and then loses her life for her refusal and unyielding fortitude subsequently. Being the dedicated and affectionate sister of Polyneices, she has no repentance for violating the royal order. (Lines 401-405) On the other hand, she feels unbound gratification on performing such a gallant deed alone, which could not be performed even by men of the city. Hence, the play successfully addresses female characters and the decisive role played by them at both political and domestic levels, which prove them as inspirational and sublime in character, disposition and mannerism. The play submits to state how the women sacrifice their lives for some religious, social, political or domestic cause, which is sure to invite unsteadiness, turmoil and disturbance in the life of transgressors and the cruel in the aftermath of gallantry displayed by them for some noble cause. The play under analysis also shows the characters of Antigone’s sister Ismene and the Queen Eurydice, wife of Creon. Both these women also display exemplary love for their sister and son respectively, who are under cloud due to the wrath of the King. Though they are not brave enough to challenge the mercilessness of the King, yet they do not hesitate in putting their lives in danger for the sake of their loved ones. Both these feminine characters are somewhat less emotional and far wiser than Antigone, because they know that they are unable to raise their weak voice before the sonorous tone of male dominated society. Even then, Eurydice wastes no time in committing suicide as soon as she is communicated the death of her son Haemon. Hence, she takes her life as a protest to the King’s unjust decree, which has already cost the lives of Antigone and her fiancé Haemon. The play reveals the pain Antigone feels because of the humiliation of the corpse of her brother, which shows her natural love and affection for Polyneices on the one hand, and her unflinching determination to protect the dead brother from such grave disgrace after death on the other. She is so courageous that she is determined to perform the burial service alone at the time when Ismene looks reluctant to violate the decree. (Lines 79-80) Thus, on the one side, the playwright portray woman as brave, courageous, dauntless and sacrificing in the character of Antigone, which intends to protect her family from insult at the price of her life, and on the other side, he has shown woman as compromising, meek, coward, careful and cautious in the form of Ismene. Antigone is emotional and impatience, and wants to fulfill her mission at any cost. On the contrary, Ismene displays wisdom, patience and farsightedness in respect of violating the edict, and consoles her sister while reminding Antigone the losses their family has already borne. She reminds Antigone the dreadful and fateful end of their father and brothers; it is therefore, they should be cautious before taking any step haphazardly. (Lines 49-56) Somehow, it does not mean that Ismene is heartless and merciless. On the contrary, her compliance to lend a hand to Antigone in the burial process strongly proves her as a sympathetic and sacrificing sister. Though she looks for observing the rules of the city, (Lines 77-78) but her affection for her sister and dead brother overcomes her fear of the expected punishment from the King for breaking the law issued by him. It is therefore, she is also arrested along with Antigone, though she is released from prison and her sentence is revoked and surrendered by the King. The Chorus also declares the gallant deeds exercised by Antigone as the just ones. Since Creon himself is bound to display kindness, mercy and justice on the basis of his allegiance with the gods, he has violated the decree of gods. Hence, he cannot blame Antigone of breaking the law. Thus, the chorus views Antigone as brave and justified, but unfortunate and hapless lady, upon whom, death penalty would surely be imposed at any cost. (Lines 239-247) The Chorus also views Antigone as obstinate and stubborn like his father King Oedipus, who also did not know to bow before any injustice or any disaster altogether. (Lines 427-429) Antigone also pleads her case in a highly dignified manner, where she cites rules and regulations and argues that such laws of desecrating dead bodies had not been articulated by Zeus or his predecessors; not such laws were observed by the later kings including her father King Oedipus. Rather, it is Creon to inflict cruel penalties to his political rivals and foes, against which the culprit would have to undergo the wrath of Heavens. (Lines 408-427) As a result, Creon turns more furious and declares Antigone as proud, haughty and arrogant young lady, who proclaims her act as rightful instead to showing meekness and humility on violating the royal decree. Haemon, Creon’s son and fiancé of Antigone also views his father’s decree as strictly against the wit and wisdom. He also claims that his father has announced unjust sentence both to Polyneices’s dead body and to Antigone. He argues that a brave and dauntless lady like Antigone has every right to provide a shelter to the son of her parents. Her attempt to save the corpse from disgrace is also the part of her courageous campaign for the best interest of her family’s honor and prestige. (Lines 530-540) He opines Antigone as a compassionate On finding his father not showing any mercy towards Antigone and declaring her as transgressor and arrogant, Haemon also raises revolt against Creon and joins his beloved in her campaign against the unjust royal decree. And as soon as he finds his dauntless beloved hanging and dead, he also takes his life as a strong protest against the atrocities and cruelties of the King. The play shows how a dedicated and prudent lady steps forward to change the cruel political system of her times. Antigone is rightly views as one of the most impressive and dynamic heroines of the literature of all times, who challenges the government and system of her era by putting her life in grave jeopardy. Instead of pleading guilty, she remains firm and resolute at the face of hardships, and lost her life, but after enkindling the lamp of justice and fair play out of her blood. Work Cited: Sophocles Antigone Penguin Publishers 1982 Read More