Antigone Essay Research Paper Antigone The main

Antigone Essay, Research Paper Antigone The main theme for Antigone is that people sometimes have to learn the hard way from their mistakes. This theme is expressed in the final four lines of the play. They read, There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise. These lines are an important part of the play. They symbolize Creon’s bad decisions, his defiance of the gods, the punishment he went through because of his edict, and the wisdom he gained because of all his mistakes. “There is no happiness where there is no wisdom” demonstrates how Creon not using wisdom in his decisions affected him. By declaring that Polyneices could not have a proper burial, he

went against the gods and the other citizens of Thebes’s beliefs. This was not a wise decision on his part, and because of it he lost his wife, his son, and his happiness. This is what is expressed in the line, “No wisdom but in submission to the gods.” The edict and decisions that Creon made demonstrated that his law was more important than the laws of the gods . His defiance of the laws eventually made him believe, by talking to Teirisias, that something bad would happen to him, so he gave in to his decision. When he gave into the gods he gained wisdom and learned that his actions would be punished. Creons edict is considered his big words. In the third line it says, “Big words are always punished.” Creons edict was punished by his loss of happiness. In Ancient

Greece, life was full of complicated questions centered on the expanding Field of science. Freedom of religion was encouraged to be exercised in the city-states and man was focused on more than the Gods or heavenly concerns. As a result many new ideals and beliefs surfaced. These new ideals and beliefs, though good in intentions, often conflicted with One another and created complex moral dilemmas. Such was the case in Sophocle s play . According to Richard Jebb, “It is the only instance in which a Greek play has for its central theme a practical problem of conduct, involving issues, moral and political, which might be discussed on similar grounds in any age and in any country of the world.” Perhaps personal experience is the reason why so many people can relate to this

story. After all, the theme of the story is personal conflict, with two stubborn people at a standstill because of their unwillingness to compromise. The conflict between the laws of the gods and those of the humans, with Antigone and Creon representing the opposite sides. Sophocles paints these two title characters are remarkably similar, and he invokes the readers’ sympathy toward them both. However, it is Creon, and not Antigone, who is the “hero” of the story, because his character suffers a tragic downfall. The primary conflict arises when Creon declares that no one be allowed to bury the body of Polynices, one of Antigone’s brothers who was slain in battle. Antigone, who cares for her brother very much, wants to see him properly laid to rest, so that his spirit can

find peace. Unfortunately, doing so will mean certain death, as Creon’s orders are not to be disobeyed. Antigone believes that Creon’s law is wrong, and that Polynices, although a traitor to the city of Thebes, should be buried. She finds it immoral of Creon to forbid such an action. While trying to convince her sister Ismene to help bury him, Antigone says, “The time in which I must please those that are dead is longer than I must please those of this world. For there I shall lie forever.” (Sophocles, “Antigone” ) Creon, on the other hand, is a new king who wants to make sure he becomes a respected and somewhat feared ruler. He does not want to begin his reign by issuing a decree and then rescinding it the moment a conflict arises. There are many similarities between