Ms.Peifer
10 IB Hr.5
25 November 2008
"Found shock of death in the dusty joy of battle"(Sophocles 31-32). Eteocles and Polyneices are both shockingly dead. The two siblings killed each other in battle. This shows the theme of surprise, because when Antigone gave Polyneices a proper burial, this action of hers surprised Creon and Ismene because it was against the law and she was a women. The image shows the element of surprise in battle. This is important because it shows how Antigone risked her life for her brother, which was surprising to see from a women.
A fatal flaw in "Antigone" was how Creon was stuck up. Creon being stuck up is what caused him to lose his son and his wife. "Is it a mistake to honour my own rule?"(Sophocles 848). THis shows Creons stubbornness of not caring about looking at and understanding what Antigone did, Creon is enforcing his rule no matter what. This is what lead to the death of haemon and Creons wife. "I killed you. my son, without intending to, and you, as well, my wife.....I don't know where to look or find support. Everything I touch goes wrong..."(Sophocles 1486-1489). At the end Creon fell apart.
Anagnorisis is seen at the end of "Antigone". "Alas, it seems you've learned to see whats right-- but far too late"(Sophocles 1269-1270). This is said to Creon when he finally realized that he had been a fool. Thus resulting with the death of Haemon, Creons wife, and Antigone. Which is where peripeteia occurs. Creon now knows that what he has done, is the reason his close family killed themselves. "I murdered you.... I speak the truth... for now what I am in life is nothing"(Sophocles 1319-1322). This shows how Creon admitted he was wrong , and the consequences were his fault. Catharsis is at the very end of the play , when the chorus says "The most important part of true success is wisdom..."(Sophocles 1348-1349). This gives a good closure, and release from all that has occured in the play.
In "Antigone" it is shown that men are dominant over women. Women are not valued as high as men in the ancient greek society. "We must remember that by birth we're women, and, as such, we shouldn't fight with men"(Sophocles 62-63). This shows that the women should let men handle things, and women just stay out of it.
Works Cited
Sophocles. "Antigone."The Internet Classic Archive. Trans. R.C. Jobb. 04 Oct 2000. Classics.mit.edu. 25 Nov. 2008
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