Antigone’s actions are to be admired. She was not searching for glory, or honor, or pride. She simply was following the way of the gods. Antigone’s brother would not have had a good afterlife if she had not made attempts to bury him. She was acting on her personal beliefs regardless of Creon’s laws. Her sister in the end tried to be supportive but it was misinterpreted. Creon had forgotten his place and Haimon tried to remind him but only Antigone’s actions were strong enough to show him.
When Antigone first approaches her sister, she is seeking help. In this scene we hear Antigone’s most basic motivation. It is the way of the gods to bury the dead. Antigone does not pretend her family is anything near good; therefore, even though her brother tried to invade, he still deserves the respect the dead receive. Ismene represents the majority of the people at the beginning. They are too afraid to go against any law or authority. Later Haimon tells his father Creon that there is talk. The people do not understand this law; they are on Antigone’s side. However, Antigone is not going against authority for the sake of it. If Creon had not made that law, she would still have tried to bury her brother. Her issue here was her family and what she believed was right, not authority.
Another point we mentioned in class was whether Antigone was acting as a martyr. I do not think she cared about martyrdom, glory, or honor. She was not trying to make herself look better. If she were trying to glorify herself and her actions, she would have made a better stand of burying her brother in front of people or spoken against Creon directly to the people. No, she was not doing this for herself. When Ismene comes to her aid in front of Creon, neither of them is trying for glory either. Ismene finally realizes her priorities and claims guilt in hopes of supporting her sister. As for Antigone, she was cold and dismissive to her sister for a couple of reasons. She was undoubtedly bitter towards Ismene for not being there when she needed her. Also, as Antigone says “your death will not lessen mine”, meaning there is no point in Ismene dying too given she did nothing against the law. Since Oedipus, this family has been doomed. Antigone sees no need for her sister to die as well, especially because she is the last family member.
I think what Antigone did was noble. She was thinking of her brother before herself. When the laws are unjust, she stood up, ignored them, and did what she knew was right. The gods were extremely important to the culture of her time, their authority superseded that of any king. Therefore, it was important not to upset them. She knew by not burying her brother there would be trouble with his afterlife. Antigone’s motivation was simple; do the right thing.
I thought that your blog was interesting; the way that you have described Antigone and her actions makes me think of civil rights leaders and the judicial and societal changes they have brought about.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Antigone's path can be compared, in a rather simple fashion, to that of civil rights leaders? A law is passed or actions are carried out that are unjust and one person (Antigone) stands and declares their disgust, despite the consequences, and only after some time do the rest of those who perceive the injustice (Ismene, people of Thebes) stand up to defend and follow the leader?
You point out that when Antigone tells Ismene that her death, "will not lessen mine," it is only to prevent her sister from dying unnecessarily and nothing more. That specific line has been argued about in class extensively: do you think that Antigone's exchange with Ismene was deservedly that cold? Is Antigone failing to see things from Ismene's point of view because of her extreme devotion to her family or is Ismene simply weaker?
Macper,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you sided with Antigone in your blog. Too many people are ripping on her stating that her actions were selfish and only for her own glory. You're approach to this controversy is simple, yet effective. There are some great example taken from the text especially the scene where Ismene comes and begs to join Antigone in death. Solid work Mac!
-Linder