Pub 1- Antigone

Antigone by Sophocles is a play describing a woman who is determined to give her brother a proper burial after his death and an angry king who refuses to bury the man because he went against his own country in war. Antigone, the women, attempts to bury her brother, Polyneices, but is doomed with trouble from King Creon. Antigone, despite the king’s orders, goes out of her way to try and bury her brother because she believes they should respect his death. Antigone believes she’d rather be a religious criminal instead of a traitor to her brother and protect her safety.

Antigone was determined to give her brother a proper burial after his death despite Creon’s orders. She didn’t listen to anyone, including her sister, when they told her to stop disobeying Creon’s laws. When Antigone told her sister Ismene that she was going to bury their brother, Ismene apposed Antigone because she knew the end wouldn’t be too bright. Antigone didn’t listen to her sister and even asked her to not keep it a secret and “shout it out” (line 99) to all of Thebes. Antigone’s reason for saying this was to show she didn’t care if people found out she was burying her brother properly. She believed he deserved a proper burial just as much as anyone else did. She believes it is the only way her brother will truly rest in peace. “The time in which I must please those that are dead is longer than I must please those of this world” (lines 86-87). Antigone is explaining that she rather have her brother rest in peace forever than to obey the laws given by king Creon. Antigone states “I shall be a criminal, but a religious one” (lines 84-85). Antigone says this because she has made her choice of giving her brother the proper burial he deserves and even if she gets in trouble by the law, she believes that she is doing what’s right religiously.  Antigone also believes that Creon shouldn’t even have a word over God’s. She doesn’t believe that he is allowed to pick who has a proper burial and who doesn’t.

Antigone has many connections associated with people from the post-modern world. One person who I connect Antigone with is Susan B. Anthony, the women’s rights activist. Susan B. Anthony and Antigone have the same determination as each other. Anthony wanted to gain women the right to vote in the United States and she never gave up what she believed in. She stuck to her word and at the end, she succeeded. Antigone is just like Susan B. Anthony because she was determined to give her brother a proper burial despite the punishment she knew she was going to receive. Both of these women were very strong, determined, and self-run. They didn’t let anything stand in the way of what they believe was right.

Antigone’s determination was very powerful and her drive was very inspiring. She picked religion and her brother over her own life. Despite the consequences, Antigone never backed out or was scared to fight for what she believed was morally right. Antigone, like Susan B. Anthony was a determined woman and she wasn’t afraid to show her beliefs.