Antigone Opinion

Opinion

1. I believe Antigone is a suicidal victim born into unfortunate circumstances. We currently know that a child from incest can have mental and physical problems. Combined with being an orphan Antigone’s mental state is probably not as stable as someone in a normal situation. It is referenced many times during the play, beginning with line 37 through 40, she is the daughter of Oedipus who married his own mother. In Scene II line 94 Antigone begs the king to kill her, that talking is wearisome. Creon, lines 147-149, states “I beg you to observe these girls: one has just now lost her mind; the other it seems, has never had a mind at all.” In Ode II the chorus talks about the misfortune that falls upon Oedipus’ children: I have seen this gathering sorrow from time long past loom upon Oedipus’s children: generation for generation.

2. I think Creon suffered more throughout the play than Antigone because he lost his wife and son while Antigone only had the thought of death and then death at her own hands. This is supported by the last lines Creon udders, “I have been rash and foolish I have killed my son and my wife. I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing. Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust.”

3. Haimon acts out of conviction, his was trying to kill Creon when he misstepped and fell on his own sword. (Exodos lines 68-72) He did draw his sword against his father for love of Antigone but his death was an accident.

Eurydice acts out of love for her sons, in the process curses Creon. She could not endure life without her sons especially knowing her husband brought all the grief upon them by being to proud to change his mind in some matters, such as Antigone’s desire to bury her brother.(Exodos lines 114-116)

4. Haimon’s death is reckless. Had Creon not placed Antigone in the vault Haimon would not have been clinging to her after she took her life. If Creon had been merciful...