dialogue between Creon and Antigone
Overview
This reading begins with a dialogue between Creon and Antigone. Antigone is faced with a death sentence for going against the king’s order of burying Polyneices, her brother. She, however, has no regrets for her acts and is ready to die. Her sister Ismene comes and wishes to partake her Antigone’s punishment. The king declares Ismene mad for wanting to join her sister in death. Antigone is, however, not ready to allow Ismene to die with her since she had nothing to do with the body of Polyneices. After the two were released, the king’s son, Haemon, enters and attempts to reason with his father on this matter. Creon praises his son for not allowing love to cloud his judgment and advises him to always stand with his father in such situations. Haemon is, however, of a different opinion. He claims to have listened to what people said about the case. Antigone was to be rewarded for her actions, and not executed the way the king wanted.
Biographical Context
Antigone, as well as Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, forms the Sophocles’ trilogy. They are all based on Oedipus, the king who killed his father and married his mother. Antigone is one of his daughters. His other children are Ismene, Polyneices, and Eteocles. The brothers failed to agree on the leadership of the kingdom after the death of their father. They go to battle and kill each other. Creon, their uncle, becomes the inheritor to the throne. He is adamant about executing the dead body of Polyneices since he considered him a traitor. “He plans to honor one corpse and dishonor other.” This becomes the starting point of Antigone’s woes in this play.
Most Important Passage
The most crucial passage in this play is “Courage! Live your life. I gave myself to death, long ago, so I might serve the dead.” Antigone tells this to her sister Ismene. This part is crucial because it shows that Antigone knew the consequences of her actions before she did it. She had already died before attending to her brother’s corpse. She wasn’t ready to let Ismene join her in her death. Ismene was to live her life, not to die. She was innocent in this crime.
Most Interesting Passage
The most exciting part of this reading is “commit cruelty to a person long enough, and the mind begins to go.” These are words uttered by Ismene. She was answering the king, who had called her mad. It is interesting since Ismene agrees with Creon’s opinion, but also tells him the reason why she had gone crazy. It is also funny that the king does not get annoyed by this statement. I find this rather amusing, that Creon agrees to this opinion.
Most Puzzling Passage
The most puzzling passage of this reading is, “Father, only the gods endow a man with reason, the finest of all their gifts, treasure.” The words are uttered by Haemon, who responds to his father’s claims of justifying the death of Antigone. What I can’t understand is if he meant his father lacked reason. Creon had gone against the gods in declaring that the body of Polyneices was not to be buried. I wonder if this showed a lack of reasoning.
Discussion Question
Ismene wants to die with her sister, Antigone. Have you ever wanted to take the blame of your sibling? Ismene, although she feared the king, had sympathy for her sister. Wishing to die with her was, however, not the right decision. I can take the blame of my sibling, but not to the extent of death. It comes a time when one has to be responsible for their deeds.