LRJ #2

Death is a common image throughout the play. Death is the main premise of the plot and the story revolves around the deaths of many people and how they deal with those deaths. The first instance where death is in the story is right in the beginning when Antigone tells Ismene she is going to bury her brothers dead body. "What, hath not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honoured burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he hath laid in the earth, for his honour among the dead below. But the hapless corpse of Polyneices-as rumour saith, it hath been published to the town that none shall entomb him or mourn, but leave unwept, unsepulchred, a welcome store for the birds, as they espy him, to feast on at will." (Sophocles). This first look at death in the play really sets up the plot for the rest of the play and Polyneices death also is the base cause for others to die to. The other parts where death comes in to play in the story are when Antigone, Haimon and, Creons wife all kill themselves. "Lead me away, I pray you; a rash, foolish man; who have slain thee, ah my son, unwittingly, and thee, too, my wife-unhappy that I am! I know not which way I should bend my gaze, or where I should seek support; for all is amiss with that which is in my hands,-and yonder, again, a crushing fate hath leapt upon my head." (Sophocles). All the deaths in this play have a major effect on how the story turns out and Sophocles uses it to prove that death is always there , and by being stubborn, that can cause terrible things to happen.

Creons fatal flaw is that it takes some thing terrible to make him realize that he make a mistake. His inability to see the effects of his actions is a part of this fatal flaw. He is constantly stubbon throught the play and it takes some one to come and convince him to change his mind, but that was already too late. "Even as I am I'll go:-on, on, my servants, each and all of you,-take axes in your hands, and hasten to the ground that ye see yonder! Since our judgment hath taken this turn, I will be present to unloose her, as myself bound her. My heart misgives me, 'tis best to keep the established laws, even to life's end." (Sophocles) Creon finally realizes that his decision was wrong after being convinced to let Antigone go, but his overwhelming stubbornness makes this command happen to late. He convinces himslef that his desicion to sentence Antigone is correct and it takes numerous people to tell him otherwise. This eventually causes the death of Antigone, his son and his wife, and all because of his stubbornness. Creon finally realizes his wrongdoing at the very end of the play, when the news of his son's and wife's deaths reaches him. He laments about this for along time crying out for his own death, because he knows that he caused these deaths. Because of his inability to rule correctly he is banshied and loses everything, his Peripeteia. The audience is led throughout the play to beleive that Creon is a stubborn and wrathful leader and king, which he is, but in the end the audience is meant to almost pity Creon for his losses. This is the Catharsis, because the audince is cleaned of their previous thoughts about Creon and set with completely different thoughts.

Women are characterized in Antigone to be unfit to stand up to men. That nothion is repeatedly said thoughout the play, even by women themselves. "Nay, we must remember, first, that we were born women, as who should not strive with men; next, that we are ruled of the stronger, so that we must obey in these things, and in things yet sorer." (Sophocles) They are made out to be less than men, but even then Antigone still goes and defys Creons law. "O dastard nature, yielding place to woman!" (Sophocles). The men in the play constantly degrade women, and are always comparing what is said to be weak and cowardly behavior to that of a woman.