Monday, February 3, 2014
Antigone, Ismene, and Uncle Creon
You've started reading Antigone, and already it's clear that the story is different than Oedipus Rex, yet similarities exist, too. What interests you about these characters? What stands out? What seems similar? How do Ismene and Antigone resemble typical siblings? How are they different? In what ways are they similar or different than Oedipus? What do you think of Creon as a leader? USE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR RESPONSE.
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ReplyDeleteBack in ancient times woman had little to no rights and say in what went on in the world. When her brother dies and Creon make the new law of no burying, she wants to bury him anyway. She does not care if she gets into trouble. When Antigone asks Ismene if she would help to bury the brother, she is too scared and does not think it is right. Antigone says, " and now you can prove what you are: a treaitor or a true sister." I am surprised that Antigone is so strong and confident in acting out against the law. They resemble typical siblings because they are very different and have different attitudes towards the laws and rules. Antigone really shows the love she had for her brother by risking her life to honor and bury her brother. Antigone is very fierce and unafraid, but Ismene seams more reserved and to follow rules. Ismene says," Antigone you are mad! What could I possibly do?" She also does not want to risk her life. Antigone is showing acts of loyalty to her brother by risking her own life. Antigone is similar to Oedipus for the loyalty factor. She is showing her loyalty to her brother by risking her own life to honor her brother. Ismene seems more innocent and would never break a crime. Antigone could possibly have a raging temper like her father, but we do not know yet. I do not agree with Creon's new law of not being able to bury the dead and not honoring the other brother. I think he should be loyal to his family because Oedipus trusted him to raise and look out for his children. I think both brothers should be honored. Also, when Creon asked to find the person who buried the brother, he threatened to kill him if he didn't find him.
ReplyDeleteIn the plat Antigone is the characters. I like how all of the character are related to the first play, and how they are all inter twined with each other. What stands out to me is the different mentalities between the two girls. "I am going to bury him" Antigone.
ReplyDeleteIsmene"Bury him. You just said the new law forbids it." It seems like the different girls are loyal to different people. Ismene to the king and Antigone to the her brother. They seem to resemble normal siblings. They have little almost fights, but agree on ideas and help each other out when they need too. I think creon is a good leader. Under his command, the city of Thebes is prosperous and is not doing badly at all.
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ReplyDeleteThe characters of Antigone and Ismene are interesting because even though they are sisters they are opposites of each other. Ismene believes in following the rules while Antigone is a stronger figure that is willing to go against the rules. For example, Ismene is afraid to bury Polyneices because Creon has threatened death upon the person who buries him, but Antigone is willing to accept the consequences because she feels that it is the right thing to do. What stands out the most is how strong Antigone is and how similar she is to Oedipus. Oedipus always took action to do what he thought was right and Antigone is the same. Antigone says “But I will bury him and if I must die I say that this crime is holy.” They are similar because they both believe in honor and following their own ideas. Ismene does not think this way at all. She does not think that she has any power to go against Creon and accepts things as they are. Their different personalities make Antigone and Ismene argue like typical siblings, but they still care after each other and trust each other. Although Creon seems like a tough king, he does have his heart in the right place, but some people cannot see it. He wants the best for his people and he thinks that keeping order is the right way for this to happen. He thinks Polyneices was a traitor and that’s why he is acting so harsh about his burial.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing Oedipus Rex and beginning Antigone, there are apparent similarities and differences. First, like Oedipus the main character, Antigone has a confidence and swagger. Her decision to defy Creon's burial law showed that she takes after her father, and tends to defy authority. This contrasts with Oedipus's decision to defy the gods. I find it very interesting how highly Antigone values her brother's burial rights. Her sister seems to cave under Creon's laws, but Antigone is not fazed. Her bravery against Creon stands out. The sisters seem to have more or less typical relationship. Antigone tries to sway her sister into helping her, when she says:"now you can prove what you are, a traitor or a true sister." This reminds the reader of a typical big and little sister argument. However, where usually the little sibling would cave Ismene does not. Lastly, in Antigone, there is a new king, Creon. He leaves the reader with a bad first impression, because of his vile temper, resembling Oedipus.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing that stands out to me is how much each character represents a former character. Creon is believes that he can see and understand everything going on but is actually lost, much like Oedipus. Antigone plays the role Laios I believe as she seems to be the leader who is going against the law and Ismene is like Iocaste because she see’s the wrong but is playing along anyway.
ReplyDeleteAfter beginning Antigone, I am left with many first impressions. I see definite resemblances between the two sisters Ismene and Antigone. Antigone is the more courages, bold, fearless sister as opposed to Ismene. Ismene does not want to defy the law and her ruler Creon despite the fact her brothers are being treated like a disgrace. Antigone feels differently than her sister. Antigone wants to bury her brothers, despite the fact that Creon has outlawed the burial of them. Antigone and Oedipus Rex share many similarities. Not only do both stories feature two siblings, but another common factor is that there is a major controversy going on. Antigone knows it's the right thing to do and she is willing to risk everything for this cause. On the other hand, Ismene feels much differently than Oedipus. She does not want to face punishment, she wants to go with the flow instead of making a stand.
ReplyDeleteI think Creon is similar to Oedipus. I think they are both good leaders and well respected but both have their flaws. I think Creon might have a short temper like Oedipus. When the Sentry was hesitant to tell him what he saw Creon got impatient with him, “Come to the point. What do you have to say?…what is it?…Out with it!” (199). Creon like Oedipus thinks he knows the big picture when he really doesn’t. Ismene and Antigone seem like pretty typical sisters. They fight and both think their right, but also look out for each other. Antigone wants to bury her brother Polynecices, but Ismene doesn’t want to because she knows it is against the law and a big risk. Antigone wants to do it anyway because Polynecices is their brother and she feels its only right to bury him.
ReplyDeleteAntigone seems to be a very bold person who does not take no for an answer when it comes to the people she loves. When she tells Ismene that she wants to go and bury Polyneices, Ismene brings up Creon’s punishment and Antigone responds, “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.” Antigone is determined and willing to defy Creon to honor her brother properly. I see Ismene as the more cautious of the two sisters. When Antigone tells her about the plan to bury their brother, Ismene says, “But think of the danger! Think What Creon will do!” She is more interested in following the laws and seems to heed the warnings of the king. I’m not sure how much she really cares for her brother - when Antigone confronts her about whether or not she cares enough to honor Polyneices, she skirts around the issue and pleads with her sister, “We are only women, we cannot fight with men, Antigone!” I see that she might want to honor her brother, but this is outweighed by her fear of punishment. Antigone and Ismene seem to argue like real siblings. Ismene is kind of daring Antigone when she says, “But can you do it? I say you cannot.” Antigone’s determination to do what she thinks is right is similar to Oedipus’s driven search for the truth he believes he is meant to find - I wonder if Antigone is actually doing the right thing. Creon seems to have changed in the time in between Oedipus Rex and Antigone. He seems to be more of a ruthless ruler than Oedipus ever was, and like Oedipus, he jumps to conclusions and threatens to kill someone completely innocent (the guard) if he doesn’t get the information he wants regarding the person who tried to bury Polyneices. I don't think Creon's taste of power has done him much good.
ReplyDeleteI’ve started reading Antigone, and already it’s clear that the story is different than Oedipus Rex, yet similarities exist, too. It interests me that some of the same characters are used, such as Creon. Ismene and Antigone resemble typical siblings because they do not agree on much. They are different because Antigone is very ambitious and Ismene is very cautious. Antigone is similar to Oedipus because she is arrogant and Ismene is different than Oedipus because she is not arrogant. I think it is kind of ironic that Creon is a leader because on page 31 of Oedipus Rex, Creon says, “I have never longed for the king’s power - only his rights.”
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that Antigone will to what she has to do and what she believes, “But I will Bury him and if I must die I say that this crime is holy I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me”(192). Antigone gives off a courageous but slightly questionable vibe. Ismene seems as if she is the younger character because she is more about doing the right thing. “Antigone, I am so afraid for you”. She seems like she is very scared for her sister. Creon Is the new King and it seems like he is doing well be instating laws but he seems very different than he was in Oedipus Rex because of his new role in power. The resemble typical siblings by arguing with one another on what they should do, and that older younger situation. They are two really different people, Antigone is more for doing the right thing or what she feels is right and her sister Ismene is about doing what the kingdom thinks is right. Creon Seems like he is a pretty powerful leader and looks at everything to benefit the country. “I saw my country headed for ruin, I should not be afraid to speak out plainly and I need hardly remind you that I would never have any dealings with an enemy of the people.”(197)
ReplyDeleteThe biggest similarity between Oedipus Rex and Antigone is location - the city and the way it is ruled is the same. Creon appears in both stories but is very different from the first play to the second. Antigone and Ismene are now grown up and aware of all the horrible events that happened when they were children. Both girls are very interesting because they both have very strong points of view. They fight like siblings. When Ismene tells Antigone that she will not go with her to bury their brother Antigone replies with, "If that is what you think, you have made your choice, you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him." There is a sense of loyalty and ferocity to finish the task that must be done in Antigone that seems similar to Oedipus. I think that Creon is an extremely arrogant and unfair leader. When the sentry comes to bring him news that someone has buried Polynieces, Creon tells him, "Find that man, bring him here to me, or your death will be the least of your problems; I'll string you up alive." He does not want to hear anything the sentry says, and jumps to conclusions quickly. It seems as though his power has made him mad, driving him from the stern but loyal man we knew in Oedipus Rex to the crazy king we see in Antigone.
ReplyDeleteSomething interesting is that these characters seem more stern and direct with everything. I really thought the sisters stood out, because I kept forgetting they were the daughters of Oedipus. It was neat to see their personalities compared to his. Ismene and Antigone represent typical siblings because they disagree on many things, such as whether to bury their brother or not. "Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it! He is my brother, and he is your brother too." They are different than typical siblings because their personalities are so different. I think they represent Oedipus before and after he learned his lesson. Antigone's personality is like Oedipus and Ismene's is after Oedipus found the oracle to be true. Not worried at first, and careful after. I think Creon wants to be a king more for power, not because he actually is loyal to his people. "
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ReplyDeleteThese characters all seem to be more adamant with their choices and straight forward with their opinions. It wasn't the same in Oedipus, as it took a while for the truth to be revealed. I think it's interesting how the two sisters, Antigone and Ismene, come off as opposites as one wants to follow the rules while the other doesn't care. Creon is also different in Antigone, as he's now king but has become ruthless with his power and is very straight forward and doesn't listen to what his city wants or thinks. Antigone and Ismene represent typical siblings when they fight, because all siblings fight. Location also stays the same as Creon is taking Oedipus' place as king in Thebes.
ReplyDeleteIn Antigone we already have some knowledge of the characters from Oedipus Rex, however the story is very different. Each of the characters in Antigone have very clear personalities. Just from reading the first scene we can see that Antigone is headstrong and Ismene is quiet and obeying. Creon is much more power obsessed and strict than he was in Oedipus Rex when he had less power. ”Find that man, bring him here to me, or your death”(202). He is the type of leader who scares the people into obeying him. The story line of a broken family is still there and very prominent. Antigone and her sister Ismene are like many siblings, the older one is in power and the younger looks up to her and is shyer. The twist is that Ismene also stands up to Antigone to say that she will not help her bury the body, whereas most younger siblings would obey the older one. Antigone, like Oedipus is very strong willed , stubborn and takes risks. Ismene does not resemble her father in these ways.
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