Analysis Of Oedipus The King And Antigone - 1170 Words

Meghana Aghi October 6th, 2014 AP English Mr. Shaffner Matriarchal Madness Women have been silenced for generations upon generations, their voices of reason stripped away and locked inside the caves of submissiveness. The key is thrown out into a vast ocean of misery and peril, and the hope to break free slowly diminishes. Yet, there are always those women who will never accept their expected place in society. These women try to break down those barriers in attempts to leave an imprint on this ever- changing world. In civilizations such as Athens, women were looked down upon and this battle to leave behind tradition proved to be almost if not fatal. Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone exemplify three distinct female Athenian characters who approach this battle with different fronts. Through analysis of Ismene, Antigone and Jocasta’s distinct characters, the reader better understands how Sophocles uses a feminine voice to break away from the tradition discerned in Athenian life to advocate for the rise of a matriarchal influence. Ismene’s emotional facade overpowers her drive for defeating corruption, which prompts her to plead for mercy rather than demand justice. Sophocles uses Ismene’s character to serve as the expected Athenian woman, one without a voice in society. Yet, Sophocles tries to break away from this mold, illustrating the effect of a silenced woman through Ismene’s personality. Essentially, Ismene’s inferiority as a woman paralyzes her, and therefore,Show MoreRelatedEssay on The Arrogance and Hubris of Oedipus and Creon724 Words   |  3 Pages In ‘Antigone†, Ismene says, â€Å"To them that walk in power; to exceed is madness, and not wisdom†. Her statement makes it clear, those who â€Å"walk in power†, allow it to corrupt them. Throughout the history of humanity there has been a correlation between those who have excessive power and corruption. Webster’s Dictionary defines corruption as, â€Å"impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle†. In the story of Antigone the tragic hero Creon, shows all of the common characteristics of corruptionRead MoreAn Analysis of Fate vs. Free Will in the Theban Plays1392 Words   |  6 PagesAn Analysis of Fate vs. Free Will in the Theban Plays When Teiresias asks in Antigone (line 1051), What prize outweighs the priceless worth of prudence? he strikes (as usual) to the heart of the matter in Sophocles Theban Plays. Sophocles dramatizes the struggle between fate and free will, in one sense, but in another sense the drama might be better understood as the struggle between the will of the goods (which it is prudent to follow, according to Teiresias) and mans will (which is oftenRead MoreJustification of Creon in Antigone by Sophocles Essay994 Words   |  4 PagesJustification of Creon in Antigone by Sophocles Antigone is a tragic play written by Sophocles in about 441b.c. The play is a continuation of the curse put upon the household of Oedipus Rex. Sophocles actually wrote this play before he wrote Oedipus, but it follows Oedipus in chronological order. The story of Antigone begins after the departure of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, into self-exile. Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, were left to rule over Thebes. An argument over rightsRead MoreAn Interpretive Analysis On Conflicting Self Reassurance1337 Words   |  6 Pages Antigone: An Interpretive Analysis on Conflicting Self-Reassurance Antigone is a complex, yet debatable play, written by Sophocles somewhere around 442 BC. Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays, but was the first to be written. In addition, Antigone was also one of the most famous tragedies ever to be written. The setting of the play is set in front of the Palace, Thebes, and Ancient Greece. Though most Greek playwrights were from Athens, their plays areRead MoreOedipus Trilogy Analysis1214 Words   |  5 PagesNovel Analysis of The Oedipus Trilogy Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus Tyrannus as it is in Latin, could be what we call today a Freudian work of literature. The Oedipus Trilogy was originally written by Sophocles and is meant to be told in a story-telling fashion. But this Grecian tragedy was revised and translated into English by Paul Roche and put into a novel form. The Oedipus Trilogy is a novel that deals with destiny and fate. The reader is shown a series of events plotted out from which OedipusRead MoreSophocles The King And Antigone Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pages Sophocles wrote about kings. Mythological, or at least long dead, the regal protagonists of fraction of Sophocles’ surviving work embody the political realities of the ancients’ time. By examining and analyzing the origins and nature of kingship in Sophocles, one can glean a sliver of insight into a civilization that has all but disappeared. Sophocles’s kings were great human leaders, reaching their position through impressive deeds or standing in the community. Although they wielded great powerRead MoreSexism In Oedipus The King1395 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy, Oedipus the King, is not sexist. The prominent play portrays both men and women justly. The events presented by Sophocles exemplifies a level of admiration and respect for women that was not ord inary in ancient Greece. This is predominantly achieved through the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, illustrating a corresponding relationship. In addition, the behavior of Jocasta, analysis of other literature, as well as the bad fortune of the male characters reaffirm that the Oedipus the King is notRead MoreOedipus the King: A Greek Tragic Hero Essay516 Words   |  3 Pagesstructured analysis of the â€Å"tragic hero† of Greek drama. In his work, Poetics, he defines a tragic hero as â€Å"...The man who on the one hand is not pre-eminent in virtue and justice, and yet on the other hand does not fall into misfortune through vice or depravity, but falls because of some mistake; one among the number of the highly renowned and prosperous.† Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is clearly shown by the main character in the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Oedipus, the protagonistRead More The Dichotomy of Sight in Oedipus at Colonus Essay1185 Words   |  5 PagesThe Dichotomy of Sight in Oedipus at Colonus   A simple process formed the backbone of most Greek philosophy.   The ancients thought that by combining two equally valid but opposite ideas, the thesis and the antithesis, a new, higher truth could be achieved.   That truth is called the synthesis.   This tactic of integrating two seemingly opposite halves into a greater whole was a tremendous advance in human logic.   This practice is illustrated throughout Oedipus at Colonus  in regard to Sophocles’Read MoreCreon As A Tragic Hero In SophoclesAntigone1509 Words   |  7 Pagesan error in judgement, experiences a reversal of fortune due to the error, has an excessive pride, and receives a fate much greater than what is deserved. In Sophocles’ Antigone, many would argue that Creon is the tragic hero of the play. However, he is not alone as the recipient of tragedy. A young woman by the name of Antigone also fits the characteristics for being considered a tragic heroine. A key element in the tragedy of any character is their error in judgement, what Aristotle referred to