Literature A. In Antigone (Essay Sample)

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8th May 2014
In Antigone, the chorus sings an ode to the greatness of humanity (page 89). Do you think that the play undermines or supports all the reasons given in the ode? Pay special attention to the power of speech and the ability to reason.
Referring to Sophocles’ Antigone play, the main aim of the chorus is to remark on the engagements of the play, return story and also associate the play to other beliefs. Sophocles makes use of the chorus in order to explain more on the play’s themes. The odes in Antigone are based on many things such as the achievement of man over natural surroundings, dangers of pride and finally the hazards of love. (Taplin) The chorus in Antigone is invented by a group of old men of Theban. This is because the young men have died in battle. The song also shows us of how the community has embedded deeply male domination. The song directly affects the play although at first they fully support their king Creon and also compel him to be a little more reasonable. After pleading is when the King Creon agrees not to verdict to death Ismene and Antigone. They also insist that Creon should take the advice of Teiresias and free Antigone but it is too late.
The ode that sings on the greatness of man is first seen where it celebrates the accomplishments of man. The chorus lists the achievements that man has accomplished such as man has constructed ships in order to overcome the seas, created plows to cultivated the earth, tamed animals to their will and also erected houses to overcome rain and snow. This chorus is mostly about humans asserting everything over nature which talks of the basic battles of the play. It ends the ode to the importance of humanity by praising the laws of the city. They disregard those who wants to bring back anarchy to Thebes.
In the ode to greatness of humanity, the chorus does not only uphold the importance of humanity and commendations in its accomplishment all due to man’s intelligence, his courage and intellectual curiosity this leading to the advancement of development in the society. The ode also points out that man requires ethical values which can go with and also balance between the societal law and the ethical religious laws. We can also say that the play supports the chorus of the ode to humanity’s greatness because the topic that dominates in the play is the undying battle between the Laws of the gods which are in Antigone’s wish to bury his brother, Polynices though he is regarded as a traitor to the people of Thebes and the Human Laws which are represented by Creon King of Thebes, who stresses upon death of Antigone after she defies the laws of the state and buries her brother (Taplin).
Refering to the question, whether the play undermines or supports all the reasons given in the ode, the play goes along with what the chorus sings, that the need for successfully balancing of the Laws of the gods and Human Law. Finally in the play, we see God’s integrity shows to be dominant because King Creon admits that the law is unjust after he realizes his judgmental problems which had a tragic end. This is after he loses his son and his wife who committed suicide and Antigone gives her life willingly to ethics above human law.
In Medea, Jason gives Medea his reasons for leaving her. Discuss the fairness of these and comment on Medea’s reply.
The play Medea tells a story of jealousy and revenge of a woman betrayed by her husband. All the actions in the play is at Corinth where Jason brought Medea after the adventures of Golden Fleece but has left her in order to get married to the King’s daughter Glauce. One of the reasons Jason gives is that he believes he could not pass up the opportunity to marry a royal princess compared to Medea who is only a barbarian woman. Jason says to Medea that it would be better for their kids because there would be nobility and wealth in the family. However, he hopes someday to join the two families and keep Medea as his mistress. Jason tells Medea that it is not her who has saved him, but love. He also goes ahead and tells her that she had a lot from him than he has from her. He says that he has brought he form the barbarous land to Greece where she is esteemed for her wisdom. He also says that it was not because of love that he has promised to get married to King Creon’s daughter but for himself and for his sons. These seem to be excuses from Jason to Medea (Taplin).
Jason is insensitive as he knows no bounds. It is seen that without Medea’s magic, Jason would not have been...