Questions on Greek Mythology (Term Paper Sample)

Institution
Questions on Antigone: Greek Mythology
Student’s name
Course
Instructor’s name
Date
Questions on Antigone: Greek Mythology
1 What ideas does Antigone express about duty? About obedience? How do these ideas conform (or fail to conform) to your concepts of duty and obedience?
The play depicts duty as viable and necessity in the society although as illustrated by Creon continued refusal to allow Antigone to bury her brother, duty is not always followed by the people. I believe duty and obedience are virtues that each is required to enhance the conduciveness of the society. The insistence of Antigone to perform her religious functions and bury her brother Polyneices conform to my view of duty. Creon refusal to obey the Gods and the people is an antecedent of my view on obedience and duty.[Sophocles. Classical Greek Tragedy: ANTIGONE. Athens, 496 BC.]
2 The Chorus expresses the values of the community. According to the Chorus, is Antigone a danger to the community? How far do you believe a community should go to protect its values?
Although the chorus expresses the values of the community, the community believes Antigone is a scourge that bears with it disloyalty, obedience, and disregard for the law. It is important to note when the chorus says "When the laws are kept, how proudly his city stands! When the laws are broken, what of his city then? It illustrates the important of laws to the people. A community should protect its values. However, there should exist limits to the protection. Protection of a community’s values in places of solving injustices like in Antigone’s case should be highly discouraged[Ibid 496]
3 Both Creon and Antigone defend rights that they believe are sacred. What rights are in conflict? Is there any room for compromise? Do you sympathize with Antigone or with Creon?
Both Creon and Antigone believe they are both defending rights. Antigone believes she is defending the gods will, emphasizing family bond over bond to the state. Creon believes civil law and order in the community are paramount over an individual’s will. There is no room for compromise for the two persons; they are both significantly connected to their rights that Antigone is willing to die as a consequence of burying her brother. Despite Creon logical rights, my sympathy lie with Antigone as her sense of duty is validated and she is undergoing tremendous pain for the constant loss of family members.[Sophocles. Classical Greek Tragedy: ANTIGONE. Athens, 496 BC.]
4 Both Creon and Antigone defend rights that they believe are sacred. What rights are in conflict? Is there any room for compromise? Do you sympathize with Antigone or with Creon?
Aristotle’s believe that tragic heroes must have good and evil are clearly depicted in the play/story. Antigone considered the tragic hero in the story has "goodness”; she clearly is willing to fight for the proper burial of her brother and criticize her uncle’s treacherous reign. Her courage and decisiveness are virtues of "good”. However like Aristotle’s perspective on a tragic hero, Antigone has traces of evilness. Antigone apparent courage evolves into arrogance, as she eventually suffers from her unwavering devotion to the rights of the gods.[Ibid]
5 What is Antigone’s fatal flaw? How does this flaw lead to the tragic resolution of the play?
According to my analysis, Antigone’s main flaw is her unwavering dedication to burying her brother and following the will of the gods. Her firm devotion to the cause finally instigates her final act of tragedy when she hangs herself. This act is subsequently followed by Haemon and Eurydice, who also commit suicide by stabbing and slitting throat respectively. Antigone's endeavor to appease the gods and bury her brother ultimately tears her down until at the end there are traces of regret in her words when she says "I have been a stranger here in my land all my life, the blasphemy of my birth has followed me”.[Sophocles. Classical Greek Tragedy: ANTIGONE. Athens, 496 BC.]
6 As the play progresses, do Creon and Antigone change, or do they remain essentially unchanged by events?
As the play progresses Creon and Antigone, though unperturbed from their respective causes show traces of change. As mentioned above, Antigone experiences regret having spent her life fighting the law and not embracing the land of his father and brothers. Similarly, Creon also suffers a ton of regrets and finally changes her stance and orders that Antigone be allowed to bury her brother he says "Go quickly: free Antigone from her vault And build a tomb for the body of Polyneices”, However by this time, it is already too late. These examples signify that the two individuals were changing their perspectives at the end.[Soph...