From the beginning of the play, Sophocles enlists the reader’s sympathies on the side of Antigone. It becomes obvious that Sophocles values morality over law. This idea sparked great interest in me. What is “right by law” and “right by me” are usually the as me, but what is, in the case of Antigone, they were not. To the reader it is obvious that Antigone is “right” and her desire to properly bury her dead brother is completely legitimate. Is Antigone made a hero by the gods for her bravery, or do they disapprove by letting her die? Is Antigone wrong to say that she would giver her life only for her brother but not a “replaceable” husband or child?
I believe that Antigone’s death is an important factor in her tragedy. If she had not had to risk her life to bury her brother, her situation would not be as dire or distressing. In opposition to Oedipus, she knows what she is doing will mean her death. I believe the bravery of Antigone to continue on with her act while fully knowing she is facing death is a bold statement Sophocles makes about women and about women standing up to men. Antigone is a strong women in today’s standards, I cannot imagine how shocking her actions were to readers of this story when it was written.
The idea that a husband or child can be replaced but not a sibling was an interesting notion that I had not considered before Antigone. I somewhat disagree with Antigone because although a husband can be “replaced” a child is your blood and your legacy. Yet, your sibling is your full blood and for that reason I can understand her hierarchal familial view. This statement resonated with me since I do have a sibling and although I cannot grasp having a husband or child, I cannot imagine comparing them in this way.
Antigone is a strong character who faces her death with a strong will and undying devotion to her brother. In a world where morals are at times easily swayed, I believe we have a lot to take from Antigone. We must not simply abide by laws and assume they are right, rather at times it is important to use our personal judgment, even if it means persecution. The risk of suffering for doing what is right is a situation one hopes to never find oneself in, but if ever it does arise, look to Antigone.
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1 comment:
Jess--sorry you didn't get any comments, so here's one.
You must have read the Robert Fagles translation (9th edition?) because the one that's in some of our textbooks doesn't include the passage you mention where Antigone says she wouldn't do what she is doing for a husband or child because she could replace them but can't replace her brother because her parents are both dead. Some scholars think that passage doesn't belong in the play, but Fagles thinks it does and includes it in his translation.
But it's a strange passage regardless. A disturbing bit of reasoning. Because by giving her life for her brother, she is also sacrificing the possibility of life with her future husband Haemon and the children they would have had together.
So it's a very interesting passage you chose to comment on, part of a controversy you probably weren't even aware existed.
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