Prompt/Purpose

In approximately 200 words, summarize one of the Readings of your choice from the first 4 Chapters (Introduction through chapter 4) of your text.

Revised

Andrea Price

Humanities 2211

Mrs. Scheafer

September 27, 2007

Antigone, a Fall from Grace

Sophocles’ Antigone opens with Antigone being arrested for defying King Creon’s decree and burying her traitorous brother. The fight between Antigone and Creon is one of wills and morality. Antigone believes herself to be right in honoring the dead and burying her brother, as do the people and Creon’s own son, Haemon who is also to wed Antigone. However, as ruler Creon believes his decrees to be the final word in any matter, and he holds onto this even as the prophet Teiresias foretells his destruction.

Sophocles discusses the role of the ruler, Creon who in refusing to listen to the pleas of those around him or to the predictions of the prophet and ends up destroying his whole world. Creon refuses to heed the warnings given by Teiresias and as the predictions come to pass, the queen takes her own life and Creon races to Antigone’s prison in an attempt to save his son. He arrives too late. Antigone has already taken her own life and Haemon who sees this is so heartbroken, kills himself. As the play closes, Creon’s loved ones are dead and his kingdom is destined to fall as well, without an heir to the throne.

            The end to a battle of wills, of a family line, and of a kingdom is decided by one fateful decision made by Creon. Sophocles showcases the impact one’s stubbornness can have on reasoning and what can result.

236 words

Works Cited

Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition. Vol. 1. Fifth ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2006. 83-92.