Antigone Free Will and Destiny - 1367 Words

Antigone: The Influence of Free Will and Destiny Throughout Antigone, fate is responsible for many of the most devastating and critical events. The characters Antigone, Creon, Ismene, Haemon, and Tirasias experience many occasions that change their destiny, some events of which were predestined. It is frequently shown that fate and free will are intertwined. Each individual has a destiny, but it can be changed if they use their free will. Sophocle’s message is portrayed throughout the story through the actions of different characters. The individuals predestined fate and willingness to change it creates the series of events. By the choice of their actions, many of the characters in Antigone controlled their destiny, and affected it in†¦show more content†¦Her actions in this case were slightly irrational, but showed her dedication to family. She also shows her family focus when she shows Creon the damage that he would do to his family with his actions. Ismene speaks of how Creon would be robbing his son of a wife an d destroying his family (Sophocles, 90). Even during a time of chaos and sadness (after losing her brothers and the arrest of Antigone) Ismene stays with the values she believes in which is respected by many individuals. Each individual in Antigone had a predetermined fate although by the portrayal of his or her free will that fate may be changed. Creon, by displaying appalling acts such as enslaving Antigone despite warnings, showed he had the most free will. Tirasias, as the spokesmen of the gods, warns Creon about the consequences of his actions (Sophocles, 112). By ignoring Tirasias’s cautions, Creon portrays his free will. Creon is confident that through his determination he will be able to rule Thebes and create his own laws. Through these laws, Creon punishes Antigone, after she disobeys his rulings and buries her brother. Antigone reveals her free will by choosing death as her fate and life for her sister Ismene. When Ismene proclaims she will die with Antigone, Antig one refutes it. Antigone says that they should not both die, especially for an act that only she committed and Ismene had no part in (Sophocles, 88). Ultimately, Haemon shows the least free willShow MoreRelated Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice - Prophecies in Oedipus, Antigone, and Agamemnon1008 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp; The Damning Prophecies in Oedipus, Antigone, and Agamemnonnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Oracles, seers, and prophets are used in Greek tragedy to provide foreshadowing for the audience and characters. The seers wisdom is conveyed through the pronouncement of oracles or prophecies. They confer forecasts to principal characters that affect the characters future. Although not always believed, and often endeavored to be foiled, seers, oracles, and prophets in Greek tragedies foretellRead More Free Destiny vs. Controlled Fate in Antigone Essay791 Words   |  4 Pagesothers, in that no individual can make completely individual decisions, and therefore, no one is truly free. Nowadays, fate is a subject often rejected in society, as it is seen as too big, too idealistic, and too hard to wrap a persons head around. However, at the time of Antigone, the concept was a terrifying reality for most people. Fate is the will of the gods, and as is apparent in Antigone, the gods will is not to be questioned. Much of Sophocles work focuses on the struggle between humanRead MoreThe Trag edy Of Antigone By Sophocles1182 Words   |  5 PagesThe play Antigone, composed by Sophocles, informs us that fate cannot be controlled by anyone. Fate is an essential part of many tragedies. As for the characters in Antigone, their fates end up being unavoidable, whether it is due to the reason that they refused to accept it until it was very late, or they accepted the fate and permitted it to come to pass. The character’s lives possess set conclusions, and there exits some clues on what these conclusions shall be, and when they shall happen. TheRead MoreOedipus The King And Antigone948 Words   |  4 Pages Humans can attempt to avoid a certain fate but if destinies are fixed they cannot be altered. Sophocles supports the notion that free will eludes us in works such as Oedipus the King and Antigone. Oedipus, Creon, Antigone, and Tiresias are characters in these epics whose lives represented the battle of truth and wisdom. Oedipus attempted to escape the prophecy in whi ch he killed his own father and married his mother. He hastily discovered his past while trying to cure his city, and his efforts toRead MoreOedipus Fate And Fate Essay777 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscusses fate vs free will in his plays. In the play Oedipus Rex there was a prophecy that Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, he attempts to escape his destiny by running away to Thebes where he meets his fate. In the play Antigone, that main character Antigone decides to go against Creon’s (her uncle who has inherited the throne) decree and bury the brother, Polynices, knowing the consequences would lead to her death. In Sophocles’ plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the themeRead MoreComparing Oedipus The King And Antigone1311 Words   |  6 Pagesboth Oedipus the King and Antigone, Oedipus and Antigone are very alike in ways. When reading these plays, the mind is wired to compare how the protagonists are alike, and contrast how they are different. An tigone and Oedipus are idolized by the people, but the legacy of Oedipus seems to have been altered due to the fact that he has experienced bad past family relationships; therefore as Gale explains, â€Å"Antigone hangs herself. Creon’s son Haemon, who was in love with Antigone, commits suicide. ShortlyRead MorePower And Justice, Femininity, And Fate1260 Words   |  6 Pagesoffer meaningful insight to questions that cannot be ignored in today’s society. These questions are explored through the story of a confrontation between a tragically flawed King and a young woman in search of moral righteousness. Sophocles’ play Antigone inspires us to question the structure and attitudes in our own society and prompts self-reflection on our own values, beliefs and purpose on the earth as human beings. Throughout the play, Sophocles explores the areas of divine power and justiceRead 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 MoreAntigone : A Complex, Yet Debatable Play1343 Words   |  6 PagesAntigone is a complex, yet debatable play, written by Sophocles somewhere around 442 BC (Johnston). Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays, but was the first and also one of the most famous tragedies ever to be written (Sophocles). 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 are hardly ever set there. (Sophocles). It begins with the death of two brothers, Polyneices and EteoclesRead Mor eThe Four Main Characters In The Tragedy Of Antigone858 Words   |  4 Pagesto have a tragic fall. The main conflict of the story occurs between King Creon and Antigone. Creon’s decrees that Polyneices was a traitor who fought against his city and because of that, his body should not be buried and be left out in the open for the animals to do whatever they please. Antigone does not agree with Creon’s decree because Polyneices was her beloved brother who was the one being punished. Antigone argues that Polyneices deserves to be buried not only because he was family, but because