Ms. Peifer
Hr. 5/10 IB
11/26/08
LRJ #2 (oh what an exciting name!)
There are three instances of powerful imagery that can be found in the story of Antigone. The first image is that of Polyneices being covered in a layer of dust, "The body, just mounded over with light dust: you see? Not buried really, but as if they'd covered it just enough for the ghost's peace" (Fitzgerald pg 820). This image shows that Antigone has enough love for her brother that she will disobey a law the punishment for which is death. This image also shows that Antigone has at least a little bit of respect and/or fear for her uncle because she still tried to make her transgression as unnoticeable as possible.
The second image is that of when the sentry who reported the original crime describes what he and the other sentries saw the night they caught Antigone, "I have seen a mother bird come back to a stripped nest, heard her crying bitterly a broken note or two for the young ones stolen" (Fitzgerald pg 823). Here, the sentry is using the metaphor to describe how Antigone looked when she found that the little burial she had lovingly given to her brother had been ruined by some unseen force.
The third and final image is a little more violent than the rest. It is that of when Haimon dies at the tip of his own sword "Desperate against himself [Haimon], drove it half its length into this own side, and fell. And as he died, he gathered Antigone close in his arms again, choking, his blood bright red on her white cheek" (Fitzgerald pg 840). Here, the king has stumbled upon a deceased Antigone and a grieving Haimon. Haimon, not wanting to live under his father's rule without his betrothed, drives his own sword into his side and draws his loved one close as he whispers his final breath.
Fatal Flaw
Antigone's fatal flaw is the same thing as one of her more noble and admirable qualities. It is Antigone's love and devotion towards her family that gets her in trouble and ultimately leads to her death. "Yes. I'll do my duty to my brother- and yours as well if you're not prepared to. I won't be caught betraying him" (Johnston lines 56-58)In this quote, Antigone is trying to convince Ismene to help her do what she feels is her duty to her brother and help to bury him. She's also giving Ismene a way to back out if she feels she doesn't have as much of a sense of duty to her family. The line "I won't be caught betraying him" gives a little bit of foreshadowing to what is going to happen later in the story. Antigone isn't caught betraying her brother, but rather her uncle instead.
Anagnorisis
The Anagnorisis in this Greek Tragedy has actually taken place before the play even starts. In this play, Antigone realizes the truth about what she must do when her uncle declares that anyone attempting to mourn or bury the traitor shall be put to death. She becomes angry from this and realizes that she must bury her brother herself (or possibly with her sister's help if she'll comply) in order for his soul to be at rest.
Peripeteia
The Peripeteia comes at an obvious time; when Antigone has been captured and brought before her uncle for judgement. He finds her guilty because she denies nothing, and so he condemns her to death. It is from this point in the story that everything in Antignoe's life starts going on a downwards spiral.
Catharsis
The Catharsis in this story is sort of a weak one. It comes when the audience learns that Antigone has hung herself. They lose pity for her because she took her own life instead of dieing somewhat honorably in the execution. The reason why it is weak is because she was standing up to tyranny and that made the audience appreciate her bravery so that the little disappointment in her character is delivered in a glancing blow.
Portrayal of Women
Women are portrayed in Antigone as devoted to the ones they love, but also sadly as weak willed, but still able to do the right thing when the time comes. Antigone shows her devotion to her brother, even after the law banning all mourning and burial of him is passed, "Yes. I'll do my duty to my brother" (Johnston line 56). She is set in her way of doing what she feels he needs to do in order to have a peaceful eternity. Ismene sets the standard for the final two points. She was weak willed when trying to decide to help her brother or not, "Think how we'll die far worse than all the rest, if we defy the law" (Johnston lines 74-75). She is frightened by the ramifications of what she could possibly do. Ismene also sets the point for how women will come through and do the right thing when needed, "But now you're in trouble, I'm not ashamed of suffering, too, as your companion" (Johnston lines 618-619). She shows that when her sister is in trouble, she will come through and try and help her all that she can, despite the consequences.
Sources:
- Sophocles, "Antigone" Literature Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature. Trans. Dudly Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Upper Saaddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 814-826
- Sophocles. “Antigone.” Sophocles Antigone. Trans. Ian Johnston. 9 Aug. 2008. Vancouver
Island University Malaspira. 11/26/08 <http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/index.htm>.
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