The Power of Free Will
Displayed in the play, Antigone faces a
choice in which she has to accept the consequences for due to the
fact she has broken the law. In order to protect the dignity of
Polyneices, one is able visualize how important family really is to
Antigone. The reader is given several themes in which their meanings
are of major significance. In order to fully analyze the plot, one
must fathom the in-depth characterizations made by analyzing the
narrations. This is so that one may determine the reasoning for why a
character might have made the decisions they have made. Fate versus
free-will in Antigone's tragedy is a frequently conflicting debate.
Several contributions made by the chorus and other characters add
statements in the dialogue to be further interpreted. This is for one
to visualize actions completed and to draw a conclusion. For example,
we are able to infer that Antigone's downfall is based solely off of
free-will.
When being denied the right to bury
her brother Polyneices, Antigone rebels the authority of King Creon
and proceeds to do so anyway. She does not hesitate to act on what she believes is the right thing to do. By doing so, the reader might see her
as doing a loyal deed for her brother. Yes, this was illegal. On the
other hand, burying the remains of loved one was extremely important
with the strong belief in after life. Burying someone and these
religious beliefs continue into modern times. One is able to put
themselves in Antigone's shoes and think about whether they would it
for one of their family members. Due to this action in this
particular time period, one might describe her as being deviant and
rebellious. This opinion can be directed to the setting of the play.
One must understand that in Ancient Greece at this time, people did
not question authority.
Socrates is a philosopher who later
developed this analogy of asking questions, conducting experiments,
etc. This way of thinking was frowned upon by many figures. In the
play, citizens believe Antigone's deed to be of good reasoning. “But
what I can hear, in the dark, are things like these: the city mourns
for this girl; they think she is dying most wrongly and most
undeservingly of all womenkind, for the most glorious acts”, Haemon
says (Haemon, 743-746). This statement goes to show that people did
agree with Antigone, yet they were too afraid to step up and say
something. Antigone could have reacted to do the same and follow
Creon's orders to not bury Polyneices.
Creon of high power had given a
direct order not to bury Polyneices. Despite this, Antigone
understood these rules and willingly (and openly) disregarded them to
give her brother the burial rites she claimed he deserved within her
religious beliefs. Stated by Antigone, “I knew it; of course I did.
For it was public” (Antigone, 492). This quote shows how she made
the decision to bury him out in the open for everyone to see.
Antigone was fully aware of the upcoming consequences that would
shortly come her way as she confidently confesses her action. One may
be able to conclude that Antigone's integrity, loyalty, strongly
will, and determined personality contributed to the fact of her
thinking it was her fate to die. If she obeyed the law and
disregarded her motives and beliefs, things could have been different
for her. This is not particularly something an individual wants to
do. Nevertheless, Antigone willingly adapted the problems or fate of
her brother as her own.
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