Greek Values Through Antigone Essay, Research Paper
Greek Values Through Antigone
Antigone reflects the worldviews and cultural values of the Greeks through honor, fighting for her will and the right thing, and destiny. Antigone showed honor because she knew she had to bury Polyneices. She was fighting for what was right, because she knew it was right to bury her brother, Polyneices. Finally Antigone showed destiny because she knew her fate was to die for her brother. Antigone reflected the Greek values in three main ways.
Throughout the story Antigone knew exactly what she had to do. She showed honor, one of the Greek culture s values by burying her brother, Polyneices who Creon, the king of Thebes and Antigone s uncle, would not let, or have happening. Antigone did not fight her punishment sentenced to her by Creon. Polyneices was Eteocles brother and was given orders by Oedipus, the king and their father, to alternate the rein of king of Thebes. Eteocles ruled Thebes first and would not give up his reign of king to Polyneices. The two of them battle over it and both killed one another. Creon thought it was right to bury Eteocles but not Polyneices because he thought Polyneices was turning on the people of Thebes. But Antigone knew it was right to bury both of them because they were both of the same equal blood, and were brothers. Antigone did the right thing, she had a choice, and she chose to bury Polyneices under the direct orders of Creon, to not have Polyneices buried. Burying Polyneices would free his spirit and his ghost and let them pass on towards the afterlife. The only way to go on to the afterlife was to be buried, and Antigone let her brother s ghost move to the afterworld.
Antigone fought for the right thing because she knew what was fair and what had to be done. Antigone did not give up. Creon was going to let Antigone live but she felt that she deserved to face death and meet up with her brothers and her father in the afterlife. To the Greeks death was not to be feared, the afterlife was looked at as more of a great place, like heaven, or paradise, where you get to reconsile with your friends, your family, and your loved ones. Antigone knew the afterlife was where she belonged, so while in the vault, she was confined in for punishment by Creon, Antigone made a nuse with he veil and hung her self so she could be placed where she belonged.
Antigone showed and reflected destiny through different events. Antigone knew her fate, she did what was right and did what she had to do, she buried her brother, to release his soul. Then she admitted to being guilty of the crime she comitted which was also an example of honor because she was not going to lie about doing what was right. Antigone also did not fight or argue about her penalty for her crime. She knew she would die and she needed to meet death, to go to the afterlife where she belonged with her brothers and her father.
Antigone represented the values of the Greek culture through a number of different events. She reflected honor, destiny, and other Greek values to society. Honor and destiny were the two major values, but there are others. Antigone stood for her brother s rights, and her own by burying Polyneices, and taking on to the afterlife. Antigone showed three major values in the Greek culture and worldviews.