In the course of the whole play, Antigone has proved to be a very loving sister who would do anything for the brother and the family members who are close to her. She goes a step of risking her life all for the sake of the brother (Hogan, 1972). In doing this, she is aware of the situations that she is putting herself in and the challenges that could come with that. In a statement, she proves that she is ready to do all for the brother “I shall lie down with him, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me.” The statement shows how deep her love is for the brother and to anybody else who is like the brother. The fact that she goes ahead to say that “it is my nature to join in love” speaks volume about her character (Hogan, 1972).

Compared to the other characters in the play, Antigone clearly understands what is right and wrong, and she is bold enough to stand for her principles. To Antigone, consequences are nothing if her conscience is right. The gods would want an individual to have a decent burial and Antigone is not shy of this despite it being against the directive of Creon. In a moment Antigone is seen to challenge Creon and firmly state her stand when she says “Creon is not enough to stand in my way.” She proves to have an attitude to face any enemy or individual who would step into her way (Hogan, 1972). Antigone knows no fears. In the first place, she knew that she was going against the law, Ismene at one point threatens to inform others of the actions of Antigone, but this did not prompt her to change the mind. The irony is that Antigone dares Ismene to proclaim to everyone and Ismene responds by saying “you should be cold with fear” and Antigone responds by saying “I am not afraid of the danger.” The statement is an indication of the attitude of Antigone to danger and fear (Hogan, 1972).

The acts by Antigone are proof that she only fears God and not even the king. She says “It was not God’s proclamation. That final justice that rules the world below makes no such laws. The statements by Antigone are an indication that she believes that only God can give the final verdict. Antigone is indeed not afraid to stand alone and by herself. The citizens of Thebes knew very well that the actions of Creon are wrong yet nobody dared to oppose that. The society in Thebes is very patriarchal, and this does not shake Antigone. She is not at all concerned with the gender roles that have been laid by the society. Creon is certainly sure that no woman would dare to do like Antigone did (Hogan, 1972). When Creon discovers that the burial took place, he asks “and the man who dared do this? Not a woman. Ismene also says we are only women; we cannot fight with men Antigone! Creon by saying this is trying to reaffirm the position of the society that has distinctively separated the roles of men and women.  The personality of Antigone is firm and dependable; when she was asked of what she did, she did not deny the charges pressed against her. The sentry proved her determination by saying ” she was not afraid, not even when we charged her with what she had done.  The personality of Antigone is one of its kind in the land of Thebes. According to Choragos the head of the chorus, Antigone’s attitude is unyielding. “She has never learned to yield” (Hogan, 1972).

Antigone is a character who has complete control over the things that happen in her life. She is predictable in the things she stands for. She refers to death as a “sleepy death”  that cannot harm her and she even considers her self strong and energetic than death (Hogan, 1972). When the King declares her death, she says the guards ” come, let’s wait no longer” and this is proof that she was ready to taste death. She kills herself, and this is complete control of one’s life. Antigone proved that her life did not depend on someone else. Antigone is a beautiful woman who could be compared to the mythological character Danae (Hogan, 1972). The beauty by Antigone is seen as the reason as to why Haimon who rebelled against his father. Antigone proves to yield so much power to the extent that she makes Haimon kill himself. The character of Antigone makes her a protagonist who is driven by self will, discipline, determination, and energy. She is the main character and around her many actions are influenced. The nature of Antigone together with her motivation and attitudes shapes the play in a significant way. She is a dependable character whose strengths awed many people in the land. She is an embodiment of an empowered woman who cannot be stopped by anything (Hogan, 1972). She challenged the traditional roles of women who have been used to bring the themes of loyalty, spirituality and altogether played a role in shaping man to woman conflict, niece against uncle conflict, the revolution against tradition and sibling against sibling.

According to the design of the play, Antigone is a dynamic character whose actions shape the characteristics and attitudes of the rest of the characters. The setting up of the play puts so much emphasis on Antigone not only because she is the strong woman who opposes the status quo but because she is the only woman who is guided by morals, principles and her actions are backed by reasons (Hogan, 1972). Antigone is a representation of independent women who are not stopped by intimidation or fear. The taking of shape of the play and the different scenes can be attributed to the position taken by Antigone in a majority of the issues that involved her. An analysis of the play proves that all the characters have been affected in one way or another by the action or words of Antigone.

References

Hogan, J. C. (1972). The Protagonists of the” Antigone.” Arethusa, 5(1), 93.

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