Comedy Tragedy
Antigone
After a long heart retching battle, two brothers are left dead on the streets. One is getting buried a little every day.
"Tragedy, then, is an imitation of a noble and complete action, having the proper magnitude; it employs language that has been artistically enhanced . . . ; it is presented in dramatic, not narrative form, and achieves, through the representation of pitiable and fearful incidents, the catharsis of such incidents"(Aristotle). Sophocles play Antigone is a great example of Tragedy.
In the play Antigone Creon fits Aristotles definition of plot. A positive, active protagonist caught in sharp conflict with opposing forces: suffers greatly and moves from good fortune to misfortune (Aristotle). The character Creon goes from fortune to misfortune when he loses his son Haemon and his wife Eurydice. Oh no, / another, a second loss to break the heart. / What next, what fate still waits for me? / I just held my son in my arms and now, / look, a new corpse rising before my eyes-/wrenched, helpless mother-O my son (Sophocles, 1420-1425)! His good fortune was his family and power and without his family he has no power.
When Antigone gets caught burying her brother fits Aristotles definition of Catharsis. The release of emotion from the audience. (Aristotle) No one knew exactly what was going to happen to her when she got caught. I will take her down some wild, desolate path/ never trod by men, and wall her up alive/in a rocky vault, and set out short rations (Sophocles, 870-872).
The character Creon also fits Aristoles definition of Hero. A good man, noble, larger in spirit that the average man, but not free from a blemish, fails to keep his balance on a high place and therefore falls (Aristotle). He starts to fall after Antigone kills himself and Haemon decides that he cant live with out her and kills himself. After Haemon kills himself then Eurydice also kills herself and Creon takes the blame. And the quilt is all mine- /can never be fixed on another man, / no escape for me. I killed you,/ I, god help me, I admit it all!/ Take me away, quickly, out of sight./ I dont even exist- Im no one. Nothing (Sophocles, 1441-1446). With Creon saying that he is nothing, he showing that he knows that he has done wrong and no one will look at him the same.
Antigone fits Aristotles definition of Hamartia, a human frailty: the tragic flaw. Antigone and Creon are very much alike in what they want. While Creon has hate towards Antigones brother Polynices, Antigone has hate towards Creon. I have no love for a friend who loves in words alone (Sophocles 612). Creon is all talk and is only in love with the power that he has.
Creon fits Aristotles definition of Peripetia, principle which says that the desires of the character lead to reversal, that is he gets what he wants but it is destructive reversal often in voles recognition of truth. (Aristotle) And the guilt is all mine (Sophocles 1441). He knows that it is his fault that his wife and son are dead and he admits it because he cant deny it.
The chorus represents Aristotles definition Anagnorsis the best. The point of a truth. (Aristotle) They tell us that revenge isnt the way to solve problems. Wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy, / and reverence towards the gods must be safeguarded (Sophocles 1466-1467). You have to be wise when things dont go your way. Dont hurt others because they hurt you.
Sophocles play Antigone is a great example of Tragedy. People in this play die and become upset because of the deaths. Others even make their own death because of deaths also. The best way to get revenge is to not hurt someone the way they hurt you. To get walled up in a cave by rocks for burying a love one is a great choice to be made.
Already have an account? Log In Now
6964