Antigone

That it extends the scope of the punishment and that it removes all defenses is the importance of the proclamation that Oedipus makes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus adds to the original scope of the divinely defined punishment of the guilty in King Laius' murder. He extends the eligibility to all who know but do not share information and all who harbor or help the guilty in Laius' murder even if the latter is found to be within the royal household. The elaboration removes all hope of extenuating circumstances, leniency or pardon.

It is in her treatment of others that Antigone can be described as a tyrant in "Antiogne" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the term tyrant describes a person who seizes power illegally or who treats others in arbitrary, harsh and oppressive ways. Theban Princess Antigone particularly exhibits tyranny in her interactions with her sister Princess Ismene and her uncle Creon. Antigone holds strong convictions of right and wrong in regard to divine will, family ties and Theban traditions. She oppresses, represses and suppresses any belief contrary to her own.

Personal loyalty to family and the gods versus impersonal dedication to job and to government are what Antigone and Creon respectively represent about loyalty and laws in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone acts from the heart. She defends her family, her gods and her cherished Theban traditions. In contrast, her uncle King Creon operates from the brain. He thinks in terms of the numbers of losses and wins in carrying out the responsibilities of his job as king and in running the city government of Thebes.

That a king needs to rule alone is what Creon thinks that a king should do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon likes having the royal powers all to himself. He does not think that he needs to seek second opinions on anything. In fact, he believes that it is a sign of weakness to look anywhere but to oneself when ruling Thebes.

It is with those who do not raise arms against Thebesthat the chorus' sympathy lies at the beginning of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the single antistrophe, the two strophes and the four systemas of the chorus criticize Polyneices for raising an army of disgruntled Thebans and invading Argives against his hometown of Thebes. They gloat about their victory and the upcoming dances and songs inspired by Bacchus the wine god. But they are not impartial since they withhold the information that Polyneices is in the right for asserting his legitimate claim to the Theban throne and that his twin brother Eteocles and his uncle Creon are in the wrong for persisting in their illegal occupation of that throne.

It is to horses, iron and slaves that Creon compares Antigone in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Creon considers his niece Princess Antigone a stubborn, willful girl who needs to be disciplined. He declares that such stubborn pride leads to downfall, just as hard-baked iron snaps from its stiffness. He nevertheless observes that stubborn pride can be curbed in horses and in slaves.

That he arrests and plans to punish Ismene is an example of Creon growing irrational and abusing his powers in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon admits that his niece, Princess Ismene, has a lifelong track record of wisdom. Yet he arrests her for helping her sister Antigone bury their brother Polyneices. He bases the arrest on Ismene looking uncharacteristically distraught, undoubtedly over her sister's actions instead of her own. Creon manages to recover his senses long enough to release Ismene when the chorus leader indicates that no one else believes Ismene guilty.

That she obeys the gods but receives the death penalty is the way in which Antigone's fate is ironic in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone faces a situation in which two authority figures conflict. Divine will indicates that she must give her brother Polyneices a below ground burial, which a recent royal edict forbids. Antigone knows that the gods rule and that her choice is correct. But her uncle King Creon sentences her to death for breaking his law.

Respect for family, the gods and tradition is the fundamental principle that Antigone proclaims in her confrontation with Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone demonstrates respect for family in caring how her brother's body enters the Underworld of the afterlife. She exhibits respect for the gods in complying with divine will over a conflicting royal edict. She expresses respect for tradition in defending the god-given rights of all Thebans to below ground burials.

A dictatorship is the vision of rulership set forth by Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon views rulership as effective if citizens are obedient and ineffective if they question any aspect of authority. He sees rulership as successful if the ruler makes all decisions and the citizens have absolutely no input. Additionally, he considers rulership as all-encompassing, whereby the ruler bullies his family as well as dominates the personal and professional lives of his people.

It is to Niobe that Antigone compares her fate in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone and Niobe experience grief over the unburied bodies of those they love. Antigone feels that she must bury her brother Polyneices whose body is being denied by her uncle King Creon of the god-given rights of all Thebans to below ground burials. Niobe has the pain of seeing her children killed by the gods and not immediately buried.

An observation on the inevitability of fate is the purpose of the choral ode that follows Antigone's final exit in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus gives examples of three mortals who suffer. One example recounts persecution that is followed by triumph and vengeance. The other two examples relate to less fortunate meetings with Dionysos the wine god and with fate. The ode therefore summarizes that Antigone's suffering fits in with the fate of a god-cursed line.

That his life takes an unfortunate turn is the reason why Creon is a tragic character in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon's life takes a most unfortunate turn, largely through his own flawed character. For example, at the play's beginning, he is king of his city and in his own household. By the play's end, he has no friends, heirs, home, job or wife.

Sophocles was the author of the trilogy "Oedipus Rex," "Oedipus at Colonus" and "Antigone."

Specifically, Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) was an ancient Greek playwright who was born in Colonus, but spent much of his professional life in nearby Athens. He did not write the plays specifically as a trilogy. They just happened to all be plays about the life and death of Theban King Oedipus and his children.

Hostile, narrow-minded, relentless and stubborn is Creon's attitude towards Antigone in Episode 2 of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon admits that his opinion is pre-conceived against Princess Antigone as someone who has a lifelong track record of foolishness and emotional outbursts. He seems determined to make an example of Antigone despite her being his niece and his intended daughter-in-law. She breaks his law of non-burial to the disloyal dead, and he is determined to have his law obeyed and to punish all guilty, even someone who is related and royal.

Angry, elated, nostalgic and sad are the ways in which Antigone feels in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone demonstrates anger over her uncle King Creon's edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. She exhibits elation over her burial and reburial of her brother Polyneices. She expresses nostalgia for her family. She manifests sadness just before she is walled up in a remote cave outside Thebes.

In that it attempts to explain Antigone's personality the curse is important in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the descendants of Theban Kings Polydorus and Labdacus are cursed by their own cousin, Bacchus the wine god. Princess Antigone is a direct paternal descendant. The chorus mentions that she is cursed with the same lack of control as her father, disgraced Theban King Oedipus.

One day is the duration of the events in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the play respects the three unities of time, place and action in ancient Greek drama. The action needs to relate to the problem-solving in regard to the play's hero. The place must involve just one onstage location. The time can be no more than one 24-hour period.