Write a paragraph or two in which you argue whether Antigone did the right thing . Should she have buried her brother or obeyed the decree by her uncle? Support your answer with at least two specific references to the play.
Ans- Antigone did the right thing by burying her brother. In the second scene she tells the king that she should be praised and honored for what she has done and even though Polyneices was a traitor to Eteocles, they were equal in blood and there are honors due to all dead. Antigone also knows that what she did was right and she tells Creon that the Gods know that too.
You wrote:
Antigone did the right thing by burying her brother.
In the second scene she tells the king that she should be praised and honored for what she has done and even though Polyneices was a traitor to Eteocles, they were equal in blood and there are honors due to all dead.
Antigone also knows that what she did was right and she tells Creon that the Gods know that too.
Basically, you have it all there, but your sentence structure and specific details aren't 100%. That second sentence needs to be divided into two sentences. Where will you do that and how will you rephrase so that it's smooth?
The third sentence is basically correct but rather skimpy on the details. HOW do we know that Antigone "knows that what she did was right"? HOW do we know that the gods "know that too"? (Notice -- small g on "gods" when you're referring to multiple Greek gods. There should also be a comma after "that.")
Repost when you've strengthened this.
Alright, thanks
Here is another website (Google Books) with the complete text:
http://books.google.com/books?id=SPus_TInjTAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=antigone&ei=FSxNStXUN4yuMom2_TI
The introductions include information about Sophocles, as well as a summary of the play and analysis, too. The play itself starts about halfway through the website.
To argue whether Antigone did the right thing or not, it is important to consider both sides of the argument. Antigone's decision to bury her brother goes against the decree issued by her uncle, King Creon, which prohibits giving rites to Polyneices. On one hand, one could argue that Antigone should have obeyed the decree in order to maintain order and uphold the law. However, on the other hand, Antigone's act of burial can be seen as a moral duty towards her family and the gods.
In the play, Antigone defends her actions by stating that all the dead deserve proper rites, regardless of their actions in life. She believes that denying Polyneices a burial would be a violation of the natural order and an offense against the gods. This is evident in the second scene of the play when Antigone confronts King Creon and asserts that she should be praised and honored for her actions.
Furthermore, Antigone argues that blood ties should take precedence over political allegiance. While Polyneices may have been a traitor to Eteocles, they still share the same bloodline. Antigone's actions reflect her unwavering loyalty to her family, which she believes surpasses any loyalty to the state.
Ultimately, Antigone's decision to bury her brother can be seen as a courageous act driven by her moral convictions. She firmly stands by her belief that the laws of the gods should take precedence over the laws of men. Therefore, considering Antigone's defense and her unwavering stance on honoring the dead, it can be argued that she did the right thing by burying her brother, despite the decree issued by her uncle.