The Endings Of Sophocles Antigone - 919 Words

Although they are versions of the same play, the endings of Sophocles Antigone and Anne Carson s Antigonick convey contrasting ideas of the power of fate, and its role in tragedy. In Antigone, fate is described as an inevitable, insurmountable aspect of life that cannot be avoided. On the other hand, Antigonick shows fate to be a malleable product which can be controlled by the decisions individuals take in their lives. Through the role of the chorus, the addition of Nick, and the catharses of the characters, Carson shows that fate is something which we can master. In both texts, the responsibility of the chorus is to comment upon the play s proceedings, and to make key observations about the characters actions. As Antigone is being paraded to her burial in Antigone, the chorus states, The power of fate is a wonder,/ dark, terrible wonder—/ neither wealth nor armies/ towered walls nor ships/ black hulls lashed by the salt/ can save us from that force. (1045-1050) It emph asizes that fate is very powerful, and that it is not within humans capacity to alter. Thus, Antigone and Creon are never capable of influencing their own lives; they are not responsible for the tragedy that ensues, because fate would have seen to it anyway. In contrast, the chorus in Antigonick says that it likes to find precedents, pointing out that We re not at a loss how to think about this/ We re not without guidance. The chorus states that Creon can avoid making the same mistakesShow MoreRelatedAntigone: Free Will and Destiny1367 Words   |  6 PagesAntigone: The Influence of Free Will and Destiny Throughout Antigone, fate is responsible for many of the most devastating and critical events. The characters Antigone, Creon, Ismene, Haemon, and Tirasias experience many occasions that change their destiny, some events of which were predestined. It is frequently shown that fate and free will are intertwined. Each individual has a destiny, but it can be changed if they use their free will. Sophocle’s message is portrayed throughout the story throughRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis1422 Words   |  6 Pages Antigone, the final play in a series including Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, discusses the ideas of leadership, family, and choices. It features two central characters: Antigone, a girl who chooses to illegally bury her brother, and Creon, a king who decrees the burial of the brother to be illegal. Upon the first encounter of the text, it appears that Antigone is the â€Å"hero† of the play, but on further analysis, one realizes that the tragic hero, as defined by A ristotle, is actually Creon. The ideaRead MoreAnalysis Of Sophocles Antigone And David Hares1314 Words   |  6 PagesIn both Sophocles’ play Antigone and David Hares’ drama Page Eight the plots center on politics and personal identity. The ideas of personal identity and politics are, however, presented in very distinct manners. 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