Summer Reading: Antigone

Paragraph One:

• Determined
• She tries to bury him twice
• [Antigone]  Thy choice was to live; mine, to die
• She feels like her defiance of the law is justified 
• Antigone justifies her defiance by saying it is the law of the gods.
• Her Uncle (Creon) is the one who states that her brother and his army are the intruders and Polynices (Antigone's brother) should be left for the dogs to feast on.
• Antigone great
• Antigone greatly contrasts her sister Ismene
• Ismene is timid while Antigone is confident in her beliefs even unto death
• Stands by her beliefs in confidence
• [Sentinel] ...Burying that body, you forbade to bury.
  ...
  [Creon] Do you, I say--you, with that downcast brow  do or deny that you have done this deed?
  [Antigone] I say I did it; I deny it not. 
• (17)
• She acted out of love 
• "Love, unconquered in the fight, Love, who makest havoc of wealth, who keepest thy vigil on the soft cheek of a maiden; thou roamest over the sea, and among the homes of dwellers in the wilds; no immortal can escape thee, nor any among men whose life is for a day; and he to whom thou hast come is mad." (29-30) different translation. 

Paragraph 2

• Determined
• [Antigone] There is no shame in piety for a brother. 
• Justifies defiance
• [Antigone]  And yet, for glory-whence could I have won a nobler, than by giving burial to mine own brother? All here would own that they thought it well, were not their lips sealed by fear. 
• Love
• But now I also am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty, and can no more keep back the streaming tears, when I see Antigone thus passing to the bridal chamber where all are laid to rest.

She sees herself as a strong, confident woman and so she is not afraid to go against the secular or worldly law in order to honor her family and the gods laws.