Reflective Statement Antigone (0)

Johanna Merirand
Reflective Statement
How was your understanding of the cultural and contextual considerations of the work developed during your interactive oral?
My comprehension of the traditions and culture of the ancient Greek was substantially enhanced through the discussion we had on the conflict between men and nature in Antigone by Sophocles. The two main characters in the play are Antigone and Creon, who both are motivated by their hubris and the need for glory. In the play, Antigone rebels against the rules set out by Creon, when she attempts to bury her brother even though it has been prohibited by the state. Antigone is sentenced with a death penalty, which is found unreasonable by many of the other members of the society.
In the discussion we explored the nature of men and authority in comparison to the natural laws and traditions of the Gods . Sophocles expresses men as the all powerful and wonderful in his well-known “Ode to Man” in Antigone. A man “conquers all, taming with his techniques the prey that roam the cliffs and wild lairs, training the stallion, clamping the yoke across his shaggy neck, and the tireless mountain bull ” (l.391-394)1, which portrays the audience all of the marvelous actions of men. At the same time, one common aspect that stands out in the midst of all the greatness is the artificialness of all men’s actions. Men build boats to cross seas, houses to protect themselves from snow and rain and hunt animals for food – all of these are actions which are working against nature. Creon is the character , who best symbolizes everything man-made, while Antigone is the one who is in connection with the Gods and nature. Creon, due to his excessive hubris, has forgotten about the centuries old traditions of Gods and thinks of himself as the leader on earth. At the same time Antigone actively believes in the Gods and bases justifications to her actions on the will of the Gods. Through the characters of Antigone and Creon, Sophocles is able to express his ideas about the balance between the artificial man-made world in comparison to the natural laws and traditions.
The conflict between man and nature presented in Antigone has deepened my understanding of the customs and traditions of the ancient Greek era and influenced my perception of our current world. The conflict is still relevant today, when we argue about the issues of abortion and gay rights , which are both religiously frowned upon, and try to find the balance between beliefs and traditions from the past, while accustoming them to our world today.
Word count: 410
1Robert Fagles, trans., Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays (New York : Penguin, 1984) 76.