Heroine Or Victim Of Pride Essay, Research Paper
Heroism is defined by cause. Bravery is a factor, however, it depends on what
one is putting oneself out on a limb for that makes one a hero. It is not enough to be
brave. Antigone?s character has many different layers. In some respects, she is a heroine,
but in others, she is merely a victim of her own pride.
At the beginning of the play, the chorus describes Antigone as a little helpless
creature that keeps to herself, and is in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Ismene. They
describe Antigone as: ? That thin little creature sitting by herself, staring straight ahead,
seeing nothing. . .? She seems to be small, helpless and fragile, but just when you think
that she is helpless, she unfurls herself as a clever and very brave young lady.
As Antigone returns from burying her brother, Polynices, she appears
dreamy-eyed and playful. She seems to be an innocent young girl who is just opening her
eyes to the beauty of the world: ?It was beautiful. The whole world was gray when I
went out. An now-you wouldn?t recognize it. It?s like a post card: all pink and green,
and yellow.? Unfortunately, she soon finds out the world?s wickedness as well. She
seems to come to the realization that her life would soon end, so, she begins to prepare
for the worst, being death, and almost welcome it: ?There! I?m not afraid any more. Not
afraid of the wicked ogre, nor of the sandman, nor of the dwarf who steals little children.?
Haemon is another factor of Antigone?s wavering emotional state. When Haemon
first comes into the play, Antigone apologizes to him for her actions the night before.
She apparently had dressed herself up as her sister Ismene would have. She was
glamorous and bold. She explains in the following lines: ?I wasn?t very sure that you
loved me as a woman; and I did it -because I wanted you to want me.? Now she is seen
as the innocent tomboyish Antigone again. The couple had also quarreled that night, and
Antigone blames herself. Haemon assures her that a happy love is full of quarrels, but
Antigone isn?t convinced. She knows that they do not have much more time together, so,
she begins to sorrowfully think of the life and the children that they could have had
together: ?You know the little boy we were going to have when we were married? I?d
have protected him against everything in the world. Our little boy, Haemon! You do
believe me don?t you?? Her emotional instability is a result of her inevitable death. The
reader is confused, as well as Haemon, but soon, all is revealed.
Yet another side of Antigone is revealed as soon as she is brought in to Creon.
She proudly admits that she is the traitor that buried Polynices, and her bravery is
displayed through her defiance of her uncle and the refusal of all his offers to save her
life. Antigone believes that she did the right thing because of her belief that if she didn?t
bury her brother, his spirit would never rest in the here-after: ?Those who are not buried
wander eternally and find no rest. I owe it to him to unlock the house of the dead in
which my father and my mother are waiting to welcome him. Polynices had earned his
rest.?
Her stubbornness continues despite Creon?s explanation of a brother that
Antigone never knew. Creon describes Antigone?s brothers, Polynices and Etocles, as
deviant young traitors to Thebes and their father. Finally, after the truth is revealed,
Antigone?s hope is distorted. Like any young heroine, Antigone needed something to
believe in, and now that it is gone, she is left with nothing except regret and pain. Yet she
still resists life. Creon tells her that her father has polluted her with his stubborness and
pride. She responds defiantly: ?In my father?s own voice, yes! WE are of the tribe that
asks questions, and we ask them to the bitter end. Until no tinest chance of hope remains
to be stangled by our hands. We are of the tribe that hates your filthy hope, your docile,
female hope; hope, your whore.?
She doesn?t understand Creon?s responsibility to his kingdom and to Thebes. She
only believes what is in her heart and she acts upon it. Her hope has been crushed by
Creon, and she?s not about to let him get away with it. Creon tells her to find happiness
in her marriage with Haemon, and to forget all of her spirit. She cannot submit: ?What
kind of happiness do you foresee for me? Paint me the picture of your happy Antigone.
Whatare the unimportant little sins that I shall have to commit before I am allowed to sink
my teeth into life and tear happiness from it? To whom must I sell myself?? Antigone
doesn?t sell herself. She would rather die than to try to live in a fake life of artificial
happiness. She chooses death, and nothing could convince her to live.
In the end, Antigone dies as herself. She didn?t become someone that she isn?t,
and she didn?t sell out. Is that the course of a true hero? Antigone is many different
things: innocent, confused, proud, and above all, she is heroic. A true hero remains true
to themselves to the bitter end, and Antigone did just that.