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.