Pub One

First Published Writing

Throughout the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, Antigone is a fearless, determined, honest girl who fought against authority when injustice was brought upon her deceased brother, Polyneices. The two brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles had a battle for the throne. Polyneices ended up building an army from a neighboring city while Eteocles stayed in Thebes and grew his army. The two brothers fought and ended up killing each other. The newly sworn heir to the throne, Creon had a fierce fire of anger in him that could not be put out. He could not forgive Polyneices for leaving Thebes to make a new army somewhere else. Creon had a rule put in place that Eteocles would have an honorable and proper burial while his “traitor” brother, Polyneices would be left in the city streets to rot. Antigone was furious when she heard the rule. She loved both her brothers equally and believed they both deserved a proper burial. Her passion for her belief drove her to sneak into where Polyneices’ body was being held, and buried him herself.

Antigone might have been hidden so she could bury her brother but she does not want to keep it a secret. She wants to “Shout it out” because she wants the world to know that she has not only buried her brother but she buried him for good reason (Antigone 99). She wants to prove Creon wrong and have him realize that her belief is morally good compared to his rule. Antigone’s values lie with her brother. She will do anything to have her brother buried even if it means risking her own life as she states “I shall lie by his side, loving him as he loved me” (Antigone 83-84). Another quote, “I shall be a criminal- but a religious one” (Antigone 84-85) she claims she is a martyr. A martyr is a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. Going against Creon’s rule will bring Antigone to her death. Antigone strongly believes that her brother should have a proper burial because she cares for him and wants him to have peace in the afterlife and for his memory to be honored despite his one mistake which led to his death. One last quote, “I did not believe your proclamation had such power to enable one who will someday die to override God's ordinances, unwritten and secure" (Antigone 96-99) Antigone is expressing that Creon is trying to play God and make rules that are unjust. Also, because of his radical methods of ruling to try to overstep God’s power leads to his family’s fate and his own.

The character Antigone reminds me of Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games" book and movie series. Katniss Everdeen is from district twelve who volunteered for her sister, Prim for the hunger games. The hunger games is a not your typical contest. There are twelve districts in the country and two people, a boy and a girl are chosen from each district to participate in the games. The whole point of the game is the fight to the death and the last person standing will receive wealth along with wealth for their district. The Capitol is where the games take place and people from the area do not participate in the games but instead watch for entertainment. The Capitol is advantaged in money and goods unlike the districts which survive on funds provided by the Capitol. The country's leader, President Snow lives in the Capitol and enjoys the games. Katniss Everdeen joins the games and meets a girl named Rue. Rue is from district eleven and is around the same age as Prim, she also needs an ally. Katniss thinks of Rue as a sister and grows to love and protect her. Unfortunately but inevitably, Rue eventually gets killed and out of respect and a way to cope with her death, Katniss buries Rue. After the burial Katniss puts up a hand gesture towards the camera and whistles the tune of the mockingjay, showing that she respects Rue and the district she belonged to. The mockingjay is a bird in the country which represents freedom. Katniss whistling the tune of the mockingjay means that Rue is free from harm and hints that this is the beginning of the districts separation from the Capitol. This gesture shows that Katniss respects other districts and wants peace. Katniss also believes that the games are not only insane but also strips away humanity. Just like Antigone, Katniss steps up to authority and voices her opinion and later on in the series, leads a rebellion against the Capitol and President Snow. Both Antigone and Katniss showed citizens that authority is not always correct and they fought for their beliefs until the very end.