Antigone by Sophocles

We rushed her, closed on the kill like hunters

• inferior/weak imagery due to zoomorphism

• lack of justice for Antigone

Never be rated as inferior to a woman, never

• Outrage shown as repetition

• social hierarchy/nature of authority

I will bury him myself

• determined due to imperatives

• switches social roles, against nature of authority

• a show of pride

Shout it from the rooftops…tell the world!

• imperative shows conflict between religion and state

• imperative shows rebellious nature

• heavily juxtaposes Ismene

I will suffer nothing as great as death without glory

• definite statement

• shows pride and religion

Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men

• motherly tone from Ismene

• unequal power between men and women/nature of authority

father like daughter, passionate and wild…she hasn’t learned to bend before adversity.

• belittling tone

• shows Antigone’s rebel as against nature of authority

I was born to join in love, not hate- that is my nature

• definite statement shows authority

• contrast between Creon’s hate and Antigone’s love for her brother

• villainizes the state, shows conflict between state and religion

Hanged by her neck in a fine linen noose, strangled in her veils- and the boy, his arms flung around her waist…wailing for his bride

• gory description shows lack of justice

• overdramatic description of Haemon

• switches societal roles (emotional vs unemotional)

There’s nothing, no pain- our lives are pain- no private stance, no public disgrace, nothing.

• tautology of nothingness

• outrageous tone through repetition

• lack of justice

i’ve been accused of folly by a fool

• shows importance of perspectives

• insulting tone

there is no gag like terror.

• power of fear

• unjust and violent actions of Creon