Destruction In Antigone

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Excessive pride makes people self righteous and self malicious. In Sophocles Greek play Antigone, the quote “but men right often are brought to ruin, through their dreams of gain” (page 9) encompasses the effect pride can have on an individual. Each character is vying over something they believe they deserve. Antigone wants her brother to be honored with a proper burial, Creon wants a respectful fear from those he rules over, and Haemon wants Antigone to escape the harsh judgment of his father. However, they all allow their own selfish pride to get in the way of their desires which distorts the outcome and allows for their own self destruction. Each experience the destruction of pride in a different way; however, they all understand pride is …show more content…
Antigone’s actions start out as a noble, innocent act honoring her brother and giving him the proper burial that he deserves. However, once she realizes all the fame she will receive after breaking the law set by Creon, she does not repent for the deed she has done. Antigone expresses to her sister Ismene that, “Him will I bury. Death, so met were honour; and for that capital crime of piety, loving and loved, I will lie by his side” (Page 3). Antigone is driven by family pride, even to the point of defying the king’s law. The pride that Antigone now exhibits has a negative effect on her and causes her to suffer. Although Antigone’s deed was done to honor her brother, these motives became sinful causing her actions to lack worth. That motivation was to gain fame and honor for disobeying the law. Believing that what she did was honorable, Antigone wants to gain all the credit she can get from it. She won’t even allow Ismene to take credit saying, “Mix not your death with mine. Do not claim work, you did not touch. I shall suffice to die.” (Page 21). Even when confronted by Creon, Antigone admits that she did it “because it was not

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