Theme Of Power In Antigone

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A Kingdom Corrupted With Power From the start of humanity as a whole, power has continuously been a huge part of society. Whether it is a political figure, a high ranking sergeant in the military, or even a senior in a local high school, this idea of power is shown through several different ways. In the play, Antigone, translated by Richard Emil Braun, a young girl of only fifteen years experiences the unimaginable along side her uncle, Kreon, who also happens to rule his own kingdom, and her loyal sister, Ismene. Although the kingdom withholds a variety of different people, the storyline includes another important character, who happens to be an old blind man named Teiresias. Despite not being able to physically see the world through his …show more content…
This is first shown in the beginning of the play when Antigone’s brother, Oedipus, passes away and Kreon refuses to bury his body. Antigone plans to bury the body secretly and invites her sister, Ismene, to join; however, she quickly refuses, not wanting to disrespect the king in any sort of way. After Ismene declines the burial offer, Antigone states, “I will stay with him, my brother; and my crime will be devotion” (23). Feeling so conflicted within their situation, the naive Antigone chooses to put her brother before the extremely powerful king, regardless of the upcoming consequences. Her faithfulness to her brother illuminates her ability to withstand the corruption that her uncle has imposed onto her. After following through with her plan to illegally bury the body, Antigone is shortly caught and is sentenced to death. Seeing no way out of the hell she finds herself presently in, Antigone makes the ultimate decision to end her life. However, before making this choice, she engages in a final conversation with her uncle, Kreon. She states, “Before my time, I am descending to that world; but I am returning home as well, from an exile” (56). The corruption of the kingdom is strikingly overly intense, as it causes a young girl, who was once full of life, to suddenly choose death over her present day living conditions. Antigone …show more content…
Corruption of power is most clearly evident in the play Antigone, translated by Richard Emil Braun, through the leader of the kingdom himself, an elderly, blind man who cannot physically see, yet can figuratively see, and the main antagonist, Antigone. Each and every one of these characters provide insight about the kingdom’s corruption through their quotations and actions throughout the entire play. As each individual found his or herself locked beneath a higher level of power, or in Kreon’s case, found himself in the position of power itself, many began to lose who they once were. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him
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