As viewed in this play,
to what extent do people have control over their own lives, as
opposed to being controlled by fate, the gods, their rulers, or
other forces like luck or chance (mentioned by the sentry who
lost in drawing lots and became the one to tell Creon of
Polynices' "burial")?
In this play, there is a
boiling pot of personalities in the characters, each having
different reasons for the decisions they made. It is my belief
that they all had control over their own fate. There is a
distinct point in the play where each of the characters found
themselves at a crossroad.
Antigone,
although led by her religious and sisterly duty, could have
chosen to obey the law passed by Kreon. She was wise in her
thought process because she was aware that regardless of her
decision, she will endure repercussions. It was her decision to
defy a king to honor the gods.
Kreon could
have swallowed his pride and allow for Polynices' burial. His
stubbornness was the key to his destruction. It Kreon too long
to see what it seems everyone else already knew. Money and power
is not everything if you have a people living in fear. The
messenger speaks of Kreon in the Exodos, "He is the walking
dead. Grant him rich, let him live like a king in his great
house: If his pleasure is gone, I would not give so much as the
shadow of smoke for all that he owns." Although Kreon's advisors
and servants were aware of his ill decisions, they held their
tongue. If he would kill his own blood for such an offensive as
a proper burial, than what would happen to them if they spoke
against him. Kreon is the true tragic hero in this play.
Haimon
initially seems torn between father and bride. He pleads with
his father with such grace. He starts with praise and confirming
his loyalty to his father. It is almost like in the beginning of
the scene that he is trying to hide his anxiety and desperation
over the death sentence of his wife to be. He attempts to plead
with his father to just think about his decision and talk to
advisors. Haimon pleads, "I beg you, do not be unchangeable: Do
not believe that you alone can be right." Haimon witnesses
Kreon's stubbornness and is unmoved pride and declares to the
king he will regret it. He chose love for his bride and her
decision to bury her brother. He puts his fear of the gods over
his fear of his father. But most of all, he loves Antigone and
does not want to lose her, especially at the hands of his
father.
Out of these 3
main characters, their reasons for their actions stem form
different sources. The choices they made were their own. I think
that they believed in fate, but fate was altered by their
actions. Antigone and Haimon died at their own hands. Is there
now spiritual condemnation for suicide? Antigone was led by her
religious beliefs. Kreon was led by his own selfish adoration
and need to be right. Haimon was led by love. I think if
Antigone did not defy Kreon and left Polynices to rot,
than Haimon would not have stood up to his father as he did.
VCCS Litonline