Wednesday, June 29, 2016

What would be a good thesis sentence for why Antigone is more justified than Creon in their tragic collision?

A possible thesis to explain why Antigone is justified in disobeying Creon's law could be something like this:

Antigone is justified in disobeying Creon's law because she believes she is following higher and more just laws: her sense of duty to family and the gods.

In the play, Antigone's brothers fight in a battle but on different sides. One brother fights for Thebes (Creon's side), and the other fights against. Both brothers are killed, but Creon forbids anyone to bury the body of the brother who fought against Thebes. Antigone feels a sense of duty to her brother as family and gives him a proper burial. She also knows that the gods support her decision and tells Creon this. Antigone is the protagonist of the play (it's named for her, after all), and she garners the sympathy of most readers and audiences. She is outspoken and loyal to her family. She truly believes that if a law is unjust, or contradicts her moral compass or the will of the gods, it should not be obeyed.
Another way to support the thesis is to discuss Creon's character and how he is portrayed by Sophocles, the playwright. Creon is depicted as stubborn in upholding his decree, even when he and others question it. He ends up losing his son, who was set to marry Antigone, and his pride and obstinacy end in tragedy for all involved.


Possible thesis statements for why Antigone is more justified in her reasoning than Creon might sound like the following:
Antigone's reasoning is more justified than Creon's because Antigone seeks to obey and honor the laws of the gods, while Creon instead seeks to maintain his public honor and authority over his state.
Alternatively, it could sound something like this:
Antigone is justified in opposing Creon's decree because her burial of her brother upholds the laws of the Gods and her familial duty.
The conflict in Antigone is interesting because both of these characters have valid reasons for their actions, and both of them are ultimately punished.
Creon does not want Polyneices to be buried because Polyneices led a rebellion against his brother and his home country. To Creon, Polyneices should not be buried because he is a traitor. Creon threatens that anyone who defies this order will be publicly stoned. Creon is well aware of his position as a leader and does not want anyone to threaten his authority. He chooses a public punishment that would put similar traitors (anyone who dared to defy his decree) on display. Creon is stuck between maintaining his power on Earth and being a strong leader of men and following the customs that honor the gods (burying the dead).
Antigone is not a ruler, so she does not have to worry about losing her authority or public image in the same way that Creon does. She follows laws and customs that are central to her faith in the gods and her position as a woman. Although it hurts her that her brothers fought each other, it is still her place as a woman and a sister to bury Polyneices. She fulfills her family duty and the honor due to the gods by burying Polyneices.
While the two struggle, there are several others that question Creon's will, but the chorus also frequently condemns Antigone because, in many ways, she willingly brings her punishment on herself.


Here's a possible thesis statement you could use:
Antigone is justified in defying Creon, because doing the right thing is ultimately more important than obeying unjust laws.
Sometimes it's necessary for brave people to stand up and defy unjust laws. That's what Antigone does. Her uncle, King Creon, has violated the law of the gods in leaving the body of Antigone's brother Polynices to rot out in the open. He won't allow Antigone or anyone else to bury him. But Antigone defies Creon's orders. She knows what's morally right and what's pleasing to the gods.
When writing your thesis, make sure to cite examples from the text to support your argument (whichever one you use). Also, you might like to use a few brief examples from history to show how people in real life have often challenged unjust laws, such as those who fought to abolish slavery or opponents of the Nazis.
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Why is the fact that the Americans are helping the Russians important?

In the late author Tom Clancy’s first novel, The Hunt for Red October, the assistance rendered to the Russians by the United States is impor...