In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?


          Antigone has an interesting way of surviving in the world she lives in. She doesn't do it like others playing it by ear, and basically hiding under the radar. Antigone basically shows herself to the world, and expresses what she feels. This even leads to the point where she could possibly be killed. She doesn't really care about her actions and what the consequences in the end are going to be. She's more interested in doing what she thinks is right. In a way I think this is the right way to approach things but not always. She broke a rule of the city that was made by Creon which basically ended up giving her execution simply because of her stupid move. But her actions make you kind of think twice she's basically the one of the only people who aren't afraid of Creon, and she does not care for the consequences from her actions from disobeying Creon's rules. When she is caught of burying her bother she admits to it as calmly as anyone could ever. She doesn't think of whats going to happen to her, she's just standing there basically thinking "you've uncovered my brother what are you doing". She doesn't really care about what people say about her and she sort of mulitiplties what she thinks people should do or say especially like her sister. You tried to get her sister to cover the body but she couldn't but she did say some harsh things to her that were very surprising. She will do basically anything to survive in the world she lives in. But in the end she just ends up dead so what is the point of even trying. 

Rp #5 Jared

        HanRong Ma

         Professor Corona

         EN102

        When I looked at the character, Antigone, I saw a girl seem 
to do her things in her own way. She is strong, not to worry 
about what if she needs to make decisions in this world. 
She showed through all the games, because she didn't like 
ruled by others. Antigone is the glory of God, and not 
human law basically. For a moment, her story of the agent 
is she and her sister that she was there, with or without the 
help of her sister, Ismene, she will still go to bury her 
brother and his honor the right way. Here, she offers herself 
as an independent person, she would give her at her brother 
no matter what other people think or do, she broke the law 
on this point, but she never hurt anyone in intentions to 
honor her brother.
        Antigone demonstrate to everyone that the family is the 
first, everyone should be treated equally. She also believes 
that, everyone needs to be buried in peace with god. The 
Antigone's family, although almost all with their dead to 
her surprise she does her own thing. What she would have 
lost, because she has lost everything, she lost her family. 
Now she will be loyal to what they deserve. In the life 
Antigone's god is above all, so she loves in the world 
devoted to his rest than to suffer in the cruel world she was 
living in.
        Another moment, Antigone shows the agency when she 
decided she was going to die. Her choice of suicided proves 
that nothing was more important than her family and she 
would not give Creon the damn glad to see her suffer to 
death.

Reading Response 5

As we grow up, we are all taught to think, act, and speak for ourselves. The term agency means to have the freedom or capacity to live or act in a defined world. We as human may not have a full understanding of agency. We must all take control of our own world and life by the actions we make as we go through our journey of life. In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, the character Antigone was introduced in the very beginning, and from the moment she became a ver important character. From the start she takes control of her own fight by doing what she feels right to do. The ruler Creon made it clear to everyone under his reign that it is against the law to bury or morn the death of  Polyneices (which is Antigone's brother). Even though Creon set that law, she did it anyway. By doing this alone she is setting the rules and is not letting anyone tell her what she can and cannot do, she is going to do what she feels is the right thing to do. By doing this in the very beginning of the play, she has set the tone for the rest of the play.
By having agency, all that is is saying is that you have the power and free will to do what you feel is required to do the right thing. Throughout the whole play, Antigone was doing actions that she though was morally right and she didn't care about what rules she had to break to complete her actions. By doing these actions, although they seem right at the time, they can also have serious consequences. By doing the actions she did, she forced Creon to be on her case for the rest of the time she has left on this earth. We all have control of our fate no matter what. Our fate is not predetermined, our fate is based on the actions we make with the time we have on this earth. Our free will or agency can determine this fate because we have the power to do whatever we want to do, wether it is right or wrong.
Although Antigone is a very strong character in this play, there are other people who have agency and have the power to do what is right no matter what anyone says. One of these characters is Haemon who decides to disobey his father no matter what he is. Haemon knows what is the right thing to do and he will make sure he makes the right decision. Haemon is one of the few characters in this story who will do whatever it takes to do the right thing. To conclude this response, almost everyone has agency, we just don't have a clear understanding about what is it. Antigone did the right thing no matter what. She had agency, and everyone should learn that by having the power of free will, we as humans are able to be wonderful people.

nicholas hu rr5

Nicholas Hu

Reading Response 5

Question 1

In literature, the word agency means, ”the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.” And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play? In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in the particular world?

           

            Agency is to have a choice in a world that goes by guidelines and laws. We see Antigone having agency in the beginning of the play, where she tries to persuade her sister to help bury the brother. The king had decided that any mourning and honoring of the dead brother would be deemed illegal and led to death. Antigone doesn’t want to abide the laws and wants to go against it, thus showing agency. Her sister, Ismene, doesn’t want to go against the king and his laws and live her life in peace. Ismene does not show any signs of agency here, but does later in the story.

            Another example of Antigone showing agency is when she finds her brother’s grave defiled by the Sentry and his group. She immediately tried to repair the grave right in front of the Sentry. The Sentry is pretty much an upholder of the law, and Antigone was defying it. She also didn’t deny any of her actions. Everything she did was of her own choice, and those choices went against the laws.

            The extent of agency Antigone has is pretty much to the fullest extent. She would do anything to get what she wants. In lines 613-614, she says “Take heart; you are alive, but my life died long ago, to serve the dead.” Antigone is pretty much saying she’ll do anything in her power as long as she’s alive to honor her brother. This is also the scene where Ismene shows signs of agency.

            The question says that agency means “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.” In Antigone’s case, I don’t think it’s limited to only living. Even after death her ideas and morals probably were still around.

            Going back to how I said I thought Antigone has agency to the fullest extent, I think I was wrong. Her agency only goes up to disobeying the laws and the king. She disobeyed Creon because she wanted to follow God’s law of everyone having the right to a proper burial and such. Creon was the one who decided that Polyneices didn’t deserve a proper burial and that was God’s judgement. Antigone is faithful to God, not the king. Her extent of agency only reaches past the laws of the king.

            There's not much else to write about her showing agency. We don't even learn about what happens to her at the end. I think she gets thrown into a dungeon? Her agency did spread though, to the son of the king. He began to question his father's actions after what had happened.

Antigone

Chantel Santamaria

ENGLISH 102

Raquel Corona

March 28, 2015

1.  In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

     When I look at the character of Antigone I see a brave girl who seems to do things in her own way. She is strong and doesn't fear much about what’s going to happen to her if she takes some decisions in the world that she is leaving in. She shows agency through all the play, because she doesn't like to be rule by others. Antigone honor God but not human law basically. One very moment that she have agency in the story was the situation she had with her sister in in (line 79), where she states that with or without the help from her sister Ismene she will still go and bury her brother and honor him the right way. Here she provides herself as an independent person and that she will be next to her brother no matter what other people think or do to her, she breaks the law at that point, but she never hurt anyone the only intentions she had where to honor her brother.

Antigone demonstrate to everyone that family is first and everybody need to be treated equally she states that “Creon is not enough to stand in my way”. She also believes that each person need to be bury peacefully to be with God. Antigone family when though almost everything and their death gave her the strange she had to do the things she did on her own. She believes that there’s nothing also to loss because she lost everything when she lost her family. Now she will loyal them as they deserve. In the life of Antigone God is above all, so she prefers to be loyal to him and rest in the afterlife than to keep suffering in the cruel world she was living in.
   Another very moment where Antigone shows agency was during the end of the play when she decides how she was going to die. Her brave choice of suicide prove that nothing was more important than her family and God and she would not give Creon the pleasure to see  her suffer to death on earth.

Reading Response #5

Antigone’s agency goes far beyond than any other other characters in the play. After she finds out her brother, Polyneices has been killed and didn't have a proper burial, Antigone decides to defy the law and bury her brother because that would've been the wishes of the gods. We can see how Antigone’s agency takes place in this scene because not only she decides to take action about his brother’s death and bury him, but she acts against the law and does what she believes is right. She portrays herself as a strong woman who acts from instinct and often takes action for anything that the Gods would think is wrong and she also doesn't care about what others think. She believes in the divine principle above and against the power and authority. She fights for the people she loves and she is willing to go against everybody if she has to, in order to protect her loved ones and to honor her brother. She does what was needed to be done and after she buries her brother, she hopes that after she dies, her family would be reunited again in heaven. She tried to convince her sister to support her and help her bury their brother, but her sister wanted to stay out of trouble with the law and instead of helping her, she warned Antigone that fighting the man was a losing battle. But Antigone was brave enough and went on with her plans and she says she’s willing to do it alone, and wouldn't mind dying in order to secure Polyneices's rightful burial. This is another example of how Antigone’s agency takes place in the play because she shows that she is willing to die if she has to in order to defend what she believes is right and she is willing to fight the man in order to bury her brother. And eventually when her uncle and ruler of Thebes, Creon found out what she did, she didn't deny that she committed the crime. She explains that while she knew it was against Creon’s law, her actions were in line with her obligations to justice and the gods, so Creon puts her in jail and then vows to execute her. At this moment she starts questioning herself and her agency starts to question itself, because Antigone feels that her actions had no meaning and she starts to questions whether or not she did the right thing. It seems that she was ashamed of her family because of the fact that she comes from an incest family and she wanted to cover her family’s faults by doing something that would make her seem as a good person, which was burying her brother. She also mentions the fact that she never experienced marriage, which is something she always wanted, but since her fiancé had killed himself and the fact that she’s imprisoned, she will never experience that. At this point all her beliefs and standards were thrown away and she no longer had a reason to keep living anyway. After everything she stood up for, she decided to kill herself.

RR5: The Irony of Tiresias,

Irony of Character

Antigone is all filled with irony since the beginning. In fact, all Greek tragedies have some irony and the irony in Antigone is the character of Teiresias. Teiresias is a a cranky old man who although being blind he has the ability to see the future. In other words he is a clairvoyant. The funny part of this character and what makes him interesting is that how can a blind man be a clairvoyant?
It is hard to imagine a person who claims to be a seer, yet he can barely see what reality looks like.

Now, the really strange part is that in the story this guy can see far more clear than Creon. Creon says that Teiresias have been bribed, he is so stubborn, his mind is so closed by his own paradigms that he can never listen to others. Even though, Teiresias tells him that nature itself is revealing against him by not allowing a dead man to have a rightful burial. Everything is turning up against him. However, Creon is so mentally blind that he make something up not to look like a fool.

Creon keeps on telling this prophet is crazy, and his head starts getting pumped up. The more Teiresias talks the more Creon lose his head. Smartly enough, he shut his mouth as well as the gods shut the light for his eyes and leaves before he gets involved more in Creon business. Although in his face he aparently did not believe a word, later he tried the prophecy to go away and to make up with antigone for what he had done. Sadly, it was too late for him

Antigone

to what extent does she have agency in the pay?

Antigone's determination to accomplish her fate of honor her brother as god's requirement, without think on the state's laws play the main role. That show Antigone's agency even though her free choice drive her to death. The main character act in a way to prove, a strong disagreement, fearless, and brave behavior agains the government. Antigone self commitment with her fate can be seen as the clash of the people versus state, law versus divine, and woman versus men. In other word, Antigone's agency can be interpret as a revolutionary person because she faces and argues against Creon. Tell him that the people in the town is in her side but their fear of the dictatorship cease them to express their thought but she is the voice for those who are voiceless. 

Moreover, Antigone's disillusion with the new king's decision on her brothers, because creon decided that, one can be  buried with all state honor but not the other. Creon's deed driver Antigone to a commitment of honor him and make the ritual to the god's Zeus. Antigone basically has to work hidden, try to recruit her sister to get some help and fail, show sister's rivalry but she never stop even though she knows that breaks state's laws has a consequence of being execution. Her rebel spirt and the decided to find justice for her brother keep her consistent in her fate, something that brought to her a heroic character for people in the town and make the king look like a cruel ruler. Also, Antigone's deep expanded the possibilities of human action, reconceived the role of women in society, and delineated a new type of character, one who sets her individual conscience and belief in divine principle above and against the power and authority of the state.

This greeks tragedy, I just can see Antigone's agency as a hero that have a self-engagement with her fate and that encourage people fight against the unfairness that the state want to impose. On the other hand, we see Ismene, chorus and Teiresias try to change king's decision but his pride and arrogant stop him to see the consequence that drive his family to has the same destiny. Suicide. In real life, we can see in the history of the old kingdom in Europa in 18th and 19th century how they was falling one after one because of one bad decision and just compare Napoleon and Antigone, both have fate, fearless to face the state's injustice, both were rebel and disobey the laws with their eyes open all along the way which mean they have clear vision of what they have to do.

We noticed that "loyalty" is a big word that prove her fate and deed. Family devotion especially is a big thing. She sacrifices her own life in the name of it because her parents has died and she not going to has more brother. Her determination is so strong that her character becomes symbolic of family loyalty. When we see her face King Creon, that action suggest that we owe more loyalty to the government or our families! Also in the way to understand her fate, we have to see another big thing that show Antigone's fierce loyalty to the gods. Their divine laws are what she holds most sacred. She couldn't give a flip about laws of man, as represented by Creon. When these two characters collide, the clash isn't just symbolic of government vs. family; it's also symbolic of man vs. the gods. 

Antigone

In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.” And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play? In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world? Antigone has agency in the play because she basically go against creons orders and buries her brothers, who killed each other she has a sister named Ismene who wants to abide by all rules that are given. Antigone is also engaged to Haemon who is Creons son because antigone was disobiedent she was suppose to be killed but because haemon loved his fiance so much he took time too seplain to his father what good she could bring

Marlena Szumowski Reading Response #5

Marlena Szumowski

En-102

Reading response #5)

            When we read literature we sometimes come across the word agency. This term means, “The freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.” In the play Antigone, the protagonist is a girl named Antigone. I feel as though she is a really good example of a character that acts very much on her own to be able to live and survive in the particular world that she lives in but as the play comes to an end, Antigone has a moment of weakness and starts to think if in the end it was all worth it. Antigone returns back home and finds out that her brother Polynecies has been killed and didn’t have a proper burial, his body had been left to rot and for everyone else to see. From the very beginning we get the sense that Antigone does whatever she puts her mind to do, and follows her beliefs in the Gods opposed to everyone else in the village. While talking to her sister Ismene if she will help bury her brother’s body we discover just how true Antigone’s loyalty is towards he brother and what her beliefs are. In Antigones head burying her brother is more important to her than any human love. In lines 51-52 Antigone says the following, “At least he is my brother-and yours, too, though you deny him. I will not prove false to him.” Regardless what Ismene had told her that she’s not supposed to bury him and that she’s going against the rules Antigone doesn’t care what the consequences are she just wants to respect her brother and give him the proper burial that he deserves according to her.  Another example that can be used to support the idea that Antigone is able to live and survive in the world that she lives in is that when she was caught burying her brother by Creon she openly admits to it and will go with the consequences that are given to her we see this in line 487 where she says “Yes, I confess; I will not deny my deed.” Soon after Antigone says that she has no shame in honoring her brother. Antigone is a very strong protagonist and wants everyone to get along and be civil instead of going against each other we see this when she speaks in lines 575 “My nature is to join in love, not hate.” In the end of the play where we hear last of Antigone we come to the sense that she feels that all she had done is not worth is and begins to question everything she has done. She was born into and incest family and I think everyone frowns upon it and is leaving the brother out to shame everyone in the family. Maybe Antigone isn’t as strong as she thinks she is and the only real reason that she wants to bury her brother is to cover up all the disgrace the family has left behind. She mentions that she doesn’t have friends and isn’t married and is broken hearted. Antigone begins to think and question as to who will be there to cry for her when she dies, who will be there to give her a proper burial and give her the respect that she tried to give to everyone around here.

Her Own Way

        

In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

    When I look at the character of Antigone, I don’t believe that she has very much “agency” at all. While she doesn’t exactly have much respect for the laws that have been put into place by those governing her and her peers, the free will that she has granted herself doesn’t last her very long. Antigone believes that it is not as important to please those that are still on Earth, but that she should spend her days trying to do the will of those that she will spend eternity with in the heavens after this life has passed. However I don’t even believe that the government is the only thing that restrains her. In my opinion, I think that her free will has been heavily disrupted by her own family history.

    Antigone is one of the four children of Oepdipus, who killed his father and then married his mother, as that was his fate. Her brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, killed each other while fighting for what they believed in, which happened to be the protection of Thebes for Eteocles, and the destruction of it for Polyneices. And Ismene, her sister, just wants to live by the rules that have been put into place for her and try to live as normal a life as possible, regardless of her family lineage. She is also engaged to Haemon, whose father is Creon, ruler of Thebes. After her brothers brutally murder one another, Creon demands that no one bury Polyneices, for he committed treason against their home. This is where we really see how little Antigone cares for what others think of her and decides to live the way that she believes the Gods will respect most. When she buries Polyneices, regardless of how she may be punished, she knows in her heart that it is worth the price of her freedom, if that is what it is to cost her. She has more respect for her deceased brother than to let him rot in the woods and let the wildlife feast off of his flesh.

    She does what she needs to in order to survive in a way that she is content with. Even though Her sister doesn’t initially support her decision to bury Polyneices, she does it anyway. Antigone has been punished so much by events that she had no control over, such as her father murdering her grandfather, and she is merely trying to make her own fate and please the Gods, something that no one else in her family has really done. She is doing her best to maintain whatever little respect and honor her family has left. She even refuses to let Ismene lie to save herself, when it looks like all hope has been lost.

    Even though she eventually kills herself after being imprisoned, it is oddly comforting to know that she did it her own way. Antigone maintained her free will by not allowing anyone else’s choices to impact the way she lived her life. She lived her way, and she died her own way. She even got to be reunited with Haemon, as he took his own life upon finding her, but in a way, I believe that she got her own version of a happy ending, reunited with her beloved brothers and fiance. She lived to please the Gods, and all we can hope for is that she was treated better in life than she was in death. 

The Irony of it all

Pak-tung Le

Professor Rachel Corona

English 102

18 April 2015 

The Irony of it All

            Greek tragedies are filled with irony and Antigone is filled with them. One of the non-subtle ironies arises when one examining Teiresias. After all, what could be more thought provoking than having a “seer” of the future who is blind? Seers, or prophets, are individuals who can see what the future holds. But if they are physically unable to see things, it brings many questions into one’s mind. How does a blind person see things? Is what he or she sees in color? How do they know what they are seeing is actually happening to the individuals the are predicting the future to, if the “seer” has never visually seen the person whose future they are “seeing?”  

            What is more intriguing is that, like Creon; most of us are unable to see what is in front of us. That alone might make Teiresias better suited to see what the future holds since he is not biased by extraneous things that are in front of him. He is able to appreciate the things that are most important and deal with the facts. Creon, on the other hand, is unable to see what his actions are causing with his family or perhaps it is his pride that is holding him back.

            Developing the theme of blindness and also illustrating dramatic irony, Teiresias states that he is responsible for foreshadowing Creon’s fate when he say, “How much the best of possession is the ability to listen to wise advice.” Teiresias is stating that it would be beneficial to Creon to take heed to what he is told. Teiresias further uses his abilities to predict that Creon’s actions against Antigone and her family will destroy his ability to rule the city and will bring destruction to his family.

            As a prophet, Teiresias is able to see the fate and destruction of Creon. Teiresias uses his ability to predict Creon’s destruction. He is able to inform Creon that the decision to punish Antigone for giving her brother a proper burial will cause death in his own household. Ironically, after doing so, he requires the assistance of another to lead him away from where he stands.

            Socrates illustrates the paradox of life with Teiresias and Creon. The ability of those with the ability to see, who are not able to see are unable to see what others can. How often is it that an individual cannot grasp that he or she is in a bad relationship, or that his or her action is not going to be perceived to another in the manner that he or she meant it to be. In Antigone, Teiresias’ parting words to Creon are that Creon’s family will be destroyed due to his own decisions.  While Creon does try to rectify what he has done to Antigone and her family to prevent Teiresias’ predictions, he is too late.  Since Creon did not heed Teiresias’ words sooner, he is too late in trying to rectify his decision to punish Antigone, he loses all that are important to him. There lies the crux of Teiresias’ prediction and the irony of it all; Creon has lost all that he wanted to save.

Camilo Arango RR#5

Camilo Arango

Reading Response # 5

English 102

1.  In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

She shows agency trough all the play. She act on her own accord trying to make her voice be hear. Antigone decides to break the law, simply because it did not seem fair. She believed that the laws of their gods must prevail over those of the rulers, and thus she decided to violate a law that she considered not unfair, but false. Anyway, her disobedience is peaceful and she never tried to damage the integrity of anyone else, not even Creon, from who she held rancor. Moreover, considering she does not accept the law as such, it is strange to see how she resigned and accept the imposed punishment, which is none other than death.

The laws governing the moral principles of Antigone, are the law of customs, religion and family. Before Creon order to not bury Polynices, because of the alleged crime he had committed, Antigone decides to disobey his order even if this involves her own life. She cannot betray his brother and so she tells her sister Ismene "He is my brother. And he is your brother, too". As  Ismenes is reluctant try and give a proper burial to her brother. Customs and morality imposed Fidelity on the family, and says that everyone must be properly buried and adds "Creon is not enough to stand in my way." These statements that Antigone made to his sister, Showed the strength of her religious beliefs and family loyalty. Being that disobeying the law that Creon had imposed regarding the corpse of Polynices, can lead her to own death, and she would rather die than to go back on her principles.

She does not accept the law as she thinks it is unjust and false, but she held a peaceful disobedience and received death as punishment without trying to oppose or seek clemency.The burial of Polynices, who according to divine law, was obligatory. In ancient Greece, the funeral rite was important because it was believed that if a body was not buried, the soul could not enter Hades and would stay wandering in this world. After the death of the sons of Oedipus, Creon forbids any type of funeral services, perhaps without realizing that his human law is trying to overcome a divine law, a situation that Antigone warns therefore exclaims: " Your edict, King, was strong, But all your strength is weakness itself against  The immortal unrecorded laws of God. They are not merely now: they were, and shall be, Operative forever, beyond man utterly".

I believe that religious influence is so great that Antigone becomes a heroine by using her freedom to choose death as a destination (breaking the law) rather than offend the gods. 

Alicia Stoute

Reading Response # 5

Question # 1

Antigone displays agency in the play through her defiance of Creon’s orders. She follows her beliefs of what she thinks is right and wrong. Her unwavering devotion to her family is to be commended. She went against the rules laid out by man to follow the rules of God, which she held in higher esteem. She would not allow any man to cause her eternal damnation. Antigone saw her life on earth as temporary and therefore she did not fear the afterlife.

She represents a no nonsense character that’s stands strong despite the great odds against her. Her family’s shame which was caused by the incestuous act of her parents placed her in a not so favorable position. But despite that she stood firm in her resolve to bury her brother Polynecies. Her defiance of Creon shows great strength and fortitude.

She was fiercely devoted to her family despite the laws laid out by Creon and very little could be done to dissuade her from her mission to honor her brother with a proper burial. Not even the threat of death would put a halt to her plans. She was stubborn and strong willed. Although her stubbornness was applauded by some and chastised by other she did not waver in her resolve. For her it did not matter who agreed or disagreed with her decisions just as long as she did what she felt was right.

Antigone is very loyal to the Gods above all, and prefers to let her flesh suffer rather than her soul be at unrest in the afterlife. She viewed her time on earth as fleeting and therefore was not afraid to face death with open arms. Even when placed before the Chorus she remained defiant and adamant, in a time when men were supreme rulers and women were expected to be obedient and submissive.

Her sister Ismene was in agreement with this way of thinking, and tried to get her to change her defiant ways by telling her that women are of a weaker sex and therefore cannot stand up against men. Antigone’s’ mind was made up and nothing her sister said would change that.

She is a symbol of feminine power, crossing lines no other would dare to cross, speaking out like none has done before her. Her actions had such a pronounced effect that even her sister Ismene who was against her defying Creon’s orders, was moved to take a stand, falsely admitting she that she had a hand in the burial of Polynecies.

Antigone’s final act of agency was suicide, she chose how she wanted to die and her decision caused a spiral effect of great tragedy. She would not give Creon the satisfaction of seeing her starve to death. Antigone exercised her right to agency from beginning to end despite the repercussions; she was fearless and stood for what she believed in.

Reading Response 5

1.  In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

The Case of Agency and Antigone: The Facade of Free Will

We are all taught as human beings that we have "agency" or "free will", the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world. Do we as humans understand what agency means and how it affects us? In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, we are introduced to a woman named Antigone, that defied the laws of a callous king and took control of her destiny. It was proclaimed by King Creon that no one bury or even mourn Polynicies, who is Antigone's brother. This does not sit well with Antigone, and she defies Creon's word and buries her brother. Creon hears of her insolence, and sentences her to death, as per the consequence for breaking his law. In Greek Mythology, there are entities called the Fates. These three women control when a person dies, and what direction their lives take. Remembering these women and their roles, combined with the setting and time frame of Antigone, it is very hard to conclude that Antigone had any sort of agency what so ever. These women would have controlled her fate, no matter which direction she would have went. Not only did these women have the power over Antigone's fate, but over every other person as well. There is also a sociological aspect to consider when analyzing agency. According to Evring Goffman, we (as in human beings) are nothing but products of what we see and hear. We adapt and remove aspects of ourselves that does not yield desirable results. According to the play, Antigone states that the people of Thebes do not agree with the law set by Creon to leave the body of Polyniceies out to rot. On page seven, line 555, Antigone states, "No, these do, too, but keep their mouths shut for the fear of you." One could argue that she gained the extra strength to stand up to Creon thanks to the thoughts of the people of Thebes. It could also be argued that she made this decision of her own volition. To further drive the point home, we can also take notice to the case of Oedipus, Antigone's father. He was fated to kill his father and marry his mother. Antigone and her siblings paid for his mistakes.

When we bring attention to the case of Creon, he is also a victim of fate. He was warned of the calamity that would befall him if he were to sentence Antigone to death. However because of his own arrogance and ignorance, he sealed his fate, as well as the fate of his family. Once again, this was something he was unable to change and alter. Just like Antigone's headstrong attitude sealed her fate, so did Creon's. Who both of these people were in the play lead them toward their individual fates. Considering all of these factors, personal attitudes and Fates, there is no way that I can see Antigone could have had any agency in the play. Her actions were for a bigger purpose, to fight the powers that be and show strength to a weakened, distraught Thebes. 

To further drive the point home, we can also take notice to the case of Oedipus, Antigone's father. He was fated to kill his father and marry his mother. Antigone and her siblings paid for his mistakes.

Moliesa Yashin
RR#5
In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

Antigone played the major character in the play Sophocles. Throughout the play from the very beginning Antigone played the role of a very brave and strong young woman. I think she certainly displayed her own ability to live and survive in her world as independently as she can.  When I first read this play I thought to myself Antigone would probably do something wrong and be punished severely for it since she brought her sister outside the gates to talk about her plan. However, as I kept reading I discovered there was much more to it. Her independence and courage to do what she had planned made me very interested in reading to see what would happen next.  I enjoy reading when characters are this brave and have so much determination within them to keep focus on their objective and overcome their obstacles especially when it’s about a young woman.  It made me think if a young woman in today’s generation would go literally sacrifice their own life for someone else’s or for what they believe is right. This is exactly what Antigone did. She knew that her life was at risk but she fulfilled her desire and stood by her beliefs that her brother deserved a proper burial.

Antigone took upon herself the burden and sorrows of everyone in her family.  To my understanding she is the kind of person that would try to undo or correct her family’s mistakes and she would try to do things in her belief (the way she grew up). It shows how independent she is and her ability to make a life for herself even if she was alone. Her sister is still alive but can be of no help to Antigone since she never gets the opportunity to and Antigone never seems to be in need of help. Going back to the beginning she called Ismene (her sister) to inform her of her own plans but never asked for help or to join force. I think with this quality you don’t need anyone but yourself to survive (at any given time or place). She also shows the love and care she has for Ismene. This is shown when Ismene tried to help her since everything came in the open but she refused help. I think of this as Antigone’s way of protecting and caring for her sister. She was fighting to give her brother a proper burial as she did to protect her sister.

I also admired Antigone taking full responsibility of everything she had done. She was very brave and honest in doing so even though it meant her life could have been taken from her. Her bravery here when she stood up to Creon – the great ruler that no one should disobey, displays the courage that she has to go after all her dreams.

As the play progresses, Antigone began to single herself out from everyone else. She began to question her religion and everything she fought so hard to protect.  I think of this a very major step in Antigone’s life. She’s brave enough to stand alone and face the world as a young woman.  I think she knows her purpose in regards to her family and society. She also knows exactly what she wants and is very much focused and invested in it. With these qualities Antigone is capable of overcoming any barrier placed in her way. 

Ronise Felix

Homework

 English 102

    

 

In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

By reading this play, we can say that the agency that Antigone plays in this play was a very strong girl. She was brave. She abandons her own life even love to be free from living a miserable life. I think because of what was happened to her brother she felt resentful to do anything even break the law to be free. For her, life was nothing, because she was suffering inside of her. By analyzing that, a person who’s living an unhappy life will always try to end his/her life. Antigone was very lonely. I can feel her feeling when she seats and thinking with her own death. Her sister was trying to help her by telling her how the future was in front of her but because of such life she did not think about the future, about how young she was, she was only thinking of her freedom.  Beginning in line 605 her sister finally understand how she was determine to death she wants also to be victim. But Antigone tells her that “Life was your choice and death mine”. So, that part shows how Antigone was sure about her choice. She is not regrets anything at all. Antigone felt that her life was already gone even though she was alive.

Antigone was finding for her freedom, but that freedom wasn’t like the freedom others want. She needs a freedom to death. A freedom she could not enjoy when she has it. A freedom that will turn as a tragedy to her family. A freedom where justice will be fair. Even though Creon was trying to save her life but she was unshakable from choosing survive or died. I think the death of her brother wasn’t the only reason that she wants to die. I think that include her family too because that was like a war generation after generation but Antigone was the only one who was capable to say that’s enough. I think through her life she eats, even fall in love, but with tears. Even love could not save her life.  This world did not have any sense for her. Before she broke the law I think she thinks that why leaving a life without happiness. It’s true she is the daughter of a king; she could have everything she wants in life to be happy but that wasn’t that wasn’t enough. As the chorus say, “No generation frees another” for Antigone, if a generation cannot save another why stay in life. She feels that she will be happy when her father will welcome her and she will have her family again.

I very enjoy and learn from this play. Antigone is an example for me of doing what I want to do. No matter what happen be determined. I think her brother find justice because of her courage. Even though she was rebel and break the law but she is the pride of her family.