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.