It’s interesting that there are so many Greek tragedies and
dramas that all play the same role but in different ways and orders. For example,
Odysseus is a man—yes, a king, but still just a man—who only wants to return
home to his family. He is a very good leader and fights to keep every one of
his men, even if it means taking time away from traveling home. In this way, he
is selfless and confident. Antigone is similar in that aspect: she feels very
strongly for the people in her life, especially her family, and she will go to
any limit to see that her family receives the respect and appreciation she
thinks they deserve, even if it means putting her own life in jeopardy. Odysseus
is looking out for his family of marriage while Antigone is looking out for her
family of blood. She respects the divine law, while Odysseus makes the civil
law.
I think the main virtue Antigone epitomizes is courage. Death
is a frightening aspect of life (actually, the lack thereof). Despite this,
Antigone decided that a proper burial for her brother was a better cause than
her own imminent burial. Likewise, Odysseus took risks that should have
inevitably killed him, but never did. In fact, Odysseus basically stood up to
death and said that he would control his lifespan, and it would not end until
he was again united with his family.
Creon, on the other hand, was not courageous and not
respectful of family ways. He was so determined to be seen as a strong,
undefeatable leader that he allowed that to stand in the way of what most
people look for in a leader: compassion and empathy. It’s unfortunate because
Creon’s main purpose centered around him striving to please the people by
comforting them with a leader they deserved. The ironic thing is that, in a
different lens, he would be considered a hero, and his personal Achilles heel
is the very thing that would be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
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