The society
of Ancient Greece is known for its strict norms and policies. They’ve had a
physical and psychological impact on the people’s way of life, perceptions, and
believes, often covered in Antigone research paper topics. Citizens were
expected to behave a certain way and uphold the cultural values in terms of
respect, authority, and obedience.

These three
values were integrated into every possible aspect of their culture, whether it
is religion, family, or submissiveness. Antigone by Sophocles is a play that
contemplates these values with its leading figure, Antigone.

When writing
an Antigone essay, values such as these will drive the main assignment.
Checking out an Antigone research paper can prove useful. Here is how the contextual and
cultural aspects of the play are embodied in this tragedy.

The Influence of Greek Culture on Enacting Decisions

Ancient
Athens was a state dominated by men, which is a useful topic to focus on when
writing an Antigone persuasive essay. Sophocles lived and wrote during a period
in which women were predominantly viewed as lower beings, insignificant to the
major part of society. This topic is often covered in many philosophy essay
examples or English lessons.

By selecting
a female, Sophocles has devised a more relevant hero, someone who would defy
societal restrictions, even if it costs them their life. This creates dramatic
tension in the play that engages the audience. This suspense is something you
can talk about in your Antigone argumentative essay.

Two youthful
women, Ismene and Antigone, are the complete opposite. We have:

· Antigone – the epitome of an unusual woman, sheer
representation of rebellion, and personal expression.

· Ismene – the perfect woman, one that would obey society
and abide by their rules and expectations, obedient and reasonable.

Antigone’s
struggles bring up valuable insight into the position of women in Ancient
Greece. It emphasizes the importance of cultural values and what it means to
break them.

When writing
a philosophy essay, it’s important to focus on this factor since it emphasizes
the importance of her brother’s burial and what it meant for the whole family.
Here are some philosophy essay examples that can better explain this or any other topic.
The cultural context shows why Antigone’s unique character was a valuable
quality.

Ancient Greek
Culture is influenced by religion and the importance of the gods. This too, is
reflected in the Antigone tragedy. Gods have predominant power over mortals and
must be respected and obeyed. To mock their laws means incurring their wrath.

Even with her
first line, Antigone shows where her loyalties lie, when she announces that she
will defy the king’s order by giving her brother a proper burial.

Antigone
believes she deserves the right to honor her brother’s death, but with Creon’s
dismissal, we can see that slaves and women are not seen as citizens. Just
because Antigone is a woman, King Creon will refuse to admit that she is right
to place the worship of the gods over mortal laws. This is his one true flaw
and something that can be talked about in an Antigone persuasive essay.

Despite the
oppression and limitations, Antigone maintains her moral compass and develops
into a fearsome character. She stands up for herself and refuses to abide by
the unjust law, regardless of the consequences.

The Influence Between Antigone’s Decisions and Kinship

When the
messenger and the chorus speak to the audience, it adds more suspense and
engagement. It centers the audience’s attention on the events that’ll unfold.
The chorus is the informant, a valuable component of the play that unravels the
story that would otherwise be expressed via dialogue. This concept establishes
a context for all future events in the play.

Both these
characters have a trait referred to as hubris,
which is a quality that mixes life-threatening confidence with foolish pride.
With Antigone, Sophocles gives the audience a hero prepared to lose their life
for the sake of justice.

To validate
Antigone’s actions and willingness to sacrifice her life, we must first
understand the importance of burial in Ancient Greece. The dead deserve proper
care, not only for the sake of the living but for the entire family.

Burial is
sacred. Defiling a grave means disrespecting a family. Without a proper burial,
the dead wouldn’t be able to get safe passage to the afterlife.

One of the
primary responsibilities of the women of the family is to carry out the sacred
burial tasks. These rituals would keep the family alive, honorable, and in good
faith with the gods. Failure to abide by these holy duties would bring
disgrace, shame, and dishonor to the family. This information alone is enough
to validate Antigone’s actions and her view on kinship when writing an Antigone
argumentative essay.

The cultural
concept of family clarifies Antigone’s decisions and connection to her sacred
duties and brother. Some would argue that Antigone and her brother recognized
their family was falling apart and had to save it. This is plausible since the
sheer importance of a family unit is evident in Ancient Greece, as seen in many
philosophy essay examples.

Despite the
fact that the primary reason for the defiance rests in the refusal of the
“holiest of actions”- the burial, as the story unfolds, we see a
genuine ground for her actions. Her true duty is no other than respecting the
dead and honoring her family.

Some may
agree that Antigone has her father’s stubbornness. But, she is not making rash
or foolish decisions; she is respecting her culture. Others would say she
should have taken Creon’s words more seriously, but she knew what she was
getting herself into, the moment she had to put her faith and family on the
line.

Perhaps, the
biggest impact of her views can be seen in her last speech, when she says she
wouldn’t have done what she did for any son or husband. If they die, she could
get another, but she could never get another brother, sister, or mother.

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