Post by aspera9 on Sept 28, 2011 16:42:30 GMT -5
In scene 4 of the play, Antigone believes that she is welcoming an honorable death, but this sacrifice of her life might not be as noble as she thinks. Antigone attempts to make the chorus pity her and her predicament and ensure that everyone knows what she has done for her brother. Antigone makes it clear that she “would not transgress the laws of heaven” and that she did right by the gods and her brother (228). Antigone sacrificed her life, as was willed by the gods, and as she stated earlier in the prologue, she is willing to die an honorable death while burying her brother. She has made her choice and because of her decision to defy Creon, she will now face death. Her lines in the scene, however, show signs that Antigone is not going to die as honorably as she thinks. It is obvious that her downfall was caused by her own decisions, but instead of taking responsibility for her actions she tries to assign guilt to Creon or the gods and “The blasphemy of [her] birth”(226). She, like her father, tries to avoid the truth that is presented to her by claiming that she “has done no wrong” while leaving the blame to someone else (227). Antigone appeals to the compassion of the chorus by painting herself as the victim, but a true martyr would accept full responsibility for their actions. Antigone’s death cannot be honorable or heroic when the guilt of her death lies with someone besides herself.