Theater played a large role in ancient Greek society

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Theater played a large role in ancient Greek society. The citizens were meant to learn from the mistakes made in tragedies. They should have learned what not to be like as a citizen or human. In the classic tragedy Antigone, the third and final play in Sophocles¹s Oedipus Cycle, there are two main characters, Antigone and Creon. They are both strong willed and stubborn people. By their resistance to change, they both seal each others fate. Antigone is passionate... Creon is full of rage. They are both so similar that they can not see eye to eye.   Although they may seem quite different, Creon and Antigone share many similarities throughout the play.

        Antigone and Creon are both very independent people. Antigone is willing to act on her own for something she believes in. In the first scene Atigone pleas with her sister, Ismene, to help her. When Ismene refuses she is furious, but is resolved to continue with her plan, in defiance of Creon¹s decree.

³Go away, Ismene: I shall be hating you soon, and the dead will too, For your words are hateful. Leave me to my foolish plan: I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, It will not be the worst of deaths - death without honor.² (189)

Even facing the penalty of death, she risks her life for what she believes. By her self, she manages to sneak past the guards watching over the corpse of Polyneices, and gives him a crude but proper burial.

        Creon is also very independently minded, and he refuses to accept the opinions of anyone but himself.  When his son Haimon confronts him, he refuses to listen, claiming that Haimon is a "girl struck fool, (216)" and that he has been corrupted by Antigone. Even when faced with Teresias¹s prophecy, he refuses to believe the truth.  He claims that Tortuous has been bribed, and that he ³sold out!² (227) He is finally forced to listen when Choragos reminds him of Teresias¹s perfect record. Eventually he is persuaded to reverse his decision, persuaded that it is the will of the gods, he gives Polyneices a proper burial, and is on his way to free Antigone, but it is too late.

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        Creon and Antigone and they are both very strong in their views.  Creon is devoted to his laws, while Antigone is loyal to her beliefs. Creon refuses to give in and alter his law. He labels those who dare act against him as traitors, and his justice is quick and cruel.

³This girl is guilty of a double insolence, Breaking the given laws and boasting of it. Who is the man here, She or I, if this crime goes unpunished? Sister¹s child, or more than sister¹s child, Or closer yet in blood - she and her sister Win bitter ...

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