Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Antigone Essays (833 words) - Ancient Greek Theatre, Operas

Antigone And Kreon In Antigone, both Antigone and Kreon could be considered the tragic hero of the play. A tragic hero, defined by A Dictionary of Literary, Dramatic and Cinematic Terms, is someone who suffers due to a tragic flaw, or hamartia. This Greek word is variously translated as "tragic flaw" or "error" or"weakness". Kreon's hamartia, like in many plays, is hybris ? Greek for overweening pride, arrogance, or excessive confidence. Kreon's hybris causes him to attempt to violate the laws of order or human rights, another main part of a tragic hero. Also, like all tragic heroes, Kreon suffers because of his hamartia and then realizes his flaw. The belief that Antigone is the hero is a strong one, but there is a stronger belief that Kreon, the Ruler of Thebes, is the true protagonist. Kreon's main and foremost hamartia was his hybris, or his extreme pride. Kreon was a new king, and he would never let anyone prove him wrong or let anyone change his mind once it was made. One main event that showed Kreon's hamartia and also caused the catastrophe was when he asked his son Haimon, who was engaged to marry Antigone, if he still loves his father. Haimon says he respects Kreon's ruling, but he feels, in this case, that Kreon was wrong. Haimon asks his father to take his advice and not have Antigone executed, but, because of Kreon's hybris, Kreon gets furious and makes the situation worse then it already was. He was way too proud to take advice from someone younger, and in his anger he decided to kill Antigone right away in front of Haimon's eyes. "'Just understand: You don't insult me and go off laughing. Bring her here! Let him see her. Kill her here, beside her bridegroom'" (Sophocles 919-921). This was too much for Haimon to take, and he runs out of the room, yelling, "'...her death will destroy others'" (Sophocles 908). Blinded by his pride and arrogance, Kreon takes that remark as a threat to himself, unknowing that it wasn't directed to himself, but was a suicide threat by his own son. Another example of Kreon's tragic pride is when the prophet, Teiresias, travels all the way to Thebes to tell Kreon very important news, but Kreon pride makes him ignore it and he accuses Teiresias of being bribed. Teiresias tells Kreon that the gods are angered by Kreon's disregard for their laws, and that Kreon should release Antigone and bury Polyneices. After Teiresias tells Kreon that he, the King of Thebes, has made a wrong decision, Kreon's tragic pride is shown again. Teiresias: ?Doesn't anyone know, won't anyone consider..' Kreon: ?Consider what? What universal truths are you going to proclaim?' Teiresias: ?...how much more valuable than money good advice is?' Kreon: ?Or how much worse losing your judgement is?' (Sophocles 1210-1214) Teiresias, a blind prophet from Delphi whom has never been proven wrong, tells Kreon, "'All mankind is subject to error. Once a mistake is made... it is wise of him to make amends and not be unbending. Stubbornness is stupidity'" (Sophocles 1180-1184), but Kreon remains stubborn. "Teiresias: ?And tyrants love to have their own way regardless of right and wrong.' Kreon: ?Do you know who you're talking to? We're your rulers'" (Sophocles 1225-1228). Like all tragic heroes, Kreon must suffer because of his hamartia. After his anagnorisis, Greek for recognition, he realizes that he was filled with too much pride and that the prophet's prediction must be true. Kreon attempts to set things right, but unfortunately, does not in time. In a very ironic peripereia, Greek for reversal, his son commits suicide, as does his wife. This is all because of Kreon's tragic flaw: Pride. Kreon realizes this, and suffers, like all tragic heroes. Suffering is one of the main parts a tragic hero: realizing his or her tragic flaw when it's too late and suffering because of it. Kreon's realization of his flaw is very obviously shown when he says "'...I was wrong, not you'" (Sophocles 1464), and "'I have learned, I am ruined. It was a god. Then, right then! Hit me, held me, heaped heavy on my head...'" (Sophocles 1468-1469). His suffering is also obviously shown. "'Has someone a sword? I and grief are blended. I am grief'" (Sophocles 1502), "'Hurry, take me out of the way, I'm nobody. I'm nothing'" (Sophocles 1510-1511). Kreon is tragic hero because his actions follow the typical "tragic hero" outline. He had a hamartia, a tragic flaw, which was his pride and stubbornness, or hybris. He realized

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Conflicts in The Quiet Man †Literature Essay

Conflicts in The Quiet Man – Literature Essay Free Online Research Papers Conflicts in The Quiet Man Literature Essay Conflicts occur every day. No one can live their lives without conflict; and no writer can write a good story without conflicts. In â€Å"The Quiet Man† by Maurice Walsh is no exception. The characters in the story have many conflicts with other people, society, and even inside themselves! The first and most prominent type of conflict is the person versus person. Liam wanted to marry Kathy Carey but she wouldn’t until his sister was out of the house. Liam finally let Ellen marry. Another conflict is that Ellen wanted Shawn to get the dowry from her brother. He finally does. At the end of the story Shawn and Liam fight because Shawn threw money from Liam into a furnace. Shawn wins and be comes a â€Å"man.† The second conflict type is person versus society. This type though not common in this story is important. In the beginning of the story, while in America, society was against Shawn, He was an immigrant trying to make a fortune in America. Society already had a bunch of people wanting to do the same thing. This is very important because if he had succeeded he might not have gone back to Ireland. The second conflict with society is the people of Kerry. They want Shawn and Liam to fight. Finally with pressure he and Liam get into a brawl. The third and most important conflict is person versus themselves. Shawn Kelvin had to decide between making Ellen his bride without romance or letting her wait for romance and losing her. Finally, he determined he wanted her as a bride. Ellen has to choose between marrying Shawn Kelvin and living with her brother for the rest of her life. She preferred her freedom so she saw fit to marry. Liam had to select between letting Ellen marry and getting married, and in the process become richer. He lets Ellen marry but, sadly Kathy Carey marries someone else. A conflict is defined as: a fight, battle, or struggle, esp. a prolonged struggle; strife. Life would be monotonous without conflicts; just as books and stories would be dry with out â€Å"strife.† Conflicts in the story affect the plot in a lot of unpredictable and unexpected ways. In â€Å"The Quiet Man† the ever-present struggles make the adventure of Shawn Kelvin exciting and enjoyable. Research Papers on Conflicts in "The Quiet Man" - Literature EssayBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XTrailblazing by Eric AndersonQuebec and CanadaMind TravelHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Masque of the Red Death Room meanings19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionCapital PunishmentThree Concepts of Psychodynamic