How Tragedy Reinforces Cultural Values

Sophocles’ Antigone is important not only for the value it adds to drama, but also for the vivid picture it paints of Ancient Greece and the lives they lived. Antigone finds the protagonist a short while after the events of Oedipus at Colonus. Antigone is seen to be distraught over the death of two of her brothers at the hands of one another. While one has been afforded the rights of burial, one lies to rot in the field. The unfairness of the situation, and her strong familial piety and loyalty is what provokes her to action, and ultimately the same thing that ties her to her fate. Antigone’s importance as a work of literary fiction lies in the fact that it gives us clear insight into the inner functions of the Greek life. Further, the candid reflection on the attitude of the Greek people towards religion and spirituality, the gender roles, and the values they expected in their leaders is what makes the text a classic piece of literature.

Religion plays a central role in the Ancient Greek society, and the role is reprised in the work as a major area of thematic influence. Religion was considered to define a set of laws that governed all men, from the lowly beggars to Kings. Creon has no regard for religion or the Gods. In his view, he is above the Gods and his edicts trump the dictates of religious laws (Trott). In her criticism of Creon, Antigone makes it clear what role religion had in the society when she says “I do not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man.” Her implication is that being a mere mortal, even though a King, Creon is still subject to divine law. The chorus, which is meant to serve as the voice of the people, points it out perfectly “Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness; and reverence towards the gods must be inviolate”(). This clearly points to the need for a ruler to account for religious law in his governance. To the Greeks, complete obedience to divine will was an important value.

After reverence for the Gods and obedience to the state, family was the most important obligation any individual had. Loyalty to ones’ family was very important to the Ancient Greeks. The common perception was that loyalty to the family was a central feature of the moral obligations that people were held to. This fact is clearly evident when one looks at much of Greek religion, which was in large centered on the home and family. As part of the ideal of loyalty to one’s family was the idea of ensuring proper passage for the dead family member into the afterlife. The dead were to be buried with proper honors if they were to pass to the Underworld, such was the will of the Gods. Antigone demonstrates the importance of and high regard to family loyalty. On burying her dead, she states “I will bury him myself. And even if I die in this act, that death will be a glory” (). To remain loyal to family, even when they are considered traitor, and with such loyalty holding an imminent threat to one’s life is the perfect testament to the importance of this value in Ancient Greece.

The play gives a clear indication of the respective roles held by either gender in Ancient Greece. Antigone’s gender has a profound effect on the meaning and implications of her actions and drives the primary conflict. Creon admits the need to defeat her is all the more pressing since she is a woman. Antigone’s rebellion, if it can be called thus, is especially threatening owing to the threat it poses to the balance in gender roles and hierarchy. Her refusal to be passive and submit to her uncle’s will is against the rules and strictures placed on women by the society. Ismene, who serves as a model of female submission, points out to Antigone that women “were not born to contend with men”().  Further evidence of the regard in which women were held presents where even when Creon realizes he is at fault, he argues against admitting it on account of it being tantamount to defeat at the hands of a woman. By disobeying Creon’s edict, Antigone contests the traditional gender roles held by her society as to the roles of men and women.

Antigone  also holds clues as to the perception of the Greeks towards their heroes. Antigone emerges as a heroine because of her unbending and self-certain character. She is heroic, not because she goes against Creon, but because she chose her own destiny and would not allow the King or anyone else to make decisions for her (Vervek). Creon on the other hand is painted as misogynistic ruler, who is afraid of seeming weak, even at the expense of his moral and divine duties as King. The perception that the Ancient Greeks held with regard to the two are clearly self-evident if we examine the attitude the chorus held towards them. Antigone is met with hostility and criticism, Creon with admiration and support. Antigone points to this lack of recognition, “I should have praise and honor for what I have done.  All these men here would praise me were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you”() Perhaps it may be argued that the chorus, which serves to represent the masses is afraid to raise dissenting voices, but it makes it plain that Ancient Greeks held little regard for some of their heroes. Much like modern society.

To conclude, Antigone is an important literary work for its contribution towards the understanding of Ancient Greek culture and way of life. Through insights into the attitudes held on gender roles and religion, and an indication on the place of familial value, the play acts as an important bridge towards understanding the prevailing values in Ancient Greek society, and the work as well as other works in the same period. Through addressing these values, the reader can develop a good context on life as it was in this Ancient civilization.

Works Cited

Adriel M. Trott. “Feminist Readings of Antigone by Fanny Söderbäck (review).” philoSOPHIA 2.2 (2012): 234-237. Project MUSE. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. <https://muse.jhu.edu/>.

Sophocles.,. Antigone. Champaign, Ill.: Project Gutenberg. Print.

Willow Verkerk. “Heroism in Sophocles’s Antigone.” Philosophy and Literature 38.1 (2014): 282-291. Project MUSE. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. <https://muse.jhu.edu/>.