Antigone

6 Pages 1524 Words

Sophocles, “Antigone” is relevant for twenty-first century America. The relevance is that as American citizens we need to stand up for what we believe in no matter what the consequences, as well as to know why we believe what we believe. The play also causes readers of twenty-first century America to look at our leaders and ask whether or not the right president is in power to lead our country at this present time.
Standing up for what you believe in is a very interesting issue. Many questions arise with that statement. What do you believe in? Why do you believe it? Would you be willing to stand up to the authorities over you if they went against what you believed? These are all questions that are very relevant in today’s society, especially with my generation. A lot of the modern youth of today don’t know what they believe, or why they believe it. The youth of America wouldn’t be willing to stand up for much of anything due to a fear of looking unintelligent when asked what they were standing up for and why. Antigone knows that the decision that Creon made regarding her brother Polyneice’s burial was unjust and is willing to stand up for what is right.
Creon is burying one to desecrate the other
Eteocles, they say, he has dispatched with proper rights
as one judged fit to pass in glory to the shades.
But Polynieces, killed as piteously,
an interdict forbids that anyone should bury him
or even mourn.
He must be left unwept, unsepulchered,
a vulture’s prize,
sweetly scented from afar.
That’s what they say our good and noble Creon plans:
And now he’s coming here to publish it and make it
plain
to those who haven’t heard.
Anyone who disobeys will pay no trifling penalty
but die by stoning
before the city walls. (345)

Antigone was willing to stand up to the king no matter what the penalty. In today’s society many individuals prefer to do what is popular rather...