Individualism In Literature

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Individualism In Literature
The Book of Exodus in the Bible and Sophocles’ play, Antigone are two pieces of literature in which a relationship between the individual and the community can be closely examined. However, the societies that Antigone and Exodus are set in are two completely different societies that follow different kinds of laws. Although these societies are sharply contrasted, they are similar in that the individual good that comes from certain characters greatly affects the good of the community they live in for the better. Consequently, the relationship between the individual and the community and the effects this relationship has in both Antigone and Exodus has similar aspects.
In the play Antigone the fact that Antigone rises as an individual in her society seems to be quite obvious. Sophocles seems to depict a resolute and heroic female protagonist, who pits her individual free will against the uncontrollable forces of fate and against the irrational and unjust laws of tyrannical men, such as Creon. Antigone is shown as an individual in the play because of the way she defies the law of Thebes in order to serve a high law, the law of the Gods. Creon’s laws however, sometimes do not follow divine law, and this is where Antigone’s main conflict with Creon occurs. When talking to Ismene, speaking of Creon, she says, “It is not for him to keep me from my own” (54). Anitgone’s individualism is shown here, due to the fact that she emerges in her community as the only person willing to speak out about Creon’s unjust decision to not bury her brother, Polynices. She knows that this law is wrong for sure because in Greek society the Gods guaranteed a proper burial to all people, no matter what a person did during his or her lifetime. Antigone’s sentence to death by Creon shows how the individual is treated in this community. Most of the community, due to fear of Creon’s harsh ideals, are afraid to...