The Use Of Ego-Boundary Thinking In Antigone

3 Pages 825 Words

The Use of Ego-Boundary Thinking in Antigone

Part 1
Ego-Boundary is a form of thought that combines an individual’s moral view with his/her view of the outside world. This combination allows the individual to make uninfluenced decisions. I believe that Ego-Boundary thinking allows you the freedom to slip back and forth from both Interior-Thinking and Exterior thinking. It is hard to limit yourself to one particular type of thinking because every situation calls for a different reaction. Using a balanced approach allows the individual the opportunity to avoid being heavily influenced by a particular way of thinking. Haimon is able to balance his personal feelings for Antigone (Interior thinking) and the voice of the people (Exterior thinking)
In Antigone, Haimon uses Ego-Boundary thinking to try and convince his dad, King Creon, that he is wrong to punish Antigone. He tries to convey to Creon what the people are saying:
“Because, for the common man, your gaze is terrible. He can’t find words to explain things that displease you. But I do hear things, under cover of darkness, what our country says in grief for this girl: that no one is more innocent, no death more awful, no deeds more noble than hers…”(833-839)
But King Creon is so stubborn and proud that he fails to realize what his son is saying. Instead Creon is focusing on the image he must portray to keep order in his kingdom, his is not about to allow a woman to disobey a law and get away Scot-free. This single-mindedness is what makes Exterior-Thinking so bad, people get so focused on what the outside world will think of them when the make decisions. King Creon thinks that his kingdom will think that he is weak if he doesn’t punish Antigone. What he doesn’t realize is that his people sympathize with Antigone and if Creon were to let her go the people would think more highly of him.
Haimon comes back to his father to make a second plea for Antigo...