Quotation:

“Anyone who lives a life of sorrow as I do, how could they not count it as a blessing to die? Therefore, there is no pain for me in meeting this fate, whereas if I were to endure that one born from my mother die unburied, that would cause me pain. As it is, I feel nothing.” -page 29, lines 474-481

“Nothing you say gives me the slightest pleasure— I pray nothing you say ever will— and by nature I offend you. And yet, could my fame be more gloriously established than by placing my brother in a tomb? I think all these people would agree, if fear did not hold their tongues. Tyranny is lucky in many ways, above all in doing and saying what it will.” -page 31, lines 514-522

Comment: Some context for quote number one: Antigone is being questioned by Creon for the crimes of burying her brother’s body. She explains that she knew all of what she was doing and had done it anyway, because she has already had such a miserable and sorrowful life that Antigone did not care about the consequences of committing this crime. She would be in pain if he had gone unburied, so she is willing to pay the price for the crime and she doesn’t care that she will die because her life is so sad. Context for quote number two: Creon has sentenced Antigone to death and she is saying to him why wait? She is basically telling him to stop waiting around and just kill her. She is proud of the crime that she has committed and she wants to die now so she doesn’t even have to hear what the king has to say anymore. These quotes engaged me quite a bit. This text is a bit hard to comprehend but these were some quotes that I understood and, quite frankly, resonated with them. Women didn’t have any rights back then and the fact that she stood up for what she believed in, stood up for her family, obviously makes me very happy. I love it when I see or hear stories about women that take charge and stand up for what they believe in despite what the rest of the world thinks about women. I say, “GO ANTIGONE!!!” and, “YOU GO GIRL!!” She has committed a crime, but the crime was justified. Now she will die knowing that her brother’s soul will be at peace. 

Question: Now, this has reminded me of a controversy. The controversy is when a person commits a crime, if it is for a great reason, should we be supporting them or punishing them? Also, what does, “Tyranny is lucky in many ways, above all in doing and saying what it will.” mean?