AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ADRIANUS ADHIKARA PUTRA PRABHASWARA Student number: 064214013
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
This Undergraduate Thesis
Is dedicated to
For those who always give me the biggest love, sacrifice, and support
My Great Lord,
JESUS CHRIST
My Beloved Parents,
Ir. C. Adji Nugroho & Dominica Paramitta Wardhani
My Beloved Brothers&Sister
Nino in Heaven, Daniel, Franky, Dyas, Rani
My Beloved Grandfather
“eyang bp” Benedictus Mursumarwan
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First of all I would like to express my greatest gratitude to His son, Jesus Christ for blessing me in writing this thesis and guiding me to finish my study in Sanata Dharma University. He guided me when I was stuck in writing this thesis, He always opens the way and gives me strength to solve my problems during this writing.
I would like to give my greatest gratitude to my great advisor Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani S.S., M.Hum., and co-advisor Modesta Luluk Artika Windrasti, S.S., for giving their love in helping me to finish this thesis. They always be patient in guiding me and giving their best so I can solve the problems in my thesis. I also thank all the lectures in English Letters Departement for helping me and supporting me during my study.
My greatest gratitude is dedicated to my beloved father, Ir. Cyprianus Adji Nugroho who has been so patient waiting for my thesis. I also thank my super mom, Dominica Paramitta Wardhani for accepting my deepest apology that I cannot finish my study in the time they expected. I love them in every way and this thesis is dedicated for them with all my heart. They never feel bored in reminding me to finish this thesis and giving their support in all my troubles during my study and my thesis. I also want to thank from the deepest of my heart to my lovely grandfather Eyang Bapak, Benedictus Mursumarwan who always pray for me during my study and my thesis. He is always so patient in asking me about my thesis and giving his love and best wishes for me to finish my study. I
I also thank God for giving me the best friends in A class. Acong, who always accompany me in my difficult time, and for giving me place to play and sleep in his boarding house, he is always be a good listener when I have problems. You are my best friend and I will never forget you. To all my friends in A class that I can not mention all of you, my female friends, my teammate after 20, I just want to say that I love you all and thank you for everything.
I also thank Ervina Stevanny who has been so patient in guiding me and helping me in my study, for giving her best support and love until I can finish my thesis. I will never forget you, because you are the best gift of my life.
I would like to give my gratitude to Nabila who accompany me during my last semester, I learn so many things from her especially about love. I also thank her for helping me to learn about appreciating the difference and living in differences.
The last but not least I would like to thank everyone who works in my house, for Mbak Agus, Bu Wanti, Bu Tutik, Bang Gudel, Pak Jimmy for giving love and pray so I can finish my study. Thank you for all and thank you for everything.
Adrianus Adhikara Putra Prabhaswara
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ……….. 1
A. Background of the Study ……….. 1
B. Problem Formulations ……… 4
C. Objectives of the Study ………. 4
D. Definition of Terms ………...5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ………. 6
A. Review of Related Studies ……… 6
B. Review of Related Theories ……….. 8
1. Theories of Character and Characterization ………....8
2. Theories of Conflicts ………... 10
3. Theories of Gender ………... 11
4. Theories of Gender Inequality ……….12
C. Theoretical Framework ………. 14
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY……….. 15
A. Object of the Study ……….. 15
B. Approach of the Study ………. 16
C. Method of the Study ………. 17
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ……….. 19
A. Analysis of the Characters ……… 19
1. Antigone ………. 19
2. Ismene ………. 25
3. Creon ………... 29
Conflicts between Antigone and Creon ……… 34
1. Type of Conflict ……….34
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ………. 54
BIBLIOGRAPHY ……….. 57
Seen through the Female Characters and the Conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone. Yogyakarta: Departement of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
Antigone is a play which tells us about the life in Greece, in the city called Thebes. In that city lives a king who is very powerful and cruel. The name of the king is Creon. The story also describes about the rebellion of a woman who is also the citizen of the city towards the king. Most of the story in this play describes the conflict between Antigone and Creon which is caused by the gender inequality which is also caused by the difference in perception between Creon as a man and Antigone as a woman.
There are some objectives that the writer wants to achieve in this thesis. First is to describe the characterization of the characters in this play to find out the perception and their characteristics as a man and a woman. The next objective is to describe the conflict which happens in the story, especially the conflict between Antigone and Creon, and also to know the cause or the reason why the conflict happens. The last objective is to show that the gender inequality takes an important role in causing the conflict.
This thesis is a library research, the data are taken from the play itself and the other data are taken from other supporting books as theories which are used to solve the problem in analysis. In solving the problems, the writer uses the gender approach. This approach is thought as the best approach to solve the problem because the story tells us about the conflict which happens between man and woman because of the gender inequality at that time.
The writer’s conclusion is that the main character in the story, Antigone is described as a strong willed, brave, and critical woman. She is brave to fight against King Creon after realizing that there is an unfair treatment towards the dead bodies of her two brothers who died in a battle, Eteocles and Polyneices. Polyneices is not given the proper funeral because he is thought by Creon to be a traitor because he fights against his own city. From the conflict which is caused by the unfair condition, the writer finds the fact that the difference of perception between man and woman in gender inequality which support the conflict happens in the story. So the writer finds out that there are two conflicts in the story, internal conflict and external conflict. These all things which are described in this thesis.
x ABSTRAK
ADRIANUS ADHIKARA PUTRA PRABHASWARA. The Gender Inequality Seen through the Female Characters and the Conflict between Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Antigone adalah sebuah drama yang menceritakan tentang sebuah kehidupan di Yunani, di kota yang bernama Thebes. Di kota itu terdapat seorang raja yang sangat ditakuti karena kepemimpinannya yang keras dan kejam, raja itu bernama Creon. Cerita ini juga menggambarkan tentang sebuah perlawanan dari seorang wanita yang juga adalah penduduk kota Thebes terhadap sang raja, Creon. Sebagian besar cerita ini menggambarkan konflik yang terjadi antara Antigone dan Creon yang disebabkan oleh ketidaksamaan gender yang disebabkan oleh perbedaan persepsi antara Creon sebagai laki-laki dan Antigone sebagai perempuan.
Ada beberapa tujuan yang ingin dicapai oleh penulis melalui karya tulis ini. Yang pertama adalah untuk mendeskripsikan penggambaran karakter yang ada di drama ini untuk mengetahui persepsi dan sifat-sifat mereka sebagai laki-laki dan perempuan. Tujuan berikutnya adalah untuk mendeskripsikan konflik yang ada di cerita tersebut, terutama konflik antara Antigone dan Creon. Dan untuk mengetahui alasan yang melatarbelakangi konflik itu terjadi. Dan tujuan yang terakhir adalah untuk memperlihatkan bagaimana ketidaksamaan gender mengambil peran penting dalam terjadinya konflik tersebut.
Karya tulis ini adalah merupakan studi pustaka. Data utama diambil dari drama Antigone, dan data yang lain diambil dari buku-buku lain yang mendukung sebagai landasan teori yang digunakan untuk menyelesaikan analisis dari karya tulis ini. Dalam menyelesaikan masalah, penulis menggunakan pendekatan gender. Pendekatan ini dirasa paling tepat karena cerita ini menggambarkan konflik yang terjadi antara laki-laki dan perempuan yang disebabkan oleh ketidaksamaan gender yang terjadi pada masa itu.
A. Background of the Study
Gender inequality has become one of the important issues discussed in society. Gender inequality is the situation where there is a different value in the role and position between men and women in life. It describes that the position of women which are less valued than men, or in other words the position of women which are lower than men.
Gender inequality shows the differences of role and position between men and women in society. This situation happens because there is an unfair condition in dealing with the position in the society, where men are in top and women are in the lower position. Men are in the position which rule to, and women are in the position to be ruled. The positions like king, president, chairman are the positions which should be fulfilled by men. And power is very close in deal with those positions. As a ruler people need power to make other people obey the rule, and this power is usually used by men to be exist. This is why the position of men in the society looks stronger than women.
Those positions are very different with the position of women in the society. The position of women is only becoming a good housewife, serving the men, cooking, and taking care of the children. And power is not close in deal with those positions. It is because there are biological differences between men and women which make society put the position of men are above women.
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The concept of gender is used as an analytical category to draw a line of demarcation between biological sex differences and the way these are used to inform behaviors and competencies (Jane Pilcher and Imelda Whelehan) Beside the position, gender inequality also describes the difference in the role between men and women in the society. If talking about position, it is more related to what men should be and what women should be, but talking about the role, it is more related with what men should do and what women should do. Both position and role are socially constructed, what men should do and what women should do and also what men should be and what women should be. Talking about the role, society construct that men should have the role which is seen better than women’s role. Ruling and controlling are the roles that men should get. The reason of this construction is not only about the differences in the physical body but also in the development of the brain. The basic of this knowledge is the reset which have been done by the scientists from time to time. It can be seen from Carol Travis' book titled "The Mismeasurement of Woman"
In the beginning the left hemisphere of the brain was considered to deal with intellect and reason, while the right side dealt with passion, sex, irrationality and similar concepts -- thus males were considered to have a superior left brain
(Carol Tavris 1992:48)
This kind of theory which has been believed by the society all around the world which leads the gender inequality happen in all aspects of life between men and women in the society. Thus, gender inequality is identical with unfair condition and treatment towards women.
that women should serve the men and men should go to work and become a leader. Sometimes men also pressed by the society that they have to be something better than women, if they cannot be like what have been constructed by the society, they will not be honoured as a man.
In this paper, the writer will analyze the gender inequality in the text of Sophocles’ Antigone. The writer chooses Antigone as the object of the study because the story shows the gender inequality. In the story, the gender inequality leads to the conflict between two main characters, Antigone and Creon. It is caused by the different perception between Antigone and Creon about the justice. In this case, Antigone fights against Creon’s law to get the justice of the treatment to her brother’s dead body, Polyneices. Creon itself is described as a man, and he is a king of Thebes. He is so powerful and all his people should obey his rule. In the conflict between Antigone and Creon, the reader will see clearly about the gender inequality which put Creon as a king and a man, in the top position, and Antigone as citizen and a woman, in the lower position.
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In this study, the writer will examine the gender inequality through the perceptions of the female characters, as a mirror of female’s feeling toward the unfair condition which put them into lower position than men, and through the conflict between Antigone and Creon. The conflict is in the perspective of both of them which differ one and another towards the role and the position of men and women which has been constructed by the society.
B. Problem Formulations
1. How are the characters in the story described?
2. How is the conflict between Antigone and Creon depicted in the story?
3. How is the gender inequality seen through female characters and the conflict between Antigone and Creon?
C. Objective of the Study
conflict, and therefore the writer will review a theory on conflict in literary point of view. And the last problem is related to the gender inequality which is seen by the female character’s perspective and the conflict between Antigone and Creon. The writer will try to figure out the perspective of the female character which can be used to identify the conflict of the story between Antigone and Creon, and also try to find how the gender inequality appears in the conflict.
D. Definition of Terms
1. Gender Inequality
Gender inequality is the situation when there is a different value between men and women in life. It is socially constructed and related to the difference in the position and role between men and women.
2. Conflict
In “A handbook of Literature FifthEdition” (Harmon, William.1986:107). Conflict is defined as the struggle that grows out the interplay of two opposing forces in a plot. So conflict is used to describe that there is a different perception or understanding from one character to another characters.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
After doing the libarary research, the writer finds the fact that the Sophocles’ play entitled Antigone has been used by many people as the tools to see the social phenomenon which happen in the society, especially in Greek, and generally in all over the world.
The writer also finds another study made by Cahyaningrum. (RR. Lira Dewi Cahyaningrum, Representation Of Creon’s Tragic Hero In Sophocles’ Antigone, A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis. 2007) from this thesis, the writer took the statement from Lira’s undergraduate thesis.
What is meant by the “man” here is the king of the city. Since the king places the highest position in the society, he has the full right to control the city and the citizen, so that his power or his authority becomes unlimited or absolute.
(Lira, 2007 : 1)
From the quotation above, the writer knows that Lira uses Creon’s point of view. By seeing the position of Creon, Lira gives more sympathy to Creon, and she puts Creon as the hero in the story.
Another study is Kurniawan’s work. (Finansius Yudha Kurniawan, The Moral Lesson Of Antigone Struggle Against Tyranny In Sophocles’ Antigone, A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis. 2005) on his work Kurniawan focused on the moral lesson of Antigone struggle. The writer quotes Kurniawan’s opinion
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about the moral lesson that he took from analyzing Sophocles’ Antigone is about people can get happiness by following their hearts to do good things.
One of the aims for human to live is to find the happiness. Human wants the immortal happiness and not the temporary one. According to Aristotle, human will get their happines after they do the good things since it is appopriate with their nature.
(Kurniawan, 2005 : 50).
The writer takes another study which is done by Setyarini Santosa Putri, (Setyarini Santosa Putri, The Emergence Of Feminist Idea In Sophocles Antigone, A Sarjana Sastra Thesis. 2002) she wrote that the emergence of feminist depends on the understanding that in all societies which divide the sexes into differing cultural, economic, and political spheres, and the position of women are less valued than men.
In gender perspective, the reason why men have power towards women in almost all aspects of life is because actually the men also become a victim of the situation itself. So men are also pressed by the society. The writer asks to take an example in the story of Antigone, especially by the characterization of Creon, the cruel and powerful king of Thebes. By using the gender perspective in analyzing the characterization of Creon, people might see that if Creon as a king does not have enough power, he will not be respected by his people. That is why he becomes a very cruel king with his rules.
In her thesis, Putri focuses in feminism especially in the emerge of feminist idea.
There are two reason for the writer to mention Antigone to be a heroine in this story. the writers personally thinks that Antigone is a heroine for her brother, Polyneices and her country, Thebes.
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From the quotation, the writer finds the fact that Putri used the feminist point of view. It is seen from the opinion of Putri that chose Antigone as a hero in the story.
The focus of the writer in this paper is in the gender inequality. The writer wants to focus on the differences of positions and role between men and women. The writer uses the conflict between Antigone and Creon to see the inequality of positions and role which is created by the society. This conflict starts when Antigone realizes that there is an unfair condition towards her brother’s dead body. and this is what makes Antigone to be brave to break tha law of Creon to get the justice for her brother, Polyneices to be given a propper burial as human being. And the gender inequality can be seen through this conflict. In this way, this paper is different from what Putri, Kurniawan, and Lira has done.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Character has the important role in a literary work especially in drama and prose. It helps us to understand about actually what happen in literary works. It helps us to understand the message of the writer because characters are tools that are used to deliver the message to the reader.
Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say, the dialogue, and by what they do. The grounds in the characters’ temperament, desires, and moral nature for their speech and actions are called their motivation. (Abrams, 1981)
From the theory from Abrams above the writer knows that character have many functions in a literary work like delivering the message of the author, giving moral, and describing the situations of feeling like motivation. Those all are expressed by the dialogue and what they do.
To understand the characterizations of character in a work of literature, there are many ways which can be used other than using dialogue between characters and the character’s acts. The writer uses the theory of characterizations from Understanding Unseen: an Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students.
1. Personal Description
The author describes a person’s appearance and clothes, such as the face, skin, eyes, and the castaway’s extraordinary clothing.
2. Characters as Seen by Another
The author describes him through the eyes and opinions of another, conveys through his choice of words and phrases, such as unquiet eyes, dim smile, rare sound of her voice, unapproachable aspect, gazing at him stealthily.
3. Speech
The author gives an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what that person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving some clue to his character.
4. Past Life
The author gives a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character; by direct comment, though the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person.
5. Conversation of Others
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talk about other people and the things they say often give as a clue to the character of the person spoken about.
6. Reactions
The author can also give a clue to a person’s character by letting us know that person reacts to various situations and events.
7. Direct Comment
The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. 8. Thoughts
The author gives direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. In this respect he is able to do what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking.
9. Mannerisms
The author describes a person’s mannerisms, habits, or idiosyncrasies which tell something about his character.
2. Theory of Conflict
Conflict is an important part in a literary work. In conflict readers can actually start to understand what message or moral value given by the author, because in conflict reader starts to see the different ideas probably among the characters.
Conflict happens because there are differences in opinion, point of view, attitude between one side to the other side. Conflict does not always happen between one character to another character, but conflict can also happen in different ways as stated in A Handbook to Literature.
Protagonist may be involved in conflicts of our different kind: 1. A struggle against nature. 2. A struggle against another person, usually the antagonist. 3. Struggle against society. 4. A struggle for mastery by the elements within the person.
(Holman and Harmon, 1986: 107-108)
character struggle with his/her self, but it is certainly still against the antagonist character. For example the basic conflict in Hamlet, it is interpreted that hamlet struggle with himself but actually he struggle against his uncle.
Conflict is not only about the struggle of the protagonist against someone or something, but it also implies the existence for some motivation for the conflict or some goal to achieve.
3. Theory of Gender
When people talk about gender, people are usually trapped by the characteristics of men and women which is constructed by the society and actually it is not given when men and women were born.
In fact, when people talk about sex, the focus is only on the physical differences. For example men have adam’s aple and women do not. Women have vagina and men have penis. These things which differ someone called as a man or as a woman.
The concept of gender, as we now use it came into common parlance during the early 1970s. It was used as an analytical category to draw a line of demarcation between biological sex differences and the way these are used to inform behaviours and competencies, which are then assigned as either ‘masculine’ and ‘ feminine’
(Pilcher, 2004: 56)
The writer finds another theory which supports the theory from Pilcher above. The difference in biological sex between men and women cause the different positions between men and women in the society. It also causes the difference in what men should do and women should not do.
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Gender studies examine how gender is less determined by nature than it is by culture. From the theory we know that gender is not naturally constructed but culturally constructed. People try to accept the agreement of gender and it is used in society. The basic example is when there is a boy, the parents give him blue shirt and a toy, but if there is a girl, the parents give her a pink shirt and a doll. From this example we know that it is the beginning of the gender difference which is culturally constructed not naturally constructed. The rules have little to do with nature and everything to do with culture. (Guerin, Wilfred, et al, 2001: 236-237)
4. Theory of Gender Inequality
In life, people were created as men and women. They live together, but they have different roles and activities among each other. There is something called as men activities and the other is called as women activities. For example being a driver, a pilot, or carpenter is associated with men’s world, and also like working in the kitchen, preparing everything for kids is associated with women’s world. From this point of view, now people often find the differences in the equality in human rights between men and women that is thought to be unfair. For Example women cannot be a leader, etc.
This separation was unprecendented in history, forcing men and women to adapt by creating new behaviour patterns. As men coped with the harsh business and industrial world, women were left in the relatively unvarying and sheltered environtmentsof their homes.
From the quotation above, the writer recognizes that there is the difference of the role in the society between men and women. Indirectly this difference brings men and women in the gender inequality. If people see that what men should do is in the higher activities than women, like men coped in harsh business and industrial world but women only concern in the environment of their homes.
This inequality or difference puts up men still in the higher position than women, and also shows the thought and mindset that women cannot be in that position, in this case doing business and join the industrial world. It also happens to the men if they are not qualified in doing business or work in some field that is thought to be men’s field, they will not honoured as a good man and they will lose their trust and integrity in society. From the quotation also the writer knows that both men and women are the victim of the gender inequality. Women are pressed by the power of men but also men are forced by the society.
I’m battling with my girls all the time. At seven and nine their values are archaic. They believe that girls are dopey in math and boys should not play with dolls. Worse, one day I heard Joanne tell her younger sister that women shouldn’t work! Those are the values I grew up with and it’s taken me yars to straighten myself out. Did I come this far just to watch my own children backslide two generations?
(Pickhardt, 1983: 32)
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There is also the sentence show that women should not work. It means that women are only allowed to deal with the house work. This thing also which limit the development of the women themselves. They do not have a power and mental to fight against the unfair treatment from men.
C. Theoretical Framework
To answer the problems which are mentioned above, the researcher will understand first about the characterization of the character in the story. Related to the title the researcher will concern core in the characteristics of Antigone and Creon.
The characteristics will be used to identify the gender inequality in the story. The researcher will also understand first about the theory of gender. After analyzing the characteristics and the idea of gender shown in the story, the researcher will analyze the conflict between two characters, Antigone and Creon related to the title and after that the researcher will try to see the idea of gender inequality which is shown in the conflict.
The object of the study is a text play written by Sophocles who is an ancient Greek writer. He is an outstanding writer among the writers in that era. In that era in ancient Greek, there is a competition for the writers, including play writer. Sophocles’ works were always in the first or at least in the second in the charts position. One of the masterpieces of Sophocles’ is Antigone.
Antigone is the last part of trilogy, and the first two parts is Oedipus the Colonus and Oedipus the King. Antigone was translated into many languages, such as Arabic, Sanskrit, or indeed Gaelic, and it was also translated into Russia, Greece, Spain, English and Bohemia. In this study, the writer uses the English Version which was translated from the Greek version by Dudley Fitts and Roberts Fitzgerald.
This play consists of five scenes with 1353 words. In the play there are eight named character and also chorus and choragus. This play was outstanding because it could survive for hundred years.
The story of the play is about the conflict between Antigone and the King of Thebes Creon. It began when Creon as the King of Thebes forbade the people to bury the Polyneices. All the people were afraid because Creon is a powerful king. Antigone broke the law, buried her brother and was caught by Sentry, Creon’s man. When she was in the prison, she killed herself.
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B. Approach of the Study
In this study the writer uses the Gender Approach. “Gender is also used as analytical category to show the difference between biological sex and the use of informing the behaviours and competencies” (Guerin, et al, 2001: 236) Meaning that the difference between men and women in gender is also seen from the physical body of human being.
The men’s bodies are different with the women’s, so then appear something which is ‘gendered’ like for example colors and paid works. Colors like what is explained above blue for boys and pink for girls, and in the forms of paid work, say that women tend to work part-time and men tend to work full-time. In other hand, women in nursing and men in construction. These all explain actually that difference in gender is culturally constructed, actually boys can wear pinks and girls wear blue or men work as a nurse and women in construction, but the physically difference especially in the body causes the society cannot accept or agree with that.
This approach is chosen to analyze the Sophochle’s Antigone because the idea is shown in the story especially in a conflict between Antigone and Creon. Creon as a King has a power towards his people but Antigone as a woman citizen is brave to fight against Creon’s law. It shows that actually women also have strength to compete with men even there are so many differences like what is mentioned above.
Creon, King of Thebes. Woman is always looked under the man superiority and no woman can fight against man, all women should follow the men’s rule even though that’s no advantages at all.
From the story, especially from the characterizations of Antigone and Creon, the readers can also see the difference between gender and feminism. In feminism the women are always pressed by men and they are in lower positions. So in feminism the victim is only the women. In the other hand if talking about gender, both men and women can also be the victims, like in the Sophocles's Antigone, Antigone is pressed by the existence of Creon’s power as a king, but Creon is also pressed by the society to be cruel because he is a man and the king, he does not want to lose his pride. It is the same like the basic concept of gender that both men and women can also be the victim of the society.
C. Method of the Study
In this study of Antigone, the writer was doing the library research. First, the writer read the whole story of Sophocles' Antigone. In reading the story, the writer tried to figure out the important intrinsic element of the story. The intrinsic elements which were found are character and conflict. It is related to the title of the study which talks about conflict which is seen throughout the characters.
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Glossary of Literary Terms by M.H. Abrams as the outside source. In this study, the writer used the Gender Criticism, and the writer used A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature Fifth Edition and 50 Key Concepts In Gender Studies by Jane Pilcher as the source talking about gender studies.
In writing the analysis, first the writer tried to see how the characters of Antigone and Creon characterized, because those two characters which were tried to be seen in this study. After that, the writer tried to figure out about the gender inequality seen in the story, and related with the character, the last step of the analysis, the writer tried to figure out the Gender inequality which were discussed previously seen in the conflict between Antigone and Creon.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
A. Analysis of the Characters
In this chapter, the writer would like to analyze the problems that have been shown in Chapter 1. First, the writer wants to give explanation on the characterization of Antigone, Ismene and Creon. Second, the writer would like to find out how the conflict is depicted in the story. And the third, the writer would like to find out how the Gender Inequality seen through the female characters and in the conflict between Antigone and Creon.
In the first part of the analysis, the writer wants to give explanation of the characterization of the characters in the story. There are three characters analyzed, they are Antigone, Ismene, and Creon.
1. Antigone
Antigone is described as a very strong willed woman and brave woman; she will do anything for the truth. That she is a brave woman is clearly described in her rebellion towards Creon’s law until she got the death punishment. That she is a strong willed woman is shown by the reason why she fights againts Creon’s law. These will be explained by the writer one by one.
a. Strong Willed Woman
Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and she is also the sister from the two brothers Polineices and Eteocles. Afer the death of Oedipus, Polyneices and Eteocles contend of the throne of Thebes, Polyneices leading the seven champions
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attacks from Argos and batters at the seven gates of Thebes. Eteocles defends the city, supported by Creon. In a very great battle, they meet each other and kill each other. Because of the death of the two sons of Oedipus for the throne, Creon as their relatives becomes the King of Thebes. Creon as a new king makes a rule not to give a funeral for the dead body of Polyneices because he thinks that Polyneices is a traitor because he died fighting for his own city, Thebes, when he is on the battle with Eteocles and finally both of them die. Unlike the Polyneices, Creon gives the funeral for Eteocles. Because of this unfair condition, Antigone starts to fight againts the Creon’s law.
Antigone tries to ask her sister Ismene to help her giving funeral for Polyneices but Ismene rejects it because she is afraid of Creon. From the conversation between Antigone and Ismene the writer finds out that Antigone is a strong willed woman, whatever she thinks need to do, and she will do.
I will not press you anymore. I would not want you as a partner if you asked. Go to what you please. I go to bury him. How sweet to die in such pursuit! To rest loved by him whom I have loved, sinner of a holy sin, with longer time. To charm the dead than those who live. For I shall abide forever there.
(Prologue: 167, line 14-21)
From the quotation above the writer knows that Antigone is a strong willed women, it is shown in the first sentence that Antigone will not press Ismene anymore, because Ismene has rejected the offer to bury Polyneices. It proves that even without the help and the agreement from Ismene she will still bury Polyneices body. It is also seen in the third and fourth sentence that sounds “Go to what you please, I go to bury him” meaning that Antigone tells Ismene that it is no problem at all for her if Ismene does not want to help her. She even permits
Ismene to go and to do anything else, but she will not change her mind to bury her brother’s dead body.
Ismene : You know I don’t do that. I’m just too weak to war againts the state
Antigone : Make your apologize! I go to raise a tomb above my dearest brother.
(Prologue: 167, line 25-28)
Another proof about Antigone is a strong willed woman is seen in the quotation above. From the second sentence which is spoken by Antigone, the writer recognizes that Antigone has a reason about why she breaks the law. It is because what she believes to be true must be done, so it is still related with the character of strong willed woman in Antigone, because even without help and agreement or even she must get punished to do she believes, she will still do that. b. Brave and Critical Woman
The writer focuses on the two charecterizations of Antigone that will be discussed in this first part of anaylisis. Antigone as a strong willed woman has been explained by the writer including the evidences which can be found in the text. Another characteristic of Antigone which will be explained by the writer is Antigone as a brave and critical woman. The writer thinks that this character creates the conflict in the story. It is shown in the story that the bravery of Antigone breaking the law of Creon starts the conflict to the whole story. How Creon reacts and what will be accepted by Antigone as her consequences. In this part the writer will try to find out the evidence in the text toward the bravery of Antigone that can show how brave is Antigone.
Antigone : you could. Are you willing to share danger and suffering and --
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Ismene : Danger? What are you scheeming at? Antigone : take this hand of mine to bury the dead. (Prologue: 166, line 20-23)
From the conversation between Antigone and Ismene above, the writer knows that Antigone is really a brave woman. The evidence is written in the first sentence spoken by Antigone sounds “Are you willing to share danger and suffering” it proves that Antigone has understood that what she has planned is a very dangerous thing for her life, even she knows that it is a danger and it will make her suffer for entire life.
Ismene : what! Chalenge Creon to his face?
Antigone: He has no right to tamper with what’s mine. (Prologue: 166, line 28-29)
The writer also finds the evidence from the quotation above when Ismene asks about facing Creon, Antigone answers bravely that no one has power upon her. Even Creon as the king.
Ismene : at least tell no one what you do, but keep it dark, and I shall keep it secret too.
Antigone : oh tell it, tell it, shout it out! I’ll hate your silence more than if you told the world.
Ismene : so fiery! In a business that chills? Antigone : perhaps. But I am doing what I must. (Prologue: 167, line 31-36)
From the evidence, the writer finds the unbelievable bravery of Antigone’s characteristics, when Ismene who cannot help her try to keep silent and try not to tell everybody, Antigone asks her to tell everybody and she will hate Ismene’s silence more than if Ismene tell the truth to everybody. It is shown in the second sentence of Antigone. The writer also finds the evidence which is still related with the first character of Antigone that is as a strong will woman. It is shown from the
last sentence of Antigone sounds “But I am doing what I must” describe that Antigone will do anything she has believed even it brings danger and suffering for her life.
Creon : Come girl, you with downcast eyes. Do you plead innocent or guilty to these things?
Antigone : Guilty. I deny not a thing.
Creon : You sir, you can go, scot-free of all these serious imputations. Now, tell me, Antigone, as briefly as you can, did you know an edict had forbidden this?
Antigone : Of course I knew. Was it not publicly proclaimed? Creon : So you choose flagrantly to disobey my law?
Antigone : Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgateed such a law. Nor will you find that justice publishes such laws to man below. I never thought your edicts had such force they nullified the laws of heaven, which, unwritten, not proclaimed, can boast a currency that everlastingly is valid. An origin beyond the birth of man. (Second Episode: 179, line 16-34)
The last evidence above also describes the bravery of Antigone, when she is caught and asked by Creon, she does not even deny anything. It is seen in the first and second sentence of Creon and Antigone. The other evidence that the writer finds is in the fourth sentence when Creon asks Antigone about the consequences of breaking his law, and Antigone admits it bravely, and she also says to Creon that she chooses to break his law because Zeus as God in Antigone’s perpective never promulgateed such a law, so Creon who is just a human does not have a right upon her. It can be seen in the last sentence of Antigone sounds “Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgated such a law. Nor you will find that justice publishes such laws to man below.”
Beside as a brave woman, Antigone is also described as a critical woman. It is shown in the story by the reaction of Antigone after Creon makes his decision not to give proper burial to Polyneices dead body. Antigone is so annoyed by
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Creon’s decision. This is because Antigone has a thought that all people whether he is good or bad should have a proper burial. It is shown by the evidence below.
Antigone : He is my brother still, and yours-though you would have it otherwise. But I shall not abandon him.
(Prologue: 166, line 25-27)
This evidence proves that the reason of Antigone is so annoyed by the Creon’s decision is because there is an unfair condition that she feels toward the dead body of her brother, Polyneices. This evidence also shows that Antigone believes whether the person is good or bad he must be given a proper burial. It is shown by the statement in the evidence which sounds “you would have it otherwise, but I shall not abandon him”.
The reaction of Antigone which is so brave in breaking the law of Creon because she is so annoyed by the decision actually has a relation with her perspective of being a woman. Women in that era are in the lower position than men, they are inferior in the society, so in the story readers will not find the important positions in the society except only being an ordinary citizens. Antigone thinks that as a woman, she can not accept the unfair condition by doing nothing, she thinks that she has to fight and proves to the society that woman also can fight against men if it is needed. In Antigone’s perspective, woman also can get the equal position with men, women also have a power to do anything, in this case is fighting against the unfair condition which is caused by the law of creon. This is shown in the evidence below.
Antigone : Such is the purport of good Creon’s news for you and me, yes me; and now he’s coming here to publish it and make it plain. And anyone who disobeys will pay no trifling penalty but die
by stoning in the city walls. There’s your chance to proove your caliber, or else a sad degeneracy.
(Prologue: 166, line 9-16)
This evidence is the dialogue between Antigone and Ismene in the prologue when Antigone tries to ask Ismene to help her in burrying the dead body. From this evidence, the writers can take the point that is related with the perpective of Antigone as a woman. It is shown by the statement which sounds “there’s your chance to prove your caliber, or else a sad degeneracy”. It proves that in the society women are always in the lower position and can not do anything including getting the rights of being in equal position with men.
The statement “there’s your chance to prove your caliber” shows that Antigone thinks that this is the time to fight back against the unfair condition in society. She thinks that it is the time to break the unfair law which is made by man, in this case the King, Creon. From the evidence, the writer can take a conclusion that Antigone has a different perspective towards the condition between men and women in society, and she is also a critical woman because she can see the unfair treatment and brave in getting the justice of the dead body of her brother and also in getting the justice for women’s position in society by being brave in fighting against the law.
2. Ismene
Another female character that will be discussed in this chapter is Ismene. Ismene is the sister of Antigone. In the text, Ismene is described as an obedient person, and she is also described as a loyal person, especially loyal to her sister,
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Antigone. In this part, the writer will give explanations of both characteristics of Ismene and will give the evidences of the text.
a. Obedient Woman
This characteristics of Ismene can be seen from her statements when she has conversation with her sister, Antigone. From the statements of Ismene, the writer can recognize that Ismene really wants to obey the rule of the king, Creon. It can be seen when she refuses to help Antigone in burrying the dead body of Polyneices.
Antigone : Take this hand of mine to bury the dead? Ismene : What! Bury him and flout the interdict?
Antigone : He is my brother still, and yours-though you would have it otherwise. But I shall not abandon him.
Ismene : what! Challenge Creon to his face? (Prologue 166, line 23-28)
This evidence shows to the writer that Ismene is a person who respects the law. It can be seen from the statement of the evidence which sounds “what! Burry him and flout the interdict?” (Prologue 166, line 24) This evidence indirectly also describes the reason why Ismene obeys the law and refuses to help Antigone. The statements of Ismene which sounds “what! Challenge Creon to his face?” (Prologue 166, line 28) describes that actually Ismene is affraid of Creon.
Antigone : Make your apologies! I go to raise a tomb above my dearest brother.
Ismene : Poor Girl! And now you frighten me. Antigone : Don’t fear for me. Be anxious for yourself.
Ismene : at least tell no one what you do, but keep it dark, and I shall keep it secret too.
(Prologue 167, line 27-32)
This evidence supports the previous explanation that Ismene is affraid of Creon so she finally obeys the rule and refuses to help her sister, Antigone. The statement of Ismene which sound “poor girl” indirectly indicates that what Antigone will do is a very stupid thing, because breaking the law of Creon is very dangerous. And another statement which sounds “at least tell no one what you do” indirectly shows that what will Antigone get after breaking the law is something bad, it could be a death penalty.
From these explanations and evidences which are seen in the dialogue between Ismene and Antigone, the writer understands that Ismene is a person who respects and obeys the law of Creon, but the main reason is because Ismene is afraid of Creon, because of his power and his death penalty punishment. This is why she refuses to help Antigone in burrying the dead body.
b. Loyal Woman.
Another characteristic of Ismene which will be discussed further is her loyalty. In this case, Ismene is loyal to her sister, Antigone. In previous explanations of the characteristics of Ismene, the writer says that Ismene refuses to help Antigone because she is affraid of Creon, it is very different by being included as a loyal woman to Antigone. So the writer will explain about the loyalty of Ismene by giving the evidence.
Before giving the explanation of this characteristic, the writer asks the reader to look back the story of Antigone. After Antigone is caught by the Sentry and taken to Creon, she gets a lot of questions from Creon. Antigone admits that she is the doer of the case. In the other hand Creon thinks that Antigone can not do
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it alone because she is a woman, so Creon thinks that Ismene as the sister and the closest person of Antigone must help her. So Creon ask Sentry to take Ismene to be questioned as well.
Creon : Come, you serpent-secret lurker in my home, who sucked my blood even while I nurtured you two sister vipers at my throne—Speak. Confess your part in burrying him. Or do you dare abjurd complicity?
Ismene : I did it too. If she’ll allow my claim. I share with her the credit and the blame.
Antigone : That is not true. You did not share with me, nor did I grant you partnership.
(Prologue 182, line 20-29)
This evidence above shows the loyalty of Ismene towards Antigone. Even Ismene does not help Antigone in burrying the dead body of Polyneices, she admits to Creon that she does it too. It can be seen from the statement of Ismene which sounds “I did it too”. And the loyalty of Ismene towards Antigone can be seen from the statement “I share with her the credit and the blame”, in this case Ismene feels guilty not to help Antigone to burry her own brother. So she says to Creon that she will share the blame in order to pay of her refusal to help Antigone. Ismene : Sister, do not scorn on me; let me share your death and holy
homage to the dead.
Antigone : No share in work, no share in death. Must consummate alone what I began.
Ismene : Then what is left of life to me when you die? (Second Episode 182, line 35-36, 183, line 1-3)
It is another evidence that supports the previous explanation that Ismene is also a loyal person to Antigone even though at first she refuses to help Antigone to burry the dead body because she is affraid of Creon. The statement which sounds “let me share your death and holy homage to the dead” (Second Episode, line 35) describes that Ismene is really sorry that she refuses to help Antigone at the first
time. And what she can do is just share the punishment which Antigone gets after breaking the law. The writer thinks that it is the best evidence in describing the loyalty of Ismene to Antigone, because nothing greater rather than someone who wants to die for someone else.
The explanations and evidences that have been given above can explain about the characteristic of Ismene as a loyal person. Even she does not do the mistake, but she is brave to share the danger even the death in order to pay her regret in refusing to help her sister Antigone in burrying the dead body of Polyneices.
3. Creon
The other character which will be discussed in the first part of the analysis is the King of Thebes, Creon. Creon becomes a King of Thebes after the two sons of Eodipus were fighting each other until they both died. So, Creon as a relative of Oedipus takes the throne and becomes the next King. The previous King was Eteocles, after the death of oedipus, Eteocles and his brother Polyneices agree to rule the state in order. Eteocles as the older brother rules the first year and Polyneices rules the second year. The fact is that Eteocles break the rule and does not want to give the throne to Polyneices and they fight each other. So the throne goes to Creon.
Creon is described as a very powerful king. He has no fear and he has no mercy when he deals with his law. He will punish all people that disobey his law by giving the death penalty. Besides those all things, actually Creon is also a good
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person, he is loyal to the previous Kings and Thebes. It is prooved by how angry Creon is when knowing that Polyneices fights against his own city, Thebes. He thinks that Polynneices is a traitor and he does not give him a proper burial.
In analyzing Creon’s characterization, the writer concern about the power of Creon in ruling the city of Thebes. He is a powerful man, he rules Thebes and everyone has to obey his law. He is also a brave and sadist king, he always gives a penalty for anyone who breaks the law, even the death penalty. In analyzing Creon’s characterization, the writer will concern to both negative and positive sides of Creon. In this part, the writer also provides the evidence in the text to show the characterization of creon to help the reader understand about Creon. a. Strong and Powerful King
Creon is the king of Thebes, he is described as a very strong and powerful king. He rules the society and he hates disobedience. In this part, the writer wants to find out the evidence in the text about the caharacterizations of Creon as a powerful king.
Leader : put the burden on some younger man.
Creon : No. Sentries are already posted on the corpse. Leader : then what exactly do you want us to do?
Creon : Merely see there’re no infringements of the law. (First Episode: 172, line 7-12)
From the evidence above, the writer figures out that Creon is a very strong and powerful king. He has a very important role in the society. It is shown from the two last sentences spoken by the Leader and Creon. From those sentences, the writer knows that Creon wants nobody to break the law, or they will get the
penalty, it is seen in the last sentence sounds “merely see there’re no infringements of the law”
Leader : no lunatic is going to welcome death.
Creon : and death it is. But greed of gain can often make men fools. (First Episode: 172, line 13-15)
This evidence proves that everybody who dares to break the law will get even the death penalty. It can be seen from the conversation about death above.
Creon : you sir, you can go, Scot-free of all these serrious imputations. Now tell me, Antigone, as briefly as you can, did you know an adict had forbidden this?
Antigone : of course I knew. Was it not publicly proclaimed? Creon : So you choose flagrantly to disobey my law? (Second Episode: 179, line 19-25)
From the evidence above the writer understands that as a very strong and powerful king, Creon does not like disobedience. It can be seen in the last sentence spoken by Creon sounds “so you choose flagrantly to disobey my law” From this expresion, the writer can clearly see that Creon is wondering why Antigone is so brave to break the law which supports the previous explanation that Creon hates disobedience.
Sentry : well, I’ll tell you: the body – someone’s just buried it and done the other pious things.
Creon : What do you mean? What would have dared?
Sentry : don’t ask me Sir! There’s not a trace of pick or mattock. All the ground is baked, unbroken, norut of wheels or sign of human hands.
From the quotation above, the writer figures out that Creon is shocked about the news that someone has buried the dead body meaning that someone dare to break his law. It can be seen in the second sentences spoken by Creon who asks sounds “What would have dared” it shows that he really does not want his law to
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be broken by anything, he says “What” instead of “Who” because he still believes that human, in this case is his people, do not have the bravery to do that, so he still expects animal may do that.
b. Loyal King
Like what the writer has mentioned in the previous page, that Creon also has a positive side. Creon is a loyal person. He is loyal to his city Thebes, and he is also loyal to Thebes’ previous King.
Creon : for the state I would speak out. I could not bear to make my country’s enemy my private friend. For, knowing as I do our country is the ship that bears us safe, there are no friends aboard who sabotage. So there you have my principles by which I govern. In accord with them I made. The proclamation that you heard just now: Eteocles, who died in arms for Thebes, shall have a glorious funeral, as befits a hero going to join a noble dead. But his brother Polyneices, he who came from exile breathing fire againts the city of his father. He must be left all ghastly where he fell; a corpse for dog to maul and vultures picks his bones.
(First Episode: 171, line 13-32)
From the evidence above the writer figure out that Creon is also a loyal king despite his cruelty and absolute power. It can be seen in from the second line, the words “the country is the ship that bears us safe” means that he really appreciates his country and he puts everything which deals with the country as priority.
In the evidence above also the writer finds out that Creon try to give a message for the people of how important being loyal to the country is. It is seen from line five, sounds “Eteocles, who died in arms for Thebes, shall have a glorious funeral, as befits a hero going to join a noble dead” (First Episode 171,
line 21-23) means that the people who die or loyal to his country will get the treatment like what is done to Eteocles.
In the other hand, Creon also gives a message for those who dare to break the law by saying the word that can be seen in line seven “Polyneices, he who came from exile breathing fire againts the city of his father. He must be left all ghastly where he fell, a corpse for dog to maul and vultures picks his bones” (First Episode, line 24) to show the treatment that can get by those who break his law.
Antigone : it was his brother, not his slave that died.
Creon : yes, and ravaging our land, while he fell as its champion. Antigone : Hades makes no distinction in its rites and honors. Creon : The just and unjust do not urge and equal claim. (Second episode: 181, line 35-37,182, line 1-4)
From the evidence above, it is seen that Creon really concerns about the loyalty to the state. It can be seen in the conversation there between Antigone and Creon in the first two lines. In the second line sounds “yes, and ravaging our land, while he fell as its champion” means that Creon thinks that Polyneices is a traitor so he gives a very bad treatment towards his dead body. That is why the writer and the reader can see what antigone say in the first line “it was his brother, not his slave, that died”. Antigone wants to describe that the man who dies is Eteocles’ brother not a slave, so she thinks that it is not fair for Polyneices to be treated like a slave, but because Creon is a very loyal person to the state, he still do that to a person he thinks to be a traitor.
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B. The Conflict between Antigone and Creon
In this second part of this chapter, the writer will focus on how the conflict between Antigone and Creon is seen in the story. In this case, the writer will explain about what kind of conflict happens between Antigone and Creon, then the writer will explain about why the conflict happens, and the writer will also give the evidence about how the conflict is seen in the story through the characterization of whom involved in the conflict.
1. Type of the Conflict
There are so many kinds of Conflicts. According to A Handbook to Literature written by Holam and Harman in 1986, conflict can happen in many ways, first is struggling against nature, second is struggling against another character, usually the antagonist, third is struggling against society, and the last is struggling against the mastery by the elements within the person. And the writer will use the theory of Holman and Harman which has been explained in chapter two to find out the type of conflict between Antigone and Creon.
The writer thinks that in the conflict between Antigone and Creon covers two kinds of conflict from the theory. The first is struggling against the mastery by the elements within the person (internal conflict), and also struggling against another character (external conflict).
a. Internal Conflict
internal conflict means that there is a fight between one person with him/herself. A fight here means there is something in society which is not suitable
or accepted by the person’s perspective so it makes violenty in him/herself. This is what happen with Antigone, when she can not accept the unfair condition of Creon’s law which give the different treatment to her brothers’ dead body.
This condition is different with Antigone’s perspective that everybody whether he is good or bad must be given a proper burial. It can be seen in the evidence below.
Ismene : I’ve heard no news of friends, Antigone, good or bad, ever since we two were stripped of two brothers in a single day, each dismissing each by each other’s hand. And since the argive army fled last night, I’ve heard no more-either glad or sad.
Antigone : That’s what I thought. That’s why I brought you here beyond the gates that you may hear my news alone.
Ismene : what mischief are you hinting at? (Prologue 165, line 16-26)
The evidence above shows that there is something which is not accepted by Antigone that makes her try to ask Ismene to do something. It can be seen in the statement which sounds “What mischief are you hinting at?” (Prologue 165, line 26). When Ismene ask to Antigone about what she will do, that indicates that there is something different with Antigone’s perspective which can not accept the unfair treatment of Creon towards her brother’s dead body.
Ismene : You firebrand! Could I do a thing to change the situation as it is?
Antigone : You could. Are you willing to share danger and suffering, and—
(Prologue 166, line 17-21)
This evidence shows that the violenty in Antigone’s mind makes her has a will to fight against Creon, in order to get the justice for the dead body of Polyneices. It can be seen in the statement which sounds “Are you willing to share
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danger and suffering” (prologue 166, line 20-21) from the statemen, the writer knows that Antigone wants to fight Creon, because it is to dangerous to fight against the powerful king like Creon.
b. External Conflict
Another conflict which can be seen in the conflict between Antigone and Creon is the conflict against another character (external conflict). In this case is when Antigione breaks Creon’s law. When Antigone breaks the law, she opens the conflict against Creon, and Creon reacts by giving her a punishment, so they are both included in the external conflict. The conflict between Antigone and Creon. Antigone opens the conflict can be seen in the evidence below.
Antigone : take this hand of mine to bury the dead? ( Prologue 166, line 24 )
This evidence is when Antigone tries to ask Ismene to help him to bury the dead body. This evidence shows that Antigone has a will to break the law and fights Creon. This will open the external conflict between both of them.
Ismene : What! Challenge Creon to his face?
Antigone : he has no right to temper with what’s mine. (Prologue 166, line 29-30)
This evidence shows that even Creon is very powerful king seen by the statement of Ismene, Antigone still has a bravery to fight against Creon. This characteristic of Antigone which support the xternal conflict between them because Antigone stars to fight Creon by breaking the law.
This will not become an external conflict if Creon does not react knowing what has been done by Antigone. It becomes external Conflict because Creon
fights back by giving her a death punishment as the consequences. The reaction of Creon which support the external conflict can be seen in the evidence below.
Creon : but all these hirelings, everyone of them, will pay the price he’s bargained for. I swear it by almaighty Zeus. And if you fail to find the man who did this burial, and stand him here before my eyes, hades shall not receive your soul until first you’ve hanged upon a cross and told me everything.
(First Episode 175, line 36-38, 176, line 1-5)
This evidence shows the reaction which is given by Creon after knowing that someone has given a burial to the dead body. This reaction support the external conflict because from this reaction, Creon indirectly shows the will to fight back against someone who has given the burial, in this case is Antigone.
Creon : let us say that death is going to come between. Leader : I fear, I fear, it’s fixed. Her death is sealed. (Second Episode 184, line 3-4)
This evidence shows that Creon does not like disobedience and he fights back against Antigone by giving her a death punishment and this reaction also support the external conflict. It is why the external conflict also happens in the conflict between Antigone and Creon, because after Antigone fights Creon by breaking the law, Creon fights back Antigone by giving her a death punishment. 2. The Cause of the Conflict
The conflict between Antigone and Creon happens because Antigone tries to break Creon’s law. It is because Antigone feels that Creon gives the unfair treatment between both of her brother who died in the battle, Eteocles and Polyneices. Eteocles is given the proper funeral, but Polyneices who is thought by Creon as a traitor, is not given such as funeral. Even Creon asks to his people not to touch the dead body until it is eaten by dogs.
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Eteocles who died in arms of Thebes, shall have a glorious funeral, as befits. A hero going to join the noble dead. But his brother Polyneices, he who came from exile breathing fire against the city of his father and its shrines, the man who came all thirsting for his country’s blood, to drag the rest of us away. As slaves-I’ve sent to edict out that none shall bury him or even mourn. He must be left all ghastly where he fell, a corpse for dog to maul and vultures pick his bones.
(First Episode: 171 line 20 – 32)
The evidence which is given above explains how Creon treats the dead body of Polyneices unfairly. This condition makes Antigone want to fight and tries to get the justice of her brother’s dead body.
Antigone: I will not press you anymore. I would not want you as a partner if you asked. Go to what you please. I go to bury him. How sweet to die in such a pursuit! To rest love by him whom I have loved, sinner of a holy sin, with longer time to charm the dead and those who live. For I shall abide forever there. So go and please your fantasy and call it wicked what the Gods call good. (Prologue: 167 line 14 – 25)
The quotation above shows the evidence that Antigone does not like the policy that is made by the King, Creon towards the dead body of her brother Polyneices. In that quotation also the writer can see that Antigone has a will to break the law by saying, “I go to bury him.” And it is when the conflict starts.
So many thoughts which have been talked to see actually who starts the conflict between Antigone and Creon in the Sophocles’ Antigone. Some say that Antigone starts the conflict, but some also say that Creon who starts the conflict. The writer thinks that Antigone is the one who starts the conflict in the case of external conflict. The decision of Antigone to break the law becomes the main reason of the external conflict. If Antigone does not react anything to the Creon’s law, just accepts it like what Ismene does, there will be no conflict between them. Because in the writer’s analysis, Creon makes the rule because he thinks that
Polyneices is a traitor and he should be treated like a traitor. From the rule of Creon actually, and there is no will of Creon to attack Antigone directly, but Antigone’s reactions to break the law which makes Creon Angry and the conflict between them starts.
Creon : You see the kind of man I am! You’ll not catch me putting traitors up on pedestals beside the loyal man. I’ll honor him alone, live or dead, who honors Thebes.
(First Episode: 171, line 34-37)
The quotation above shows the evidence that actually Creon makes the rule because he hates a traitor, and he will honor every people who also honor Thebes. So Polyneices who attacks from Argos is thought by Creon that Polyneices does not honor Thebes, and that is why he will not be given a proper funeral. From this fact, the writer can conclude that actually there is nothing to deal with Antigone when Creon decides to make this rule.
Some say that the law which is made by Creon is the one who starts the conflict between Antigone and Creon. Some think that if Creon makes the fair rule to both of the dead body, the conflict between Antigone and Creon will never exist.
In this case, the writer thinks that the unfair law of Creon is not the starts of the conflict. Because in fact, on that time a King has an absolute power toward his people, and it is actually an ordinary thing that if there is a leader there will be a rule to follow, whether the rule is good or bad for the people, rule is rule.
Ismene: the rest, if we defy our sovereign’s edict and his power. Remind ourselves that we are women, and as such not made to fight with men. For might unfortunately is right and makes us bow to things like this and worse.
(Prologue: 167, line 4 – 9)
