Antigone Writing Exercise For this assignment, discuss the many levels of conflict between Antigone and Creon. The two main points of conflict are 1) the principles each one stands for and 2) the personal feelings that seem to elevate this conflict from a simple dispute over ideals to a tragedy for all concerned. First, explain to your reader how the play dramatizes the rights of the individual in the personal, religious, and family values represented by Antigone. Then show how these are opposed by the public, civic, and social concerns voiced by Creon, who holds that a government has a right to demand loyalty from its citizens. Next, show how this conflict of ideals is further complicated by personal feelings. Identify places in the play where Creon's belief that Antigone's actions and words make her an ungovernable young woman are revealed. Show us things he says and does that let us know Creon thinks Antigone is disobedient and rebellious, and, if he does not control her, not only she will become a threat to (what Creon believes is) a man's rightful authority over family and society, but he, Creon, will lose face. Also show your reader Antigone's personal stake in the argument - how as a woman and the moral center of her family she refuses to be dictated to (among other possible reasons because of her royal status). You must use examples from the text, but keep these brief and concentrate on your explanations. To cite the text, just place the line numbers in parentheses at the end of your quotation. Example: "Your quotation here" (771).
Two pages minimum.
Please see the letters to explain.