Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that examines both plays. In both Oedipus the King and Antigone, the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles addresses issues of social responsibility. In both tragedies, the protagonists exhibit socially responsible behavior. Oedipus, as a good ruler, diligently searches for the reasons why the gods are displeased with his city and his people, and accepts his own judgement of banishment when the search leads back to himself. Antigone, likewise, never shirks from her cultural duty to provide burial rites for her brother, even when it means her death. However, in contrasting and comparing the behavior of these two characters, Antigone may be judged as the more responsible as she realizes from the beginning of the play that her actions will mean her death, while Oedipus remains ignorant of his situation until the climax of the tragedy. No additional sources cited.
|
|
