Antigone essay
Hegel on Antigone
Adapted from:
Russon, John. “Reading and the Body in Hegel.” CLIO 22.4 (1993): 321. Literature Resource Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.
When Creon and Antigone act, they act on the authority of law, that is, they both act as representatives of a greater subject: Antigone acts for what she sees as divine will, and what Hegel sees as the foundations of patriarchal society, while Creon acts for human law and the institution of the city. If one wants to understand the logic of Antigone’s action, it will not do to ask her to report on her own motivations; rather, one must analyze the needs of the family, and even Antigone would say, “You must ask the gods.”
What is crucial in Antigone’s actions representing the law, is that she acts the way she does because she feels herself compelled to so act. Likewise, Creon opposes her out of duty, for he sees it as necessary that law-breakers be opposed. For both of them, their actions are law-governed, that is, their acts appear necessary: … Antigone is prioritizing divine law while Creon prioritizes human law.
Antigone is, more particularly, divine law;…dictated by its own internal logic. Because Antigone acts from a duty which is socially required, her act reflects the Creek society as well as religion. Of course, the same could be said of Creon’s act: indeed, Antigone and Creon fight because they each act on a one-sided logic, and their logics are mutually exclusive. In this case, both characters are equally justified, since each is legitimately rooted in the necessary institutions of their social existence. This is Hegel’s point: both act justly, and the contradiction of their actions demonstrates the tragic collision of right against right, with both sides equally justified. The conflict in the play is not good vs. evil, but rather right v. right.
Suggested outline for Hegel on Antigone Essay
Tips: Be sure to format your paper as instructed in Unit 1.5.
Be sure your works cited page looks like the sample works cited on e-Campus.
For a play, parentheticals are scene and line number (Sc 1 Lns 57-58).
For an outside source, parentheticals are author’s last name and page number, if there is one (Brown 4).
Consult the link on integrating quotations.
Use ONLY library databases to find outside sources. Googled sources are garbage!
See the librarian for help researching.
See the tutors in the Learning Center, 10-2, for checking your paper.
I. Introductory paragraph
a. Introduce the author, Sophocles, and the play title, Antigone.
b. Introduce Hegel and his philosophy about Antigone.
c. Write a thesis statement in which you agree or disagree with Hegel.
II. First body paragraph
a. Topic sentence: State an agreement or disagreement with Hegel about Antigone, the character.
b. For example, explain why you agree or disagree with Hegel about Antigone, the character.
c. Quote the play to support your opinion about Antigone, the character.
d. Explain how that quotation supports your opinion.
e. Quote an outside source that supports your opinion about Antigone.
f. Explain how that source agrees with you.
g. Write a concluding sentence that wraps up the paragraph.
III. Second body paragraph
a. Topic sentence: State an agreement or disagreement with Hegel about Creon.
b. For example, explain why you agree or disagree with Hegel about Creon.
c. Quote the play to support your opinion about Creon.
d. Explain how that quotation supports your opinion.
e. Quote an outside source that supports your opinion about Creon.
f. Explain how that quotation agrees with you.
g. Write a concluding sentence that wraps up the paragraph.
IV. Concluding paragraph
a. Do not summarize your essay. Instead, try to draw some philosophical conclusion based on what you just argued. What does it say about humanity?
V.
Works Cited page
a. Follow the guidelines for crafting a works cited page.
b. Everyone should include the citation (provided) for the play.
c. Then, your 2 outside library database sources.
d. You should have a total of 5 entries on your works cited page.
e. Follow the directions in unit 1.5 for getting the works cited page on a separate page.
Antigone Paper Assignment
Antigone with Polyneices’ body by Sebastien Norblin 1825
The German philosopher Hegel stated that the play Antigone represents “the tragic collision of right against right, with both sides equally justified.” Antigone is right, she argues, for “prioritizing divine law,” and Creon is right for “prioritizing human law.”
Do you agree with this interpretation? Why or why not? Use quotations from the play and your own explanations to support your opinion.
Write a 1-2-page essay on the assignment above.
For this assignment you need to include:
· Textual evidence (quotes from the play)
· 2 academic outside sources (no googled websites)
· Correct in-text citations (from the play and outside sources)
· Works Cited/Reference page
· The intro paragraph should introduce the author, the play title, a lead-in for your thesis, and end with a thesis statement that answers the question.
Important Guidance:
· Include the outside academic (no web sites) sources to support your arguments, not make your arguments.
· Please use literary resources when researching literary topics. (see below)
· Make your concluding paragraph meaningful. What philosophical conclusion can you draw about humanity based on your argument?
· Construct a formal Works Cited/References page. You may craft it yourself, as some students prefer, or use NoodleTools, as others prefer.
· Consult various composition and documentation examples posted on e-Campus.
· Use Online Tutoring and make sure you have this assignment with you as a reference.
· Plays are cited by Scene and Line number in the parenthetical, NOT author’s last name. (Sc 1 Lns 12-15).
General Words of Advice: Never start a writing assignment with broad generalizations about life, love, the universe, or timeless things throughout history. Spelling counts, grammar counts, neatness counts, intelligence counts, grooming counts.
Research resources to avoid:
Google
author’s biography
reviews and summaries
newspaper articles
Facts on File
Opposing viewpoints
Try to access literary resources for a literary analysis:
Literary Resource Center
Literary Reference Center
Drama Criticism
CMLC
Check your syllabus for conference dates, rough draft dates, due date.
ENGL 1302 Student Learning Objectives measured:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)
Integrating Quotations — Antigone
Quotations need to be incorporated into your own sentences. They cannot stand alone. Troyka refers to a stand-alone quotation as a “disembodied quotation” (549).
Integrated: Antigone tells Ismene to “[t]ell everyone” (Prol. Ln 76).
Disembodied: “Oh tell it! Tell everyone!… I am doing only what I must” (Prol. Ln 76-80).
Significant words and phrases that support your argument can be integrated into your argument in a variety of ways.
A quotation can flow smoothly with your own sentence, not needing any punctuation to introduce it.
Creon fears he will look weak and reasons that they should “lose to a man, at least!” (Sc III Ln 51).
Antigone describes what has happened to their family as an “infection” (4.39).
It could be that Haimon is “just as much a victim” in the situation (Walsh and Jackson 45).
Sometimes a comma is used before the quotation, but not as often as students tend to think. Usually, a speaking verb indicates a comma is needed.
Teiresias warns, “You have kept from the gods below the child that is theirs” (Sc V Ln 79).
David Brown asserts, “Teiresius may be the instigator” (73).
A colon can introduce a quotation you are unable to incorporate into your own sentence. You must have a complete sentence before the colon.
Creon explains his position on political loyalty: “for the man who sees private friendship above the public welfare, — I have no use for him, either” (Sc 1 Lns 21-22).
The vulnerability of the Greek city-state cannot be denied: “Athens [and the surrounding areas] was constantly under attack. A strong leader was as much a symbol as a governor” (“Ancient”).
At this point in your academic career you are not allowed to use long, blocked-off quotations. Instead, practice your summarization and paraphrase skills.
NEVER USE AN OUTSIDE SOURCE TO SUMMARIZE THE PLAY!
Summarizing v. Arguing
Be sure that your body paragraphs develop arguments and don’t just summarize the story.
What’s the difference between summarizing and arguing? A summary states the facts of what happened. An argument uses what happened (textual evidence) as support for a point you are trying to make.
Let’s look at the example below.
Summary:
Creon is the protagonist because his intentions are honorable ones. Creon passes a law stating that no one will be allowed to bury the body of Polynieces. This makes Antigone very angry, but he does not change his mind. Tiresias, the Chorus, and Haimon all try to convince him to reconsider his decision. Creon goes forward with his plans, though instead of having Antigone stoned to death, he decides to enclose her in a cave. Eventually, he does change his mind about the law and the punishment and buries Polyneices and releases Antigone from the cave, even though Antigone has already hung herself. Creon is very much the protagonist in the story.
Other than the topic and concluding sentences, there’s nothing in that paragraph that argues Creon as the protagonist. It’s just a summary of what happened.
Argument:
Creon is the protagonist because his intentions are honorable ones. When Creon passes the law forbidding anyone to bury Polyneices, he does so to set an example. His intention is to protect the city by showing what would happen to those who might attack the city. Yes, leaving an exposed body is against their religious law and certainly repulsive, but Creon does it for the good of the city. As a protagonist, he serves and protects not just himself, but others. Similarly, when Creon refuses to listen to the advice from others, it may seem like he doesn’t care what the people think. However, he makes it clear later on that he’s unwilling to excuse his family members from the expectations of following the law. He has to hold them just as responsible as he would any other citizen. This dedication to fairness is one of the qualities that make him a fair and just leader. Creon is the protagonist of the play because every law he makes and all of his actions are to protect the city and be fair to the citizens.
Notice how the textual evidence (what happened) is used as evidence for the argument that I am making.
Intro paragraph for Antigone essay
What it is:
An introductory paragraph is the first paragraph in an essay.
Good intro paragraphs give just enough info to prepare the reader for the thesis statement, which is the last sentence in the intro paragraph.
For this writing assignment, the intro paragraph should introduce the author’s name: Sophocles.
The intro paragraph should introduce the title of the play, punctuated correctly: Antigone.
The intro paragraph should explain a bit about the assignment itself: do I need to define my terms?
The intro paragraph should be relatively short.
The intro paragraph should end with a thesis statement that answers the question of the assignment.
What it isn’t:
The intro paragraph should NOT:
· draw attention to yourself or the class in any way.
· summarize the play or the family.
· announce “What this will do” or “What I’m going to argue is”
Thesis Statements: the good, the bad, and the ugly
A thesis statement…
· Tells what you are going to explain, defend, or prove about a topic, but does not say “This essay will …”
· Is usually placed at the end of the intro paragraph
· Must be a complete sentence
· Must not be a statement of fact (something known for certain)
· Must answer the question of the assignment.
Examples:
( Most children at five years of age should not be in school more than half the day.
( Nearly all kindergartens in the US offer only a half day of instruction.
The first sentence is an effective thesis statement because it is a matter of opinion. “Should” and “because” statements usually make for an effective thesis. The second sentence is a statement of fact.
Practice:
Put a check mark by the best thesis statements. (There are several.)
· In the US, kindergarten is not compulsory.
· Children should begin learning to read in kindergarten.
· In some European countries, children do not begin formal schooling until the age of seven.
· The personal interview is the most important step in the employment process.
· Sixty percent of all jobs are obtained through personal contacts.
· The best time to begin a foreign language is in grade school.
· Most Americans doing business in Japan do not know a word of Japanese.
Which were thesis statements?
The second one. The “should” statement makes it arguable.
The fourth one. Is it really the MOST important step? Maybe. It’s arguable.
The sixth one. The judgmental word “best” makes it an argument. Clearly, not everyone agrees, or we would be offering foreign language in elementary school.
The others were statements of fact.
Your thesis statement generally will be arguable if you answer the question of the assignment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For example, if your history professor asks you to write a paper on the causes of World War I, your thesis statement could look like this:
Many political and military situations led up to World War I, but the two with the greatest impact were the sinking of the Lusitania and Prussian Militarism.
And if that were your thesis statement, then your first body paragraph would be about the sinking of the Lusitania, and the second body paragraph would be about Prussian Militarism.
So, be sure your thesis statement answers the question, and in effect, predicts the rest of the essay and its order.
Works Cited
“Ancient Greek Civilization.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2009.
Brown, David. “Creon and the Demands of Power.” Contemporary Literary Criticism 43(Nov. 1950): 14-25. Rpt. in Drama Criticism. Vol. 1. Robin Young, ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1986. 425. Print.
Sophocles, Antigone. Literature for Writing: A Reader for Comp II. 2nd ed. Mason,
Ohio: Cengage, 2015. 58-85. Print.
Walsh, Keri and Debbie Jackson. “Antigone Now.” Mosaic. 41.3 (Sept. 2008): 1-13. Literary Resource Center. Web. 29 Feb. 2009.