Is Antigone A Tragic Play Essay example -- essays research papers

Is Antigone a tragic play as defined by Aristotle?Antigone is not a tragic play. Rather it is a theological debate spawned by Sophocles, a debate that is still raging today, the debate of who holds the higher law, the Gods or the State. While this debate has slowly twisted into Church versus State, which is a very different argument, the highest questions still remain the same Which one is held higher in mens (and womens) hearts? Antigone answers this question with shocking clarity in her admission of guilt to Creon, I should have praise and honor for what I havedone. All these men here would praise me, were their lips not frozen except with fear of you. Ah, the good fortune of kings, licensed to grade and do whatever they please C you alone are in that opinion. A No, they are with me, and they keep their tongues in leash. By saying thus, Antigone is proclaiming all everyone holds the laws of the Gods higher than the laws of the State, unless the State is the more immediate thre at. But this all raises another question, does the law of the Gods really case? Will the Gods truly beseech you and seek to bring you harm for not following in their ways? One who is not so religious would say no, it is not the Gods who hold the sword at your throat but a man, who at that moment cares nothing for the Gods. But in the case of Antigone, the Gods do make out out their revenge. Tireseas spake...