Individual Freedom Overcomes Social Responsibility
In the never-ending battle between the ideas of individual freedom and social responsibility, individual freedom is the victor. This clash can be seen in Antigone’s trials in Sophocles’ Antigone, Emerson’s “Self Reliance”, and Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience.” Though these writers convey the same idea, they are expresses in many different ways. Emerson wishes all to care about themselves to show their individualism. Thoreau and Sophocles both articulate that one should make their own decisions not let the state ruin their lives. In Antigone, Sophocles shows his wanting of disagreement with the monarch. Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, revolts against Thebes and wishes to overthrow Creon. Polyneices is killed in the battle and left to rot on the battlefield. Antigone is outraged at the decision by the over-bearing monarch to disgrace her family. She plans a disregarding of the edict and a proper burial for her brother. Ismene does not believe in the unlawful action and warns her sister. “You ought to realize we are only women.” (Line 70) Antigone thinks of her sister as a disrespectful sibling. Antigone does not want to scar her family’s legacy any more but Ismene just does not see that. Ismene does not show her individualism but A . . .
He thinks that a man who thinks only on his one is a true genius. He sends men to watch Polyneices’s body and to keep his law from being broken. “How could I win a greater share of glory than putting my brother in his grave. He believes that a citizen should do all that is in his grasp for his country. The people as individuals are important not the regime. Thoreau has shown his belief in freedom in his actions. Emerson thinks that you should not conform to society. He believes that the laws set up by the American government exist only to show that it is actually a government. This may be good for Creon, as in setting an example to all whom may wish to protest against him, but her death caused great pain for Creon. “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. Creon believes that Antigone is alone in her thought that burying her brother was correct. Haemon, Creon’s son, was engaged to Antigone and disagreed with his father’s views on government. His argument with Antigone shows the vastness in their views on the ideas of social responsibility and individual freedom.
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