Antigone's Historical significance

Greek mythology has always held a special place in my heart. It does not matter whether I am reading about the fall of Troy or the triumph of a young Theseus over the Minotaur, the stories of old have always fascinated me. So when I learned that I would be reading Antigone by Sophocles for English IV, I was pleasantly surprised. I was familiar, of course, with the play, but had never taken the time to read it. But what truly captured my attention when read Antigone was its theme's historical relevance. The idea of martyrdom, or dying for what you believe in, has been a central theme throughout the course of history, and its complexities were beautifully captured in Sophocles' play. Whether it was the French resistance to Hitler's iron rule in World War Two, or the bloody American Revolution, humankind has always believed that there were things worth dying for. Antigone still holds relevance in today's war-torn world, as many radical muslim factions wage Jihad on foreign troops, just as the crusaders waged their "holy wars" over the desert surrounding Jerusalem.

While Antigone's choice to die for the sake of upholding a "Higher Law" is not as extravagant and destructive as a car bomb, the similarities between the two are quite apparent. Both commit suicide in order to further their belief, albeit Antigone's method is more indirect than that of a terrorist. And both martyrs have an effect on their targets: Creon is reduced to a raving madman at the end of Antigone, and the car bomber strikes chaos and fear into the unsuspecting community, damaging the public order and hindering the government's progress. Also, both are unchangeable, permanent, and life-ending. These actions carry a certain magnitude with them; the idea that someone believes so strongly in something that they are willing to die for it means that this idea carries weight. It is an ideal that has become a movement, which in turn has become a force to be reckoned with. And every force to be reckoned with is dangerous.

Antigone is an interesting take on an obviously ancient theme. The idea of losing one's own life is frightening, but especially moving when the ultimate sacrifice is given for a belief. This theme has raised armies, crushed tyrants, and spread chaos all around the world, and continues to do so today. (394)