Comparison of the Sentry to the Character of Antigone

Analytical Paragraph, Comparison of the Sentry to the Character of Antigone The tragedy of Antigone, written by the Grecian playwright Sophocles, uses the comparison of the characters of the Sentry and Antigone to suggest that, when an individual is faced with death, the way in which one accepts or fears death is reflective of what in life they value the most. In relation to the characters of the Sentry and Antigone, the Sentry is representative of those who fear death and whose main life goals are associated with self-preservation. Alternatively, Antigone represents those who do not fear death, and instead see the value of life as transcending mere survival, and fulfilling a higher moral purpose. Antigone's intentional violation of King Creon's edict marks the point in which these central character traits are first made evident. The manner in which the Sentry and Antigone respond when faced with the death sentence, and the way they respond when given a way out of their sentence stands to reveal key character traits about their nature, and their innate motivations. The Sentry is first represented as nervous and unsure of one's self as he explains that he was, "Lost in thought and it made me stop, often, dead in my tracks, wheeling turning back, and all the time a voice inside me muttering "Idiot, why? you're going straight to your death" "(Sophocles, lines 251-254) The Sentry is afraid of Creon, simply because he is burdened with the task of being the harbinger of bad news and fears that Creon will misplace his anger on him rather than the true perpetrator. He knows that the news he brings is truthful and necessary yet, this moral obligation is secondary in his mind. His main preoccupation during this pivotal moment in which his fidelity is tested, is to ensure his own survival, so much so that he even considers not sharing the news with the King and turning back. On the other hand, when Antigone is confronted with the crime of breaking Creon's edict, she does not hide behind excuses and simply states that, "I did it. I don't deny a thing" (Sophocles, 492). Antigone is bold and unafraid of the wrath of Creon as she is sufficed in the knowledge that her purpose in life lies in maintaining her moral standing and, " the great unwritten, unshakable traditions" of the gods (Sophocles line 505). In essence, Antigone implies that she is unafraid of death because she would rather die knowing she was morally right, than live knowing she let her brother die unjustly, or succumbing to human fear and weakness as the Sentry did. The situational irony in this scene further highlights the how the sentry is a character foil of Antigone, as Antigone is guilty of breaking Creon's edict, yet Creon lashes out on the Sentry who is innocent. Before the Sentry is able to finish retelling the story of his findings, Creon automatically accuses the sentry of committing the crime and taking a bribe, threatening to "string [him] up alive and wring the immorality out of you. Then you can steal the rest of your days" (Sophocles, lines 349-351). Creon refuses to acknowledge that the Sentry is innocent, much to the demise of the sentry who refutes Creon saying, "Oh it's terrible when the one who does the judges all things wrong" (Sophocles lines 365-366). Creon orders that the Sentry find the real perpetrator however, the Sentry decides to run away from his duty, swearing that, "caught or not, that's in the lap of fortune; I'll never come back, you've seen the last of me. I'm saved. " (Sophocles lines 373-375). The Sentry's reaction reinforces that unlike Antigone, moral duty is not his life's priority, but rather that he is motivated primarily by self-preservation. The Sentry's reaction alludes to the central theme because when he is faced with a way out of his death sentence, the Sentry is quick resort to his natural inclinations to save himself. The Sentry's reaction proves that when confronted with death, one's true motivations in life are made clear. In the subsequent scene, Antigone herself admits to the crime of breaking the edict and burying her brother Polynices. Unlike the Sentry, Antigone is guilty and fully expects to be reprimanded and ultimately killed by Creon. Her readiness to die for the sake of moral uprightness is depicted through her acceptance of her inevitable martyrdom. When challenged by Creon, and questioned regarding the motivations behind breaking the edict, Antigone responds by stating that, "Die I must, I've known it all my life How could I keep from knowing it? - even without your death -sentence ringing in my ears. And if I am to die before my time. I consider it a gain. " (Sophocles lines 512-516). The diction in this line alludes to the sense of pride, and of contented resignation that Antigone holds in response to her impending death. Antigone's grasp of the principles and ethics of life are a direct contrast to the Sentry who takes the smallest opportunity to be free from the possibility of death. This stark comparison further reinforces the theme as when both are faced with death, the Sentry's simplistic views of the purpose of life constrict him to survival rather than living and dying for a greater moral purpose as Antigone does. Furthermore, Creon's response to Antigone reinforces the character foil of Antigone and the Sentry, as after learning of Antigone's disobedience, Creon does not respond with fury as he does with the Sentry. Instead Creon slowly questions Antigone asking her if she was "aware a decree had forbidden this" and if she "deny [she] did this, yes or no?" (Sophocles lines 491 and 496). In this intentional slowly paced questioning it can be deduced that Creon is allowing Antigone many opportunities to say she was not guilty of the crime, and possibly allowing Antigone to break her moral uprightness by lying to save her own life. In response, Antigone is adamant in saying that, "These laws- I was not about to break them not out of fear of some man's wounded pride and face the retribution of the gods" (Sophocles lines 509-511). Antigone's response represents how she resents immorality, and rejects any temptation to fall into immoral actions, even with the knowledge that it could result in her own death. When given a way out of her death sentence Antigone stays adamant and true to her morals stating that her fear of death and of the tyrannical king Creon is surpassed by her respect and fear of the gods. The theme is most apparent in this conclusion as Antigone's death sentence allows her to fulfill her own life goal of living fully and completely in accordance to her morals and personal conscience. In summary through Antigone's and the Sentry's respective reactions to death, and their decisions when faced with the opportunity to be freed from death, it can be seen that death is a moral test that reveals one's true life motivations and purposes.