Antigone

Towards a biblical psychology for modern Israel: 10 guides for healthy living

“…For the Greeks, prayer is useless in this determined world: 'Pray thou no more; for mortals have no escape from destined woe. ' 113 The Jewish view believes in the efficacy of prayer, even in the most hopeless of situations: 'Even if a sword's edge lies on the neck of a man he should not hold himself back from prayer. ' 114 Resiliency with regard to misfortune According to the ancient Greek chronicler Diogenes Laertius, Zeno, founder of the Stoic school of philosophy, wrenched his toe on the way home from lecturing at the stoa (porch) and subsequently voluntarily held his breath until he died.…”

The generosity of feminism

“…And she assumes her reward for elevating her brother's body to the status of the universal will be equality with him. 4 But such individual selfexpression does not go unpunished: the penalty for burying Polyneices is set at death by public stoning. For Hegel this opposition between Creon and Antigone, between masculine and feminine law, between male and female ways of existing, results in a dissolution of the difference; the difference between the polis and the individual, the universal and the particular, and between masculine and feminine modes of being.…”

“…In contrast to Antigone she seems to accept her subordinate position within a patriarchal community: 'since I am no fee agent', she says, 'I will yield to the powers that be'. 7 But appearances can be deceiving. While Ismene advises Antigone not to confront the laws of the state, she does so from concern for her sister's fate and from a sharper appreciation of what is at stake.…”

“…9 ) There is no public punishment to fit her crime: rather than carrying out his threat of death by stoning, Creon shuts 'her in a rocky vault alive ... to prevent pollution falling on the city'. 10 But Antigone's will does not end there. She goes on to defy the structure which produces yet denies her, by taking her own life.…”

Antigone's Dilemma: A Problem in Political Membership

“…P. Winnington‐Ingram 1980, 132–133) 5 . Ismene rejects this appeal, fearing that they will “perish terribly if [they] force the law/and try to cross the royal vote and power” (Wyckoff 1956, lines 59–60). As women, they are not framed by nature to contend with men (F. Storr 1924, line 61).…”