Antigone Norton Anthology: The Power of the Dead on the Living

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Antigone Norton Anthology: The Power of the Dead on the Living
One of the themes expressed in this passage is on life after death and the Power of the dead on the living. One of the characters, Antigone, is largely concerned about the power of the dead over her and risks her life to honor her dead brother. Her sister, Ismene, also pleads guilty to a crime (conspiring to bury the dead with her sister) she did not commit. Hamion, the son to Kreone (the king) also weighs in on the matter and considers actions of Antigone golden. Seemingly, all the characters in the play understand the importance of honoring the dead whilst there is no justifiable evidence of their influence in their lives. It shows death has great influence over the living because it prompts Hamion, Ismene and Antigone to take firm stands on the issue such that they risk their lives. This essay explores the power and the place of the dead in this society and to which extend it impacts the lives of the living.
The power of the dead is so great that it justifies acts of defiance which could lead to death. Antigone goes against the decree of the king which she knew could spell her own death. When she was caught, she indeed was sentenced to death by her uncle because she was defiant of his decrees. Even in her capture, she remains firm on the rationality of her actions because she thought they were honorable. A ritualized and respectful burial is something Thebanias craved. They could not dare to be outcasts and risk being left for the dead just like Polyneiks. It was considered a punishment on the individual if the person was not buried in a dignified way. The king, Kreon, considered a respectful burial a reward for the patriots of Thebes. Additionally, the living considers that those who were buried honorably will have a good life in Hades. They will be honored and probably have a better life in their after-life. Antigone notes,’ the dead will respect him in Hades’. It is upon the living to make the Hades and the dead to honor those who have recently died. It is the responsibility of the living to ensure that the dead can have a respectful existence in Hades by making sure they give them a good send-off which is honorable in the eyes of the living.
The concept of death and what happens after you have dead colonizes the living. It prompts the living to institute ‘honorable’ ways of burying because ‘dishonorable’ burial spells consequences. It is a concept which is deeply ingrained in their daily life which makes them be fearful of authorities and anyone who could determine the ‘quality’ of their send off. Ismene feels indebted to seek peace and obey the decrees of the king because he can influence the kind of burial and she could have. The people live not fearing death but what the living would do with their bodies. It is a concept that has enslaved the community and prompted some of its members to make hard decisions about their lives. Such as Antigone would ...