Theme of Antigone Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a mans character, give

him power-Abraham Lincoln. This quote describes the theme of Antigone because being handed to much power doesnt lead to remarkable things. In Antigone by Sophocles there are many things that go on. There are suicides, deaths, the king being turned against, and family issues. Sophocles uses Foreshadowing, external conflict, and characterization in order to demonstrate the theme: dont let power over take the heart of ones true self. Foreshadowing is used to describe Creons over take in power. Foreshadowing is when a person can tell what is going to happen using context clues from the previous chapters/ scenes. Foreshadowing is used in Antigone, when Creon talks at the beginning of the play and states that if someone breaks the law regarding Polyneices no matter who or what for they will be punished. He is going to take over them with his power because he knows he can. In the text it says, You will give no support to whoever breaks this law. Choragus- only a crazy man is in love with death. Creon- And death it is, (Sophocles 1028). This example of foreshadowing is linked to the theme of not letting power take over the heart of oneself, as a reader they know that Antigone has talked about burying Polyneices, therefore readers can use foreshadowing to know that Creon is going to use his new power and try to kill Antigone. External conflict is represented in the text when Eteocles and Polyneices fight for the power of the kingdom. External conflict is when a character or characters have a struggle outside of their minds. External conflict happens in the story when Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other because they both desperately want the throne. The fight scene is not in the text, however Antigone talks about it when she says, Creon buried our brother Eteocles with military honors, gave him a soldiers funeral and it was right that he should, but Polyneices, who fought as bravely

and died miserably nothing was given, (Sophocles 1022). This is external conflict because the two brothers fight outside of their minds or physically because they want power. This ties in with the theme because in their case the thought of power overwhelmed them and they ended up killing each other, their own brother for the throne. Normally people wouldnt do this so as a reader it is obvious they both wanted power too much and it took over what was truly in their hearts. Characterization was used throughout the text of Antigone. Characterization is the description of the character because of their actions in the story. The characterization used in Antigone can be of Antigone herself. Antigone is an antagonist. She is the antagonist because she doesnt like Creon and his rules, so she tries to disobey him by saying she doesnt care what the consequence may be. She states, Go away, Ismene: I shall be hating you soon, and the dead will too. For your words are hateful. Leave me my foolish plan: I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, it will not be the worst of deaths--death without honor. (Sophocles 1026). The quote shows that Antigone does not like the power being taken away, she is going to do what she wants to and be stubborn. She obviously wants something to do with the throne. The characterization of Antigone helps to understand the theme because when power gets into peoples heads like Antigone they end up doing something stupid. She thinks about the power too much and ends up doing the same thing. In Antigone Sophocles uses external conflict, characterization, and foreshadowing to describe the theme dont let power over take the heart of ones true self. Another theme that could be represented by these examples are power leads to things not expected. The end of the play is important because it shows how if someone has too much power they could end up over using it

and lose everything they ever loved like Creon. Because of Creons power he lost his wife, his son, the societal trust, and the dignity of his heart.