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The play begins with the lead, Antigen distraught because the ruler, Croon, declared that all who fought the war against him and died did not deserve a proper ceremonial burial. Antigen’s brother fought against Croon and died. She decided she would bury her brother because an unburied soul would wearily wander earth forever. Also, breaking Screen’s law was not a large wrong in Antigen’s mind because it wasn’t the gods who ordered her not to bury her brother.
Captured, Antigen was caught by Screen’s sentinel while she was burying her brother like a mouse in a mouse trap, and was brought before Croon for Judgment. Croon had a hard time deciphering what to do with her because Antigen was betrothed to Screen’s son. In the end, Croon threw Antigen into a cave to rot and die. After Antigen’s death, HГ??moon, Screen’s son and Antigen’s betrothed, committed suicide because of grief. Shortly following her son’s death, Screen’s wife killed herself too. Croon in the end was left family-less and realized that the gods always have the last say in human affairs. 2
Looking at the story Antigen, there are two ways to determine if it is a tragedy. A tragedy is a story in which a good man or woman in unforeseen circumstances, is ruined through a mistake in Judgment or a defect of character that would not ordinarily have such consequences. Having stated that, Antigen could either be a tragedy or not one. One might say that Antigen is a tragedy. Applying the definition of tragedy, there is a good woman, Antigen. It could be said that the unforeseen circumstance to the story is the death of her brother. Her mistake of Judgment would possibly be her undying undermining urge to bury her brother.
Since the ruler of her land would not peacefully allow her to bury her brother, her craziness to disobey law and bury him anyways could be her defect in character. “… For within the house but now I saw her, frenzied and beside herself” Croon describe Antigen as one describes a psychopath. 3 With this view point of Antigen, it would be correct to say that Antigen is a tragedy. Although a good woman, Antigen is come upon with a struggle, reacts hastily with bad Judgment and acts crazy. On the other hand, one may say that Antigen is not a tragedy. For this reasoning there must also be proof.
The person in the story is Antigen. The circumstance in the play would be the death of her brother. This circumstance could have been foreseen, due to the fact that he was fight on the losing side of the war and her knowledge of Screen’s decree. Unsurprised, Antigen states “l knew as much,” at the news of her brother’s death from her sister. 4 Antigen stated raged, “… None may bewail, none bury, all must leave Unwept, unsheltered, a dainty prize for fowl that watch, gloating upon their prey! This is the matter en NAS and proclaimed – TN excellent Croon! ” proving Antigen knew of Screen’s decree.
Ultimately, her Judgment to bury her brother could be viewed not as a mistake. Antigen had the right to bury her dead brother. “Him I will bury… Those nether Powers, than powers on earth; for there forever must I lie. You, if you will, hold up to scorn what is approved in Heaven! “6 Here, Antigen is stating her right, from Heaven, that she has to bury her brother. She expressed her familial duty to bury her brother so he could reach heaven when she told Croon, “It is no shame to pay respect to our own flesh and blood. ” 7 while he was interrogating her. Finally, she did not have a defect in harasser.
A defect of character could be mental liabilities, emotional deformities, instinct to run wild, personal flaws, emotional insecurity, etc. Antigen didn’t have these. Wanting to bury a loved one, even if it is against the law, is not crazy. Antigen had reasons for breaking the law and secretly burying her brother. First, the law was not set up by the gods. Second, out of respect she buried him. She didn’t have defected character. When viewed as circumstances foreseen, Judgment correct and not defected in character, Antigen is not a tragedy. In conclusion, Antigen is not a tragedy.
The deciphering of Antigen in the first way to look at Antigen is incorrect. Although there is the good man or woman, Antigen, the unruly circumstance could have been expected. Her brother was fighting in a war, on the losing side. Antigen could’ve expected it. Her Judgment to bury her brother is not wrong. Anybody has the right to bury the dead, it is not wrong to believe so. Last, Antigen is not defected in character. She had rationally understood that burying her brother was the right thing to do. With these views, Antigen is not a tragedy.