An Analysis Of Loyalty In Greek Dramas
...religious zealotry, and revenge of scorned lovers are
themes that run rampant through many Greek dramas. However, in the plays Medea, written by
Euripides, and Antigone, written by Sophocles, such themes reach an almost unprecedented
levels. The plays follow women driven to extremes by what she feels is great injustice. The two
women, after whom the plays are named after, fight against the offense and demand respect from
the men they deal with. Antigone stands with her sister, Ismene, against Creon in defense of
giving a proper burial to her slain brother. Medea extracts a horrible revenge against her
husband, Jason, whom has left her for another woman. With all the similarities between the
dramas, there is still one overwhelming theme which surpasses all others; loyalty. The loyalty
depicted is most apparent with the characters' ties to his/her family and gender.
For the plays, loyalty to one's family is more than simply familial pride. When Antigone
first faces Creon, she is questioned as to why she disobeyed a creed set forth by the government;
Antigone responds by saying, "It is no shame to pay respect to own flesh and blood" (Sophocles
20). Her response clearly demonstrates the allegiance she feels toward her brother. She further
demonstrates this when she states, "It was no bondman perished, but a brother" (Sophocles 20).
Even in the face of a great authority and with the threat of being exiled or death held over her,
Antigone never questions what she has done to honor her brother. The family fidelity goes
beyond just the brother/sister relationship when Ismene decides to stand beside her sister in
punishment. Though Antigone protests, Ismene attempts to share blame for the burial. To her
there is no life without her sister which she clearly expresses in "How could I live on alone,
without my sister?" (Sophocles 22)....
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