Antigone - Novel to Film Essay

Antigone had great bravery and determination when she decided to go out in danger and

sacrifice her life for Polyneices (her brother). During both the novel and film, similarities and

differences are shown that relate to determination. In the story of Antigone, her father Oedipus

died while on the throne of Thebes, so her two brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles fought for the

throne and killed each other in battle. The next in the royal family to become in power was

Creon, he decided that Eteocles should be buried because he defended his city and that

Polyneices should lie on the ground to be eaten by dogs and scavengers because he went against

his people, sold them into slavery, and betrayed his native city. During both the novel and film,

some similarities were that Antigone was determined to bury her brother Polyneices so that she

could gain respect for him, another similarity is that when she was caught by Creon for burying

him, she didn’t deny the fact that she committed the crime because she was extremely

determined to properly bury him. A difference in the novel and film that is related to

determination is that in the film Creon is determined to bury Antigone because she is a women,

but in the novel Creon is not determined to bury her because of her gender. These reasons

explain that there are many similarities and differences between the novel and film of Antigone

that are related to determination.

During the novel and film, a similarity was that Antigone was strongly determined to

bury Polyneices because she wanted to gain respect for him. Antigone wants to bury her brother

because she feels that it is not fair and that he shall not be left alone, without burial and to be

eaten by dogs and scavengers. In the novel, Antigone states “That must be your excuse, I

suppose. But as for me, I will bury the brother I love” (lines 65-66). Ismene is selfish and does
not want to risk dying to help Antigone bury Polyneices, but Antigone does what she must and

buries the brother that she loves so dearly. Antigone says to Ismene in the film that “I intend to

bury my brother and if I die in the attempt I shall die in the knowledge that I have acted justly

and that would be a kind of happiness I shall die peacefully”. This shows how determined

Antigone is and that she will die happily if she buries her brother and that she must do what is

right. These two pieces of evidence proves that the similarities in both the novel and film are

related to determination because Antigone is determined to bury her brother Polyneices no

matter what happens.

The novel and film of Antigone have another similarity that is related to determination

which is when Creon catches Antigone for burying Polyneices, she never denies the fact that she

committed the crime because she was so determined to gain respect for her brother and properly

bury him. When Sentry catches Antigone and brings her to Creon, she commits to the crime

because she was determined to bury Polyneices. In the novel Antigone states “This death of mine

is of no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered.

Now I do not. You smile at me. Ah Creon, think me a fool, if you like” (lines 369-373). This is

showing that Antigone commits to the crime and is saying that if she didn’t bury Polyneices,

then she would’ve suffered, and now that he is buried, her death is unimportant. In the film

Antigone states “Yes I’m guilty, I don’t pretend otherwise” and “But to leave my mother’s son

out there in the open unburied, that would have been unendurable, I could not have worn it”.

Antigone is saying that if she would have left Polyneices unburied, she would have suffered and

is telling Creon that she is guilty because of the determination to bury him and to not just let him
sit out there unburied. This proves that both the novel and the film of Antigone are similar

because Antigone doesn’t deny the fact that she broke the law of Creon and buried Polyneices.

There are many similarities between the novel and film of Antigone, but one difference

that is related to determination is that in the film Creon is determined to punish Antigone by

killing her for the crime she committed and that she is a woman, but in the novel Creon isn’t

determined to kill her because of her gender. In the film Creon believes that she needs to be

killed because she committed a crime and that she is a woman, but in the novel Creon still wants

to kill her, but not because of her gender. In the novel Creon states “I will carry her far away out

there in the wilderness, and lock her living in a vault of stone. She shall have food, as the custom

is, to absolve the State of her death.” (lines 637-640) Creon is saying how he will punish her and

that he will kill her by putting her in a vault of stone, but in the novel Creon never states

anything about killing her because of her gender. In the film Creon says “This boy of mine is on

the women’s side”. This proves that Creon believes that Antigone should be killed because she is

a woman and the crime that she committed and that Haimon is supporting them, so he is on the

bad side. These two pieces of evidences show the difference between the novel and film that is

related to determination because in the novel Creon isn’t determined to kill Antigone because of

her gender, he only wants to kill her for the crime she committed, but in the film Creon is

determined to kill Antigone because of her gender and the action she chose.

All in all, the novel and film of Antigone have multiple similarities and differences that

are related to determination. During both the novel and film, some similarities were that

Antigone was determined to bury her brother Polyneices so that she could gain respect for him,

another similarity is that when she was caught by Creon for burying him, she didn’t deny the fact
that she committed the crime because she was extremely determined to properly bury him. A

difference in the novel and film that is related to determination is that in the film Creon is

determined to bury Antigone because she is a women, but in the novel Creon is not determined

to bury her because of her gender. Antigone has great bravery and determination to risk her life

to bury her brother, Polyneices, overall, the novel and film of Antigone has multiple similarities

and differences that are related to determination.