Antigone Vs. Billy Budd
In Poetics, Aristotle explains tragedy as a kind of imitation of a certain magnitude, using direct action instead of narration to achieve its desired affect. It is of an extremely serious nature. Tragedy is also complete, with a structure that unifies all of its parts. It is meant to produce a catharsis of the audience, meant to produce the emotions of pity and fear and to purge them of these emotions and helping them better understand the ways of the gods and men. Tragedy is also in a language in both verse and song. Aristotle's definition is clearly applicable to both Herman Melville's Billy Budd and the famous Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. Antigone is definitely a good ...
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Budd as not a Greek tragedy. There are differences in the character, structure, theme, magnitude, tragic heroes, plot, as well as focus. However, it can be argued that these differences can also be similarities. It can be explained as a variant. Interpretation has been a key issue in these two works. The two works have been interpreted in many different ways. Each way could lead to a different comparison of these two works. Therefore, the reader must decide which interpretation is most "correct" and conclude whether the similarities are sufficient to call Billy Budd a Greek tragedy.
Aristotle states that "For Tragedy is an imitation, not of men, but of an action and of life, and life consists in action, and its end is a mode of action, not a quality. Now character determines men's qualities, but it is by their actions that they are happy or the reverse. Dramatic action, therefore, is not with a view to the representation of character: character comes in as subsidiary to ...
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to give up rule of Thebes. Polyneices joined the forces of Adrastus, the king of Argos to attack Thebes. The attack broke the duel of the two brothers. The result was the destruction of each other. Thus, Creon, their uncle, was given the kingship and assumed the throne. Creon gave Eteocles a hero's honors at his funeral. However, Creon declared that the body of Polyneices was not to be buried. Any person that tried to give last rites to Polyneices would be put to death. Antigone, the sister of Polyneices and Eteocles, is distraught that her brother Polyneices be denied a burial. (In Greek thought, the denial of a burial was very important. This will be discussed in detail later) ...
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"Antigone Vs. Billy Budd." Essayworld.com. December 18, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Antigone-Vs-Billy-Budd/94830.
"Antigone Vs. Billy Budd." Essayworld.com. December 18, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Antigone-Vs-Billy-Budd/94830.
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