CLASSICS 224 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Burial Rites, Polynices, Haemon
31 May 2020
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Daughter of oedipus; sister to ismene, eteocles, and polyneices. This stubbornness is what paces her in the central conflict. Sure that herself and ismene have suffered enough grief. Contrasted to creon"s decree about burying polyneices. I knew i must die, even without your decree: i am only mortal. And if i must die now, before it is my time to die, surely this is no hardship (316-319) Creon made a punishment clear; the burial still happens. Defying the word of man in favor of a more divine burial. Mortal limits of law - can"t affect the dead. By accepting her mortality and coming to terms with dying as a result, she becomes engaged to her death. Is oddly encapsulated with dying too - even telling ismene to back off. Family history of cursed marriages - oedipus as a father/brother. Equating her tomb to a bride bed . Turning the romanticism into a search for glory.
