The Test Of Time By Sophocles - 1403 Words

For any work of literature or art the test of time is the greatest test of all. A book cannot be considered a classic unless it withstands the test of time. In my opinion, the test of time is the only test necessary to establish whether or not a book is a classic. For in order to pass the test of time a book must meet all the other requirements, and if a book meets all the other requirements, it will withstand the test of time. Of all the works that are considered classic, few have withstood the test of time as long as Antigone has. Written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles in 441 B.C, it is almost two and a half thousand years old. How does a piece of writing last that long without becoming irrelevant and antiquated. The answer to that question can be found in the themes and characters of this long enduring masterpiece. Before I jump into this paper, I should probably tell you what Antigone is about. Antigone is a play which takes place shortly after the city of Thebes ha s been torn apart by civil war. The leaders of both sides were no other than the protagonist Antigone’s own brothers, both heirs they fought for power. In battle, the two brothers fought to their deaths, each slaying the other. One brother was honored a hero and given the funeral rites demanded by the gods. The other was deemed a traitor and left to rot, unburied, food for dogs, birds, and wild animals, and denied the rites the gods demanded. In these times it was believed not giving aShow MoreRelatedWomen, Sisters, And Wives : Women Essay1485 Words   |  6 PagesPrincesses, Sisters, and Wives: Women Portrayed in Ancient Greece It is convenient to pride modernity for all the progression it has made since ancient times, particularly when it comes to gender equality. 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