Antigone... In the name of Honor!!

Antigone is determined to honor her brother Polyneices with a proper burial and to do what’s right in the eyes of the gods.  In order to carry out this courageous act, Antigone must defy the law that has been set by Creon, who is now ruling.  He has ordered that Polyneices should be left unburied and unmourned, due to his label of being a traitor.  Creon announces that Eteocles behaved honorable in defending the city of Thebes, yet his brother Polyneices was a dishonorable exile.  Both brothers of Antigone, both gone before time, both killed in battle at the hands of each other.   Antigones’ love for her brother is seen in her strong desire to defy the law.  Anyone who buries Polyneices will be punished by death.  What a tremendous burden to bear, death or honor.  This one act of civil disobedience could lead Antigone to a premature death.   “Our own brothers’ burial! Hasn’t Creon graced one with all the rites, disgraced the other?  Eteocles, they say has been given full military honors, rightly so—Creon has laid him in the earth and he goes with glory down among the dead.  But the body of Polynices, who died miserably.  He’s to be left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that scan the field and feast their heart’s content” (Antigone, pg 659, line 25-35).  Antigone goes on to commit a small ritual in order to honor her brother and she does this in spite of what tragedy may lie ahead for her.  I believe Antigone shows tremendous courage and love for her brother.  She may be viewed upon as a treacherous woman, but she did it all in the name of honor.

Ramayana

As I continue to read the story of The Ramayana of Valmiki, the more touched I am, by the beautiful depiction of the love that Sita and Rama both share for each other. Sita is so enamored by her love for Rama that it has enabled her to live through the most unpleasant circumstances. Although Sita has been abducted by Ravana, who is a powerful demonic creature, who tries to get Sita to submit to his advances, her love and loyalty to her husband Rama, continues to triumph. Ravana tries to offer Sita power and wealth, in order to win her affection, yet in her presence she constantly reminds Ravana of her own allegiance to her husband Rama. “You cannot win me by offering me power or wealth: for I am inseparable from Rama even as light from the sun. He is the abode of righteousness, of dharma; take me back to him and beg his pardon”. Sita was in utter despair and stricken with grief because of the separation from her husband. “Hence though I am suffering intolerable anguish on account of my separation from my beloved husband, I am unable to give up my life”. What passion and commitment to each other. Rama and Sita’s intense love and their desire to be reunited to each other were so admirable that it almost moved me to tears. This story has truly depicted how love, loyalty, and righteousness prevail in the end.

The Ramayana of Valmiki

Rama proudly believes in Dharma, which is the religious and moral law and code of righteosness, and daiva, which is providence or divine will.  His strong belief in dharma and daiva has caused him to submit to being driven into total banishment from life as he once knew it.  Rama, the once radiant and admonished prince has taken a sudden plunge into the abyiss of the Dandaka forest for fourteen years, under the request of Queen Kaikeyi.  How dreadful this sentence must have been to such a well praised prince.  A prince adorned with praise from his people, now down trodden into a life of shame, all in the name of dharma and daiva, or at least he thinks so.  To be transformed from prince to warrior, he feels is his divine duty.  "This is obviously the divine will  and I must honor it without delay.  My banishment from the kingdom as well as my return are all the fruits of my own doing. Otherwise, how could such an unworthy thought enter the  heart of noble Kaikeyi?"

I think that he has been swindled and tricked out of what rightfully belongs to him.... Such a pity and waist... How does this story end... Is it a happy ending for Rama, because of his allegiance to dharma and daiva or has his decision to honor the queen been clouded.... I must read on

Cal Moss