Contradiction in Antigone

The most interesting part of the play, Antigone, is analyzing Antigone and the way she approaches the idea of family. She is so obsessed with burying her brother, for good reason I might add, yet she is willing to dismiss her sister as a traitor and lose her forever. It is evident throughout the first part of the play that Antigone tries to do right but in turn she contradicts her idea of family and goes against the kin she has left.
Within the first few pages of the play, as a reader we learn that Antigone is adamant about family and in turn will do everything in her power to give her brother a proper burial. We honor Antigone in that she is willing to risk her life and face cruel consequences for her family. However, we see her ideas on kinship crumble right before our eyes. It is obvious that her intentions are good but when faced with opposition from her sister a family feud occurs. As Ismene and Antigone disagree on what is the “right” thing to do, they push each other further apart. Antigone simply sets her sister aside as a traitor and moves on with her plan to bury her brother at all costs. To most this would seem as a complete contradiction to Antigone’s character. She is so interested in being a good sister and doing what is right, yet she is so quick to write off her sister. Part of being a member of a family is listening to other opinions and ideas and trying to make things work. Antigone on the other hand, knows that there are no other options regarding her brother; therefore, she is unable to listen to her sister’s ideas and cautions. Although Antigone has strong thoughts on the topic of family, through her actions with Ismene, it is evident that she does not completely understand the complete idea of family. Furthermore, her sister is all she has left, so she should have been more receptive to her sister’s fears and tried to save their relationship.
In conclusion, Antigone allows the reader to take away some life lessons. Through her character, Antigone shows that having family values is important and all thoughts should be considered so that the family ties are everlasting.

Love Truly Conquers All.....Even Death

Ronald Blythe stated, “[Love] could have rescued Ivan Ilyich from all the fright and despair which terorized him during the final two weeks had he allowed it to. . . Love masters death [only at the end].” I could not agree more with Blythe. In my opinion, "The Death of Ivan Illyich," is not only about the literal death of Ivan but also the death of Ivan's soul. It is evident that occupation, status, and love are the key components that make up his soul and slowly die throughout the novella. However, his fading love with his wife is a subject for investigation in that, the pressure of a failing and unhappy marriage could be responsible for the death of Ivan Ilyich.
As the novel works from the end to the beginning, as a reader we see Ivan's life fail right before our eyes. It seems as though his wife no longer cares for his well-being. She is incredibly self-centered and is more worried with sucking more money out of the government instead of playing the role of grieving wife. She talks more about how Ivan's cries of pain and suffering bothered her to such an extent that she could not support or care for her husband. One could assume that her love and support for Ivan could have saved him. Even though Ivan became consumed with wealth and status, Praskovya's failure to love him is ultimately the last factor which kills his soul and eventually his persona. In this way, as we piece the puzzle to the mystery of Ivan's death, we realize that Praskovya had much influence in the matter. Whether simply speculation, her love could have conquered all, even death.
In this way, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," is the curious quest to prove the power of love. We see how even when an occupation, status, or wealth is on the path to failure, love has the potential to fix emotional distress and suffering. For these reasons and many more, Tolstoy's story is a backward interpretation of the true power of love and how the quality of life can be forever changed by its extraordinary strength.