Matthew Presta
J.Mignano Brady
English 102
March 9th, 2017
Rebellion against the Government
America’s Government dates all the way back to 1797, when the constitution was first created. Having a government helps keeps order in the country. As the government provides laws for a safe environment. Self-governance is when someone goes against authority, and does what they believe in. Every person in life has the capability to tell what’s right from wrong; but only some people actually stand up for what they believe in and rebel. In American history, the Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars fought on American soil. The Civil War was sparked by the rebellion of the South seceding from the Union. The Union saw this as an act of treason, but the Confederacy saw it as an act of hope to stand up for what they believe in. In the tragedy Antigone written by Sophocles, Antigone is challenged with going against the law set by her King, Creon. Antigone wants to bury her brother Polyneices, and rebel against her own government. Antigone's actions can be compared to the Confederacy in the Civil War.
In Ancient Greece, when a person passes they believe that the soul of the person spills out like a wind when they pass. After they die, the person is not at rest until they are mourned, and buried properly no matter if you were a good, or bad person. Everyone deserves a proper burial in order to reach the River of Styx. People thought that their soul would be damned for all of eternity, so it is the most crucial part in a person is after life.After Polyneice’s death, King Creon ordered his city to let Polyneice’s body be “chewed up by the birds and dogs and violated,” (Creon, 225). Antigone’s actions to bury the body is motivated by her moral beliefs and duty to her family roots. If Antigone did not bury the body, she would have left Polyneices soul to wander. Antigone saw her actions as prideful as she rebels and said “shout it out”(Antigone, 99), because she does not care about the consequences. She is a women, and is stronger than anybody in her city, even the Kings ruling. Antigone is willing to be a martyr for her brother because she is standing up for what she believes in and rebelling. Antigone says “ If I shall die before my time, I count that a profit.”(Antigone, 507), Antigone follows god’s law, and buries the body knowing the consequences.
Creon is abusing his power, and Antigone stands against him as she gives her life for her brother’s afterlife. Antigone truly believes that Creon’s laws are not more powerful than the God’s law. Many people can argue that what Antigone is doing is wrong. Antigone said “ I shall be a criminal- but a religious one.” (Antigone, 84-85). Antigone goes against the written law, and supports what she believes is right for Polyneices. She is aware of the written code and the consequences set by her own government. Antigone saw her actions as being proper to the Ancient Gods. Antigone's life on earth is not eternal so if she pleases the Gods then she would live a lavished afterlife. Antigone’s self governance can be scene as prideful, as she was the only one in her family to stand up for her brother. However rebellion cannot just be scene thorough literature, but in history as well as when the United States began a new country.
America was developing extremely quickly for a new nation. More people were coming to the country to live the American dream. America purchased land from the French west of the original 13 colonies called the Louisiana Purchase. Many colonies wanted to expand their beliefs to the new territory. The Southern colonies wanted to spread Slavery and create more rural lands for farming, and the North wanted to industrialize and build factories. The Missouri Compromise was formed as it divided the new territories by the 36th Parallel. The division built tensions as it divided the nation into the North, and South, eventually starting the Civil War. “I will not be moderate. I will not be satisfied with the bit of cake you offer me if I promise to be a good little girl.”(Antigone, 925), Antigone's won't take anything less for what she wants as the South did. The South wanted slavery, and were willing to die for their beliefs as Antigone was willing to die a martyr. Antigone did not want to compromise with Creon
The South had to fight the war off of their self-admiration and their own beliefs. The South were rebelling from their own country as 11 states succeeded. Half the country wanted to abolish slavery, and the other half needed to preserve it. According to Virginia Education, after the Republican political party was formed in 1854, they intended to prevent the spread of slavery beyond where it existed. Many Republicans abolitionists were seeking to end slavery for good. Abraham Lincoln was elected to presidency in the 1860. His election led southern states to carry out what they had long threatened to do—leave the Union.
The South also known as the Confederacy were fighting a war in which it would be difficult to win. The Confederacy did not have the strong economy as the Union had. The South’s economy was driven by agriculture, as they lead the world’s production in cotton. The warm environment and the flat land made it perfect for cotton to grow, as they produced two-thirds of the world's cotton. The south relied on slave labor as it allowed them to produce cotton very cost effective. The North's economy was very industrialized.According to the article Industry and Economy during the Civil War by Benjamin Arrington (Page 1), as the North's economy was booming, more urban cities were developing such as Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, and New York, producing 3,200 firearms for every 100 the South produced. The South could not let the Union abolish slavery as it would destroy their own economy. “He has no right to keep me from my own.” (Antigone, 50). Antigone is standing up against the king's rule to bury Polyneices body. Antigone believes that Creon cannot stop her from what she wants to do even if it would be the end to her. If the South stopped slavery it would destroy their own economy, and ruin their own lives. Farms would close, and people would starve. The south were fighting because the North had no right to take away slavery.
The South was driven by nationalism, as they fought the war in their own territory. Nationalism is the belief of having pride in their own nation to succeed. The South saw the war as defending their own land. Northerners rushed to their towns as they destroyed fields, plantations, and railroad system to transport slaves. The South needed to fight for what they felt was morally right for their independance. Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States said “I worked night and day for twelve years to prevent the war, but I could not. The North was mad and blind, would not let us govern ourselves, and so the war came.” (American Civil War History) Jefferson wanted no part in war as tensions rose against the North and the South. The South rushed to volunteer for the war, to protect their own, family, friends, and land. The South wanted to do was to be self governed, and be free from the North’s Republican beliefs. “And if I have to die for this pure crime, I am content, for I shall rest beside him;”(Antigone, 74). Antigone stood for what she believed in as she is self governed. Antigone is willing to die for the crime of burying her brother. She would rather be with Polyneices who she loves. The South were willing to give up their own lives to live a life with slavery. The south wanted their independence so they fought what they believed was morally right.
All in all our government today keeps our nation in check. Numerous people may protest, and try to rebel as they stand for their beliefs and want to be self governed. Every nation needs a strong government to succeed. When someone seeks to be self governed there is conflict between the people and the government and the country does not flow correctly. Rebellion is scene many times throughout U.S history, as scene through the Civil War when the North and the South clashed against each other for their views on slavery. In the tragedy Antigone written by Sophocles, Antigone goes against the King’s ruling and bury her brother Polyneices body. Antigone did what she thought was morally right.
Work Cited
MLA Citation
Arrington, Benjamin. "Story (U.S. National Park Service)." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, Web., 09 Mar. 2017. .https://www.nps.gov/resources/story.htm%3Fid%3D251
Booth, Alison & Kelly J. Mays. The Norton Introduction to Literature, 10th Ed.Publisher,W. W. Norton & Company; 10 edition., 2010.
"Jefferson Davis Quotes." American Civil War Stories. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2017, http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/jefferson-davis-quotes.html
University of Virginia. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS’,Web 09 Mar. 2017. https://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/campaigns-and-elections
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