Mina Zheng, Period 7, 10/30/2023

 Mina Zheng

Ms. Fusaro

Modern Mythology Period 7

October 30 2023

Upon learning that her brother would not be given a proper passage to death, Antigone buried him herself and openly confessed to her crime. For this, she was to be buried alive, but when King Creon changed his mind and went to free her from her tomb, he found that she had taken her own life. Antigone is the symbol of a martyr, sacrificing her life to protest the injustice of the King’s rule, but also of a tragic hero. She was the daughter of an incestuous relationship, which led her mother to suicide and her father to blind himself in shame. Antigone accompanies her father into exile until his death, before then having to reconcile her brothers, who were at battle with each other. From birth until death, she was a victim to consequences of actions that were not her own.

In that way, a parallel can be drawn between Antigone and many of our youth who also feel helpless in situations they can’t control. As time passes, the pressures and responsibilities we put on our youth increases exponentially, from rising academic expectations (something very relevant in this community) to human rights issues to our rapidly deteriorating environment. The world has not been short of issues. Suicide rates in ages 10-24 increased 62% from 2007 to 2021, especially drastic after the pandemic. This country seems to be backtracking on human rights in the past few years, and marginalized communities have not seen any significant changes to their status. Even more recently, children in the Gaza strip are being murdered in the name of “justice,” while people preach that the “terrorists had it coming.” I cannot pretend to know the extent of the conflict nor feel the pain of its victims, but how can one stay silent in the face of such injustice? Through social media, more awareness is being raised about these issues, with more people sharing their stories and showing empathy to others. And yet, why is it that there is nothing significant being done? 

True myths are timeless, and Antigone’s story is no exception. Oppression has been a constant from the beginning of time, and yet, no one seems to care. When another victim is taken, they would raise their flags and beg for forgiveness, but in the end, they would move on until the next poor child becomes a statistic and another social media post. The cycle continues.

Hasn’t Antigone taught us enough?

Suicide and Homicide Death Rates among Youth and Young Adults Aged 10 ..., 

www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db471.pdf. Accessed 29 Oct. 2023.