When it comes to fate, the heart is what drives us to do things that we have never done before. There comes a time where we must ignore everything and do what we desire. The Greek tragic story Antigone, written by Sophocles, and the thriller NEED, written by Joelle Charbonneau, are both similar in regards to their themes and how they show the main characters goals; at the same time, both are different on how their choices affect their outcomes. In the story, Antigone, the defiance of the laws of Creon (the king) and the tragic consequences of her act of civil disobedience, are what lead Antigone to her crushing fate. NEED is about the teens in Nottawa, Wisconsin joining the latest networking site and answer one question: What do you need?
In this petrifying thriller, NEED examines not only the dark side of social media but the dark side of human nature. After the choices Kaylee makes, she starts to realize the price that will have to be paid. The authors in both stories are from completely different times but they both show the importance of choices. Both stories show how our decisions shape our character which in turn influences our decisions later on in life. In the story, Antigone, Antigone is motivated by her beliefs of family relationship. Due to her brother’s death, she has decided to bury him; the only obstacle she has is Creon’s law. Knowing Creon has denied the burial of her brother, she knew she had to a choice to either defy the law and bury Polynices or let it be as it is. ‘If I had allowed/my own mother’s son to rot, an unburied corpse, that would have been agony!’ (Lines 520-522).
In this quote, Antigone is proclaiming how she has a duty that she owes to her brother, and to the family relationship. We can infer that Antigone’s character in the story is very caring and determined because of the devotion she has for her brother. “I am my own way, I will raise a mound for him, for my dear brother.”(Lines 94-95). Antigone does not care about the law of man, the only thing that matters to her is family and making sure they get to the other world safely. Antigone chose to go through with her brother’s burial because she knew that she could never have another brother. Antigone shows us that her loyalty can be only be seen through the eyes of a person who respects their family.
In comparison with the book NEED, Kaylee is motivated by her brother and her idea of family relations. The only thing Kaylee wants is a kidney for her brother, DJ. Since her dad left, Kaylee has become more desperate to help her brother recover from his illness. “He forgot to log out when he left so I sent an invitation to myself”(Pg 4). With no way to contact her father and the relationship between her mother is growing increasingly she has no other choice but to send herself an invite and join the website. Kaylee’s motives are the same as Antigone’s because both make the choice to risk something in return to help out or fulfill their brother’s needs. Everything that she did was to help out her blood relative. “I try to breathe… praying that Dj is okay” (Pg 6).
In this quote, we can see how important her brother is to her and just how much of an effect he has on her. Dj’s illness has made Kaylee realize that the bond of brother and sister cannot be replaced easily. Kaylee shows is how family is very important when it comes to our everyday lives. Family can help us shape our lives and improve our personality. Furthermore, the choices that Antigone and Kaylee make are what cause change in their character. In Antigone, normally women are described as submissive and are expected to follow the laws of man. “We are women, we’re not born to contend with men”, “…we’re… ruled by much stronger hands,…we must submit in this”(Lines 74-77).
The author uses a metaphor “ruled by much stronger hands…” to compare/ relate to men controlling them and limiting them to what they can do. Antigone’s decision to bury her brother has made her into more of a rebellious and martyr. “Once my strength gives out I will be done at last.” (Lines 105-106). Antigone’s strong will is the reason why she is seen as a rebellious character. Antigone disobeys the law of man and decides to consciously risk her life through her actions. She is only concerned with obeying the laws of the gods and the demands of familial loyalty and social respectability. Antigone knows her fate and instead of fighting it, she is accepting it with open arms. She knows that pursuing the fate of the Gods is more valuable than following the ordinances of man; one way or the other she knows that family is more important.
Similarly, in the book NEED, teens are described to be quiet and to not do things without an adult. Kaylee as well knows the price that she must pay when joining the website. At first, Kaylee’s character has turned into an introverted person; illness has broken the bonds that were made between her family. “The rest is on them. Which is why I avoid dealing with them…”(Pg 18). In the pursuit of a kidney for her dying brother, Kaylee has distanced herself from everyone around her. Throughout the book, Kaylee realizes who might be behind the website NEED but decides to keep it a secret. Her mother’s decision to not believe Kaylee when she comes clean about the website makes Kaylee be rebellious like Antigone. Both Antigone and Kaylee risk their lives through their actions and ignore all the possible outcomes and consequences of their behavior. “She goes to her room and closes the door behind her… My mother has shut me out.”(Pg 16).
Her mother’s lack of communication made Kaylee into who she is and made her believe that she must do something about the issue at hand. Kaylee has made herself think that she must do all the work and that it is her responsibility to help her brother. To add on, both characters knew what their choices came with consequences. In Antigone, the antagonist (Creon) sends Antigone to be buried alive in a cave as punishment for her transgressions. “I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory.” (Lines 85-86).
Antigone accepts her fate, but she doesn’t even wait to be killed. Instead, she kills herself ensuring that her fate is sealed. Creon, in the end, begins to understand that his own actions have caused these events and that he caused Antigone to break his law. Antigone knew what she was getting herself into, she knew that breaking the law would obligate her life; she made her own fate. Because Antigone was born during ancient Greek times, she knew that women who disobey get worse punishments than men. “These laws- I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods.”(Lines 509-511).
Antigone knew all along that she would end up dying for burying her own brother. But at least she knew that her actions would benefit her family and would follow the rules of the gods instead of man. Antigone was well aware of the price of her actions. society. In comparison, Kaylee knows and accepts the consequences of joining and completing NEED’s demands. “The minute my finger hits the key, I want to take back the request… How dumb can I be?” (Pg 20). Right, when Kaylee presses the key she knew that her “need” is not for free. Everything comes with a price no matter what it is. Kaylee still signed up for the website even though she knew that it was created anonymously. “NEED killed Amanda. Or someone who participates in NEED did.” (Pg 95).
Kaylee knew that NEED is not just some random website that grants needs for free. She still hasn’t gotten her demand but she knows that it won’t be a nice one. Still, Kaylee has the choice to not follow her demand but she is so desperate for her brother’s kidney she does it anyway. Like Antigone, she knows the consequences of her actions but none of that matters because of the attachment she has to her brother. “With my mother hovering behind him, I smiled.” (Pg 327). Like Antigone, Kaylee does not try to hide what she has done nor deny it when being confronted. The antagonist of the book NEED, Dr. Jain, is caught for her vengeful plotting; both antagonists in the story do not get away with what they have done, both pay for their actions as well. Antigone and Kaylee in the end up getting what they wanted; Antigone got to bury her brother and fulfill the law of the gods, while Kaylee ended up finding a kidney donor for her brother.
Both Antigone and NEED reflect the concept regarding our choices showing who we truly are and shapes our life. The Greek tragedy Antigone, written by Sophocles, and the thriller NEED, written by Joelle Charbonneau, are both comparable in regards to their themes.Both show just how important family is and how choices are what shape their fates. Sometimes when we make choices we use our minds, we think of all the consequences and outcomes. If we pour our heart and emotions into our actions we won’t even think twice about what we are doing, we just ‘go for it’. There are three constants life, change, choice, and principles. Those who are in earnest are not afraid of consequences.
