Here are some sample writing as the result of the Point of View Workshop. Students are asked to repond to Antigone by using this method .
POV Based on The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
Ms. Mallard’s Diary
After finding out about her husband’s death.
Finally! Brently finally got what he deserved. I can’t believe he’s actually gone. No more yelling, no more hitting, no more pushing me around and telling me what to do. The days and nights where he would hurt me and I prayed to god, to help me get rid of this beast; are now answered. My prayers have been heard and my wish has been granted-thank you God. Now that Brently isn’t here any more, the fears and worries he brought upon me dies with him too. The heavy chains that held me down are now broken and undone. I feel as light as a feather. I’m finally able to spread my wings and fly; to be free, to do whatever I wish. I can anywhere I want to and say whatever I want to. This is like a whole New World for me- a whole new me. Oh, this is too good to be true. Its as if I have been in a cocoon for years, suddenly let free and metamorphosized from a scared, ugly little caterpillar to a big, beautiful butterfly.
God, I know its wrong to be happy for someone else’s misfortunate but this is Brently we’re talking about, the man who made my life a living hell. Well, there were times he made me happy but you know how he’s usually like. I don’t care if it’s a sin or not, although its wrong, I can’t help feel anything but contentment for his death. For some reason I can’t find a tear of remorse for that man. The only tears I’ll ever cry for Brently’s death are tears of joy.
Prologue
ANTIGONE'S LETTEER TO HER SISTER, ISMENE
Dear Ismene,
If you are reading this that means I have been captured by our King, Creon; and will be facing unpleasant consequences for my honorable deed. I am not sorry nor am I regretful in any way for what I did. If anything, I am proud of my actions. I know father would have been proud of me too, if he was still alive and would have done exactly what I did, he might even have gone farther. I will not deny any accusations put upon me when I am questioned about my plan. I will take full responsibility for my actions and will make this clear to Creon, to ensure your safety. I do not feel sad nor am I afraid of what will become of me. What I fear most is what is going to become of you.
I don't know if you understand why I had to go through with my plan. I really did wish you had helped me. But after my quarrel with you; when I have calmed down a bit, I realized it was a bit selfish of me to ask you to get yourself involved in something so dangerous. I lost a father, a mother, two brothers, all I have left is a sister; I do not want to lose you too. I am sorry for asking you to join me in my suicide mission. I am sorry for yelling at you and putting guilt upon you. And I am sorry for saying I would hate you.
When I said I would hate you, I said it in haste, out of anger and frustration. I know my words must of hurt you, I apologize- please forgive me. I can never hate you nor anyone in our family. I love all of you. That is why I did what I did for out unfortunate brother. I love him too much to just watch him get punished in such a cruel fashion. It brought me great pain to learn of his death. But not being able to see him be honored with a proper burial, just tears out my heart. It's a thought I can not bear. Don't you understand, I am not like you- always strong and self-controlled. I can not control my emotions. I am weak and can not but surrender to my aching heart. The heart rules me, just like it ruled over our father. I would never be able to forgive myself nor live with the fact that I allowed such an unspeakable torment to proceed onto my love one, without even trying to stop it.
If I had to do it over it again, nothing would have been changed. I would have done the same for all my loved ones, including you, Ismene. I now understand why you did not help me with my foolish mission and instead try to stop me. You wanted to protect me because you are my sister- because you love me- thank you! But now I hope you understand why I had to go through with my plan. I love you; I love our parent; and our brothers, to an extent where one's love can go for her family. Take care of yourself dear sister and may the god watch over you and protect you. Remember me always...
Love Always,
your sister Antigone
Scene 1
Sentry’s Diary Entry after his conversation with Creon
I can read his guilt in his eyes. His anger scared me before I went to him. Once I found the courage to come to the king and told him about my discover, his reaction was worse than I predicted. But ironically, my fear died away as his anger grew. I don’t believe he is angry at what has happen, he is angry because he knows someone out think believe it is wrong to dishonor the dead. He knows it is wrong to brutalize the decease but his pride wins him over. Now his conscious calls to him and he does not know how to stop the calling. Perhaps he feels a bit of remorse for Polyneices, after all, he is his nephew. I can tell the king have some kind of feelings in that cold heart of his. Although I have never seen the king cry or show any kind of grief, I know he must hide himself in his bedroom and wet the bed sheets with his tears. Such pride is not needed to prove one is human, emotions are the true proof of one being human. We can not deny the fact we have feelings, they are implanted in us and is a gift. Being able to feel a certain way, either its rejoicing or grieving, it is something that is essential to life. Anything that holds no feelings has no life in it. Like a doll, it has a head, a nose, two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs; it can have all the characteristics of a human but yet it is not. It may look human, even if it can talk, walk, and do everything a real person does, it is not human because it can not feel any kind of emotions, that means it holds no life therefore it is not human. It is no more than a cheap copy of one of us.
Sometimes I feel the king is like a doll. He does not like to show his feelings openly, he holds them in like jewels in a treasure chest. He locks them safe within him, and only use the key to open the chest to show off a jewel or two when he is in the spot light. But those jewels he shows are not jewels people want to see nor do they want to get a hold of. The only feelings I see him show are feelings of arrogance and selfishness.
Scene 2
Letter from Ismene to Antigone
I am sorry. I apologize with great sorrow for allowing death take you. I feel so guilty. I should have helped you with your plan. I should have never let you go through this on your own. Polyneices is my brother too, and I am his sister. As his sister I did not fulfill my part. I did not save him from death and now I can not even do something as simple as giving him a proper burial. He must hate me. I know you do. I am nothing but a spineless coward. Maybe if I would of helped you, Antigone, you would not of have been caught. But I did not, and now you have to face death alone. Well, I won’t allow it! There is no meaning in life without you here. I will join you to the road to heaven. I am just as guilty as you. I knew about the plan all along, but I had not participated in the act, which makes my part look even worse. Maybe I am wrong, I will join you in death but I strongly doubt I will be walking the road with you to heaven. I do not believe the gods permit people, such as I in. I will not ask for your forgiveness nor do I want your sympathy, all I ask of you is to allow me to join you in death. It is the only I have left to keep my honor.
Your Sister,
Ismene
Scene 3
To My Dearest Antigone,
You selfish fool! I don't know to scold you for your foolish act or kiss you for your bravery. Do you have any idea how serious this can be? You know how stubborn father can be and he hardly never goes back on his word. I understand you love and care deeply for your family, and will go out of your way, even put yourself on the line for them. But what about me? Do you not care for me? Do you not love me? How can you just go on and do this and not even consult me about it? I could have helped you. God forbid, if anything had happens to you, I would never forgive you nor myself; I would not know what to do.
And what about us? What about our wedding? I have everything planned out. I even had some exquisite fabric samples brought in from a foreign land for your wedding gown. I do not want to have to look down on your tomb stone on our wedding day. I do not care what it takes; I promise to make you as my bride for better or for worse and I am a man of my word. I will defy the gods, the stars and the moon in the sky, I will break all the rules and move heaven and earth- nothing is can stop me. My love for you knows no bounds. I can not stop this feeling I have for you nor will I ever stop it if I had the power to do so. To be able to love you is the most wonderful pleasure in life. And it is also the most meaningful and the only the I understand in life. I know I must of said this over a thousand times but as long as I have breathe in me, I will never stop saying this- I love you, Antigone!
I will save you. There is no need to
worry. I will simply have a talk with father. He is not completely unreasonable.
Everything will be okay, you shall see. And before you know it, you will dressed in your
wedding gown and become the world's most beautiful bride, and I shall be the world's
happiest man. And oh yes! I almost forgot; I will be expecting a kiss from you when we
meet. An award for all the heart ache I have gone through; I think I deserve it. Wait for
me! I love you.......
Love Always,
Hamion
Scene 4
Teiresias’ Point of View
I can see the future but I can not change it. What use is this gift of mine, if I can not use it. It may as well be a curse. Seeing the pain and suffering of a man, and not being able to do anything to help him. One king after another passed away, hated by his people. They try to escape their inevitable fate. My words did not sink into Oedipus’ thick skull. I hope my words came to some use this time with Creon. He is much like our last king but a bit wiser and less arrogant. However, he is still an arrogant fool. For he see things clearly and refuse to admit it is there because his pride blocks his vision. Oedipus did not know his doing. Creon knows but continues in his dark path, which will only lead to tragedy. I tell him nothing but the truth and Creon knows it. I can tell by the tone of his voice he is scared but does not want this blind man to see him give in. Such pride- is really not necessary. I see he has the strength to put away that arrogance. Unfortunately, I am afraid it is too late to walk backwards on the path he has almost finish.
Exodos
The point of view from the messenger
One death after another, will it never end? I pity Creon for his loss yet I am angry with the king for he started this whole blood shed. Blood spilled over everywhere I go; it stains the ground with its color. Why must the gods punish ignorant kings with innocent people? The king has learned his lesson, and learned it well and hard. The pain in his regretful eyes saddens my heart. He is not a bad king nor is he a bad person. He is a man- Human. Flaws lie within all of us, that is what makes us human. To be punished for our mistakes is not right, it is not just! We all make mistakes, and I dare say even the gods do, so why can’t we. Why must we pay for our mistakes? Isn’t making mistakes part of being human. Creon’s arrogance cost him his whole family but he learned to let that part of him go. He understood what he did was wrong and tried to fix it by burying Polyneices and pardoning Antigone for her deed. He made a terrible, terrible mistake and learned from it. He tried, he tried to redeem himself but he was not able to, the gods would not give him that chance. I believe we all deserve another chance for any wrongdoing. This is not fair; it’s not fair at all! It’s extremely cruel and unjust! My heart goes out to Creon.