In Antigone, Haemon emerges as a defender of the citizens' cause in the face of his father’s tyranny. Which lines in this excerp
t from the play reflect Haemon’s respect for the Theban citizens’ opinions?
HAEMON:
A.[And, as thy son,/ it falls to me to mark/ The acts, the words, the comments of the crowd./ The commons stand in terror of thy frown,/ And dare not utter aught that might offend,/ But I can overhear their muttered plaints,/ Know how the people mourn this maiden doomed/ For noblest deeds to die the worst of deaths.]
B.[O father, nothing is by me more prized/ Than thy well-being, for what higher good/ Can children covet than their sire's fair fame,/ As fathers too take pride in glorious sons?/ For whoso thinks that wisdom dwells with him,/ That he alone can speak or think aright,/ Such oracles are empty breath when tried.]
C.[See how the trees beside a stream in flood Save,/ if they yield to force, each spray unharmed,/ But by resisting perish root and branch./ The mariner who keeps his mainsheet taut,/ And will not slacken in the gale, is like/ To sail with thwarts reversed, keel uppermost.]
D.[Relent then and repent thee of thy wrath;/ For, if one young in years may claim some sense,/ I'll say 'tis best of all to be endowed/ With absolute wisdom; but,/ if that's denied,/ (And nature takes not readily that ply)/ Next wise is he who lists to sage advice.]
