The Sentry by Yuko MIYAMURA

What is the meaning of freedom?

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 20:35:32 UTC

Freedom from tyranny; to be blameless; the lack of responsibility.

"It's very nice / To get out of trouble yourself. Not so nice / When you drop someone else up to the neck in it, / Someone you've got no quarrel with. / But still. Your own life comes first, I reckon. / You have to look after number one." 2nd Episode (page 21)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 20:49:07 UTC

Here, the Sentry expresses the sentiment that we only have ourselves to rely on, and must look after oneself above all else. This could be regarded as a common truth, as well as an encapsulation of his character.

"Almost as though some passing stranger / With a religious turn of mind, knowing / That being left unburied means everlasting / Anguish, and wandering without rest, / Had scattered a few handfuls" 1st Episode (page 14)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 20:58:22 UTC

This quote gives some religious context into the significance of Creon's decree, and Antigone's disobedience. While this might have been obvious to the people of Athens at the time, we lack this context in the modern age. Knowing this might allow an observer to further sympathize with Antigone's rage and feel disdain for Creon.

His entire speech from page 20 to 21 also describes how the Sentries found Antigone. That section is important as he reveals a lot to us modern readers about the funeral rites that were performed at that time, and the importance of such an act.

"So here I am. And I don't like telling it / One little bit more than you like hearing it. / The bloke who brings bad news never gets a medal." 1st Episode (pages 14-15)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 21:04:27 UTC

This quote encapsulates the Sentry in Antigone, as well as the atmosphere of Thebes under Creon. The Sentry is terrified of his responsibility to notify Creon about the burial, as he could well be blamed, and if he does not, then he is damned regardless. The people of Thebes live in fear of Creon's strict, no-nonsense rule, particularly regarding Polynices.

It is also a universal truth of "Shooting the Messenger", where the bearer of bad news receives the blunt of the receiver's anger.

"Well, it can't be earache, / Can it sir, not what I said! / It must stick in your gullet. Or further down / Maybe, a sort of pain in the conscience." 1st Episode (page 16)" I might give you earache, I can see that. / I talk too much, always have done. / But the other pain, the heartburn, as it were, / It's the criminal causing that sir, not me." 1st Episode (page 16)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 21:07:47 UTC

These two quotes are both from the same section of speech. It is an example of the Sentry's comedic aspects as a character, jokingly mocking Creon (despite his fear of being killed). While Antigone is a tragedy, the Sentry serves as a comic relief character, being the bumbling fool that he is.

"I think it's a shame sir, that an intelligent man / And as well educated as you are / Should miss the point so completely." 1st Episode (page 17)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 21:10:45 UTC

This is perhaps the most important quote by the Sentry as here, he describes Creon's tragic flaw. While he is wise as a statesman (as demonstrated by his points regarding corruption) he is also arrogant and unable to see some universal human truths.

"Let's hope they find him, whoever he is. / But one thing I'm sure of: they won't find me. I never thought I'd get out of here / Alive. And when I do get out, / Nothing will bring me back again. / I've had an amazing stroke of luck, / And I won't chance my arm a second time!" 1st Episode (page 17)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 21:11:46 UTC

This is again a demonstration of the fear which the soldiers felt under Creon, and highlights the significance of Antigone's disobedience.

"I caught her, and I claim the credit for it. / And now, she's all yours. Take her, and accuse her, / Stone her to death, if you like. By rights, / I'm free to go: and well shot of all of it." 2nd Episode (page 19)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 21:13:19 UTC

To answer the question, "What is the meaning of freedom?", we need not look further than this quote. To the Sentry, nothing is as freeing as freedom from the regime.

(The Sentry's introductory speech) "My Lord Creon... sir! If I can hardly speak / For lack of breath... it's not 'cos I ran... / I kept on stopping, as a matter of fact, / Half a dozen times, and I hung about [...]" 1st Episode (page 12 - 13)

yukom2024 — 2024-04-04 21:19:11 UTC

The Sentry enters like a stumbling, bumbling, terrified fool. He serves as comic relief within this bloody tragedy, and also a reflection of the atmosphere in Thebes under Creon.

yukom2024 — 2024-04-05 07:14:26 UTC