Summative Blog: Compare/Contrast Antigone and John Q
COMMENT: What COMPARISONS are you able to draw between John Q. & Antigone? Use your film notes to write a response that addresses one or more of the following… be sure to include EVIDENCE to support your conclusions:
- Events
- Characters
- Themes
- Other thoughts?
In a detailed blog comment, support your findings. You must have TWO pieces of evidence from
the play and/or film and explain how each supports your position.
the play and/or film and explain how each supports your position.
REPLIES: Read through the posted blog comments. Reply to TWO: one you agree with and one that you disagree with or can followup with a clarifying question. Clearly explain why you agree or disagree with the author or explain your question in detail. Include evidence supporting your position in BOTH replies.
John Q and Antigone are very alike in many different ways. Personally I found it hard to connect the two in the beginning of the movie. It wasn’t until John Q took over the hospital that I started to put the two together. When John Q was locking the doors to the emergency room, and pointing a gun saying he wasn’t going to leave until his kids name was on the donor list and how if it didn’t happen soon he was gonna start killing people. I found that very similar to when Antigone was getting questioned by Creon about what she did, she stood up for her brother and how he should be buried. Just how John Q wanted his son to get a new heart. I also found it very clear that the head of the hospital Rebecca Payne was really similar to Creon, by not taking John’s insurance and also not putting mike's name on the donor list. She is like creon because Creon only cared about the law and Rebecca only cared about the money that the hospital was gonna earn. Then when Creon got that vision he changed and was going to let antigone live, that’s the same as to when Rebecca saw John talking to his son and then she put his name on the donor list.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, As in the started of John Q, it was hard to compare the two as alike. But when John Q hold the ER wing hostage, it began to become pieced together. Including it is alike how Isemene and the hostages are, because at the start of taking the wing hostage many of the hostages were take awestruck and afraid of what John was going to due, but later in the movie, the hostages started more calm and focus on aiding John in helping his son. As Isemene was like that in the start "I beg the dead To forgive me, but I a helpless: I must yield to Those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business" (49-52) as it shows she won't help due to those in authority while later in the play when Antigone gets caught "But I know what you meant; and I am here To join you, to take y share of punishment." (433-444) as showing she switch sides as if she came to realize what Antigone was doing.
DeleteI definitely agree with you, I noticed the similarity between Rebecca Payne and Creon, but I did not even think of relating the situation where Creon was told what was going to happen in his future and relate it to how Rebecca changed when she saw John talking to his son. I did not notice that they both changed their ways in the end.That's a very strong similarity and I am impressed.
DeleteI agree, both Michael and Polyneices were very similar. Polyneices was one of Antigone's brothers that didn't get a military burial. Antigone was going to do anything to get her brother the rights he deserves so he can have a military burial. On the other hand, Michael, was dying because of a over sized heart so john held down 10 hostages in a emergency room and stayed there until he got the hospital to put Michael's name on the donor list.
DeleteI agree with you on the connection between John Q and Antigone when she was being questioned by Creon. Both were under a lot of pressure because they know that what they are doing is looked at as wrong but it is what they believe in. In the movie, John Q did not want to end up holding up a hospital an having hostages but it was his only option. Antigone did not want to break the law but it is her brother, she would not be able to live with herself if she knew that he was left without a tomb and she wouldn't of done anything about it.
DeleteI would disagree about both story not connecting at the beginning because during the john q film they were financially struggling yet were happy and during Antigone despite Oedipus curse they had a happy family until the middle of the story. meaning they both connect from the beginning to the end.
DeleteI disagree with the fact that John Q and Antigone didn't really connect in the beginning because in the beginning of both Antigone and John Q they were both struggling to support themselves. While they were both struggling in different ways they struggled. John Q and his family had struggled financially, while Antigone and her father were banished and forced to fend for themselves. So you see, they both may be very different beginnings and endings, but one way or another they are still connected. They both get a message across.
DeleteI agree with you that it was hard to connect the two in the beginning. I also agree that the scene where he took over the hotel was when it started to connect that the two were similar. John Q and Antigone would do anything for the people they love. I also agree with your comparing Rebecca Payne to Creon. At first it was hard to figure out which character resembles which, but after reading you evidence it clicked. In the end Rebecca made the right decision and saved a life.
DeleteI have to also disagree with you saying it didn't connect in the beginning since both stories started off with them struggling even though they were different struggles, both still started off with struggling in a way for example in Antigone it started off with her struggling from her brothers death and in John Q it started off with him struggling on him paying the bills and as the story progressed their struggles became worse especially in John Q when the doctor tells them "your kid will probably die”
DeleteThe events that happened in John Q were very similar to Antigone. When John was in the hospital, he was told that his son, which had fainted at a little league baseball game, had a heart that was three times its size. John was told that Michael needed a new heart or else he would die. John held up the emergency room and had 8 hostages, and he told the police that would not let them go until Michael was on the doner list. This event is similar to Antigone where she tried to bury her other brother that didn't get a military burial. Antigone would stop at nothing to bury her brother but it didn't end in her favor because she got arrested and was thrown into a cave to starve to death and then be left for the animals. One piece of textual evidence I found from John Q was, "No goodbye, you know I don't like goodbye's. See you later!". This quote explains that John never liked to say goodbye to someone, even to Michael. Even though Michael lived, all of the doctors were doubting that he would not live for much longer. Another quote I found from Antigone was, "And if I have to die for this pure crime,/ I am content, for I shall rest beside him;/ His love will answer mine". This quote describes that Antigone will do anything in order for her brother to be buried with military honors, even if that means death, she will be up for the challenge.
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ReplyDeleteI agree, as much as Antigone and John Q may be similar, there is a difference from getting put into a tomb and putting a gun to your head for your son but, they both did it out of love and to stand up for what's right
DeleteI agree with the two characters being a like. They share so many traits and thoughts, for example how Antigone told Creon that even though she has to die before her time she will die with a peaceful afterlife because she went with the law of the Gods and did what was right for her family;"But if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not." (14). This ties in with how John Q was willing to do anything to insure that his child was safe by holding up the hospital and making sure he was able to get his son a new heart.
DeleteJohn Q and Antigone have the same morals, that family is everything. Antigone believed that family was so important that she was willing to die, so that she could bury her brother and he could pass on to the afterlife. In doing so her brother and herself would be able to have a peaceful afterlife; “This death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I will not”. By Antigone knowing that what she did was right she is now able to die peacefully because of what she did for her family. This reflects what John Q was willing to do to help his son. John Q was willing to risk everything to help his son and make sure that he was able to get a new heart. John Q was so determined to make sure his son was going to live that he took over an emergency room with hostages and demand that his son was put on the donor list. This was his last resort, he tried to raise money and was paying the hospital but they didn’t want to put his son on the list because he didn’t have the right insurance, leading him to do what he thought was right. Save his son because family is the most important thing.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, as although Antigone had that presence of family in both plays, it was mainly based on God's law as time and time again she kept quoting herself on the gods, how displease they would be. While in John Q, it was mainly base on family. John Q was focus on protecting and saving his family. He would do anything for his son, while Antigone believed she would do anything for the gods as quoted "Your edict, King, was strong, But all your strength is weakness itself against The immortal unrecorded laws of God. They are not merely now: they were, and shall be Operative for ever, beyond man utterly." (358-364)
DeleteYou're not wrong about one of her motives but I have to agree to disagree with you Ross, I don't think that Antigone was solely based on God's law, that was just one of her arguments against Creon's laws, mainly it was based on her first motive being, the fact that she thought her brother deserved to have a proper burial because she loved him and family is more important than law, " With him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me... I will bury the brother I love," ( 56,57 & 66).
DeleteI agree with this, I do not think taking over the hospital was his only option, seeing that he could have borrowed money from the bank, and or his friends, his wife didn’t help with the bills. I do agree that they both show how important family is, looking at when John Q is talking to the doctor about how he is ready to give his own life for his kid to live, is just showing how John is ready to do any and everything for his family.
DeleteI disagree, in Antigone, everything was based on the gods. All of the laws and rules were made by the gods and by Antigone looking past the laws, all she wanted to do was to make sure her brother, Polyneices, had a military burial and went to the afterlife peacefully. Antigone's family was against her doing her actions also, they wanted to obey the law and not let her bury her brother. This family is not good because family should stick together and have the same opinions, not different opinions.
DeleteI agree that both Antigone and John Q have their families at the top of the priority list and I also agree that John Q did not have a choice, it was his last resort. He tried everything; he basically sold everything he owns for his son and he even almost killed himself so his son would get the transplant. John Q was not intending to hurt anyone, his wife was asking what he was doing and she eventually supported him because she also knows that they've tried everything for Mikey to get a new heart.
DeleteI agree with what you have to say about the family aspect. Both John and Antigone fought for their family, over ruling any higher power or law, no matter the consequences they had to face after the fact. I feel that Antigone could have fought Creon without breaking the law unlike John where his son was dying as he stood his ground in the emergency room. Even though they each had different intentions, Antigone was sneaky and quiet and John was a force to be reckoned with, they both had the same moral compass that family is over anything and everyone.
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ReplyDeleteI disagree, John Q did not hold up the hospital just because the hospital wouldn't take his insurance. He held up the hospital because even though he was paying the hospital and raising all of the money they still wanted to release his son and not put his son on the donor list. For example when he went to the heart surgeon he told him how he was paying the hospital bills and how they wouldn't take his insurance and after, the doctor told him that even if he tried to refer his son to be on the list there was still a huge possibility that his son still would not be on the list. Which led him to hold up the hospital.
DeleteI disagree with you. The reason why they wouldn't put Mike the list was because John Q didn't have the money. The doctors suggested insurance but he didn't reach the requirements. He gave them some money and they took it but still didn't help him out. Just like Antigone was going against Creon trying to convince why Polyneices should of been buried correctly but didn't either.
DeleteI disagree Hannah. I agree with everything except that there was one more thing that made him do what he did. He also told the doctor he was doing what she told him to do. Not take no for answer and keeping him at the hospital.
DeleteThe themes/events for John Q and Antigone are similar due to both dealing with the grey area of taking care of family and what is too far, for Antigone that was breaking the law to bury her brother even if that meant she would die. For John it was taking any route possible to save his kid, leading him to hold down a hospital using hostages to get his way risking his life anyone in the hospital and even eventually his own kid. John took it so far that he was going to kill himself to save his kid, really asks what's too far. Also with the questioning corruption with the people in power. In Antigone is was king Creon who was questioned corrupted for eventually causing Antigone' death because of not giving the family satisfaction of a proper burial. In John Q it was anyone who didn't help him to support his kid. The people that said you don’t have money and we’re not going to do anything and “your kid will probably die”. which would lead him to go to the extreme to solve his problem.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that both stories share a similar "grey area" with what is too far and what is not dealing with family versus authority. Each character took the situation upon themselves to stand for what they believed was right and for their family regardless of what risks they were taking.
DeleteI noticed your commentary specifically on little Mike's impending death in John Q. and had the thought that because death is my biggest fear, I probably would not have the metaphorical "balls" to sacrifice as much for another person as John did, and that's why I respect his doing what he did even despite it being illegal. No parent wants to hear "your kid will probably die", and it was only natural for John to want to protect his own offspring.
DeleteIf I was Mike and my heart was failing, I would want my dad to be the hero figure like that and make sure I get what I deserve (i.e. a normal lifespan instead of dying at age 9).
I agree with you that there were people in positions of power who were corrupted in both stories and if there wasn't people in power who were so close minded and stuck in their ways, then neither Antigone or John Q would have had to do what they did.
DeleteI agree with the fact of taking any possible route to save your child. This is something that I would do in a similar situation because we have to do anything to save our loved ones. I think it's crazy hard to think about but its something that I would want to do in that case.
DeleteJohn Q and Antigone are similar but different in many ways, here is some evidence that shows they are similar: when Antigone buries her brother, breaking the law, John Q's version was taking everyone hostage at the hospital for not treating his son. When Antigone is thrown into the tomb, John Q's version was getting thrown in jail, and when Antigone has that argument with Creon, Its like the Board of Directors arguing with John Q about treating his son with no insurance. Some differences between Antigone and John Q includes: John Q is fighting for his son while Antigone is fighting for her life, Mikey is alive and fighting for his life while Polynices is dead and buried, and Haimond was supposed to marry Antigone, Dr. Turner and John Q’s relationship is nothing like that. The themes in both Antigone and John Q are very common, even though they are very different in what the theme sands for. The theme I found was "Stand up for what you believe in, even if it means you might have to give up your life". If I could choose which one stands out more with this it would be John Q. I think its John Q because he locked down a hospital and almost killed himself so his son could have a heart when the Board of Directors said because of his insurance, his son can’t be put on the donors list.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you that Antigone was fighting for her life. She knew what she was doing was going against Creon and she knew that she was going to die for doing what she did. When talking to Creon she asked him to kill her,
Delete“Antigone: Creon, what more do you want than my death?
Creon:Nothing. That gives me everything.
Antigone:Then I beg you: kill me.”(14) Antigone knew what she was getting into when she buried her brother and she was at peace with it because she knew what she was doing was right in God’s eyes.
John Q and Antigone are very similar by being both very dramatic in their own ways but nonetheless have the same theme of risking life for your family. It was very hard to see how John Q could be related to to the play of Antigone at the beginning but once everything started to unravel it became clear who played who and how the scenes related to the play. Antigone risks her life by breaking the law and burying her brother out of respect for her family and love, even if it meant being killed. John Q risks his life, breaking the law by holding everyone hostage at the hospital for his son to get his heart transplant, because everyone deserves a second chance at life, even if that meant ruining his by offering his own life/heart for his son and in the end going to jail for his actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree, they had both risked their lives to help their family members, they both had rebelled against the government and stuck by their family's sides. Both Antigone and John had broke the law in order to justify themselves. They had both ended up being thrown in either a tomb or jail but had succeeded in their plan to help their family.
DeleteI would agree with you because Antigone had to decide if shed bury her brother so that he could pass on to the after life in consequence of being killed and in john q he had to decide one what he would do in order to save his sons life from keeping the emergency room hostage or killing him self in order for his kid to live despite dying or going to jail.
DeleteI disagree with you saying "everyone deserves a second chance at life" because John's son didn't do anything wrong in the first place, he just had a bad heart. So it wasn't him getting a second chance at life, it was more of they should've given him a new heart because it was the right thing to do because it was a very unfortunate situation that they were in.
DeleteI agree that they both are similar but have their own dramatic tone to them but the term everyone deserves a second life is something to do not personally agree with. when john held the hospital it was a bit of a selfish action although for a good cause other people needed to be helped and john just wasn't equip with the knowledge of how a hospital worked.
DeleteI agree with John Q, As in the started of John Q, it wasn't easy to compare the two alike. But when John Q held the ER wing hostage,it began to piece all up together.Antigone would stop at nothing to bury her other brother that didn't get a military burial.For John it was taking any route possible to save son, leading him to hold down a hospital using hostages to get his way risking himself to save his son.Also the film really helps by putting the Antigone play in today's perspective.At one time John Q too it so far that he was going to kill himself to save his kid.Antigone believed that family was important that she was willing to die so that she could bury her brother and he could pass on to the afterlife.Saving his son because family is the most important thing to do if being John Q.They shall be operative for ever, beyond man." (358-364)
ReplyDeleteThere are multiple events that are able to be compared from John Q and Antigone. The obvious one is Antigone risking her life for her brother just so he could have a proper burial. In John Q, John Q risked his life to have his son have a heart transplant. Another event is the comparison of the sort of "Creon" character in each story. In Antigone, Creon would not let Antigone do a proper burial because of his stubbornness and he said it would go against the gods. While in John Q the hospital as a whole, or specifically Rebecca Payne, would not allow his son to get a heart transplant because of John Q's insurance company change. A similarity between characters I was able to see between both stories was from Ismene and Doctor Turner. Whenever they were asked to do something or help, they would always at first say they can't and then agree to doing it after being pushed and pushed. Taking all this in I have to say the theme is risks are needed to be done for the sake of family. This is shown by how much chaos and illegal activity was done throughout both stories, just to do what's right.
ReplyDeleteI never noticed the similarity between Ismene and Dr. Turner, though you are right that they do have similar roles in their respective media. Your last sentence ties into a personal belief I have that there is very little black and white in terms of morality, rather a wide sea of gray area, and the justice system should look at extenuating circumstances that may cause people to do things that would normally be derided as "wrong", and rightfully so.
DeleteI disagree with the Ismene and Dr. Turner part, only because Ismene was not really forced or had a gun held to her unlike Dr. Turner. She just decided herself that she was going to take responsibility for Antigone's actions. Dr. Turner, I do agree, was peer pressured and sort of forced to do the surgery because he had taken the Hippocratic Oath and was called out for breaking his oath when he disagree'd to doing the surgery.
DeleteI think you're thinking way to hard about this Brendin, you got to think past how the movie was played out to realize that Dr. Turner is similar to Ismene. It's not so much on how the scenes were the same, it's behind that. You couldn't really see at first but a very specific part in the movie is what determined the similar roles. In the scene where John Q offers taking his own life so that his son could have a heart, Dr.Turner doesn't support this for many reasons but at some point he then says okay, this is similar to how Ismene was non-supportive of when Antigone was suggesting that she bury their brother, and then at some point Ismene says that she did bury her brother with Antigone.
DeleteI think that John Q and Antigone aren't very similar but they do share a similar theme of family is everything. The way that John Q and Antigone went about doing the things they did for their family were different, but they both did it to protect their families. Antigone went against the law of Creon and buried her brother and in the end died for it. In comparison John Q took over a hospital to get his son a new heart, but he didn't die in process. Even though they went about it different ways, Antigone and John Q both went to extremes to do what they thought would help and protect their families, and that's why they could do what they did, because they knew they were doing it for the right reasons.
ReplyDeleteI agree. They both accepted that they were going to die to save a family member. He was a few seconds away from pulling the trigger so the doctors could give his son his own heart to save him. And Antigone did kill herself. She did it because she wanted to see her family and brother happy and healthy again in Heaven.
DeleteI disagree. I would say that John Q and Antigone are pretty similar since the stories hold the same message and you can see which characters match up. For example, Antigone and John Q are very similar in the way that they aren't afraid to do what they think is right. Also they both went against some sort of authority in order to get what they wanted. Sure, the stories are very different but the events and characters match up well.
DeleteI disagree. I think John Q and Antigone were very similar. They both had the same morals and risked their lives for their family. They both at one point knew they would die and neither of them cared. John believed he would die when he offered to give his heart to his son.
DeleteI disagree with you when you said that they are not that similar because there share a lot of things that are the same. This is shown in the play when Antigone sacrifices her life to bury her brother . For example, In the movie John Q sacrifices holding hostages to make them give his sun a new heart.
DeleteThe events throughout Antigone and John Q are fairly similar even though the situations are far different. Both John Q and Antigone do something that goes against the law in order to achieve what they want regardless of the consequences. Antigone decides to bury her brother who was considered a traitor and it was against the law to give a traitor a proper burial but she does so anyway because she believed in showing respect towards family more than the law. Also she believed in the rules and laws of the Gods which had played a role in whether to bury her brother or not. As for John Q, he holds up at hospital with hostages because his son desperately needs a heart transplant but the people in charge at the hospital won’t put his son’s name on the recipient list since the upfront cost is $75,000. These events carry on to the similar themes in each story. The story of Antigone and John Q both can go along with the theme of “do what you believe in, no matter the consequences” because both characters put things upon themselves and went against authority which led them to face death even though Antigone actually died for her cause where John Q only came close to it a couple times.
ReplyDeleteI agree with and very much like your analysis; it appears we discussed a lot of the same things, including the same overarching main idea. I also noticed your comment that Antigone did die whereas John Q. merely came close to it and was "only" imprisoned, though with the differing historical context (ancient Greece versus relatively modern day) I would say the two outcomes are more comparable than they may seem.
DeleteI agree with what you said about the situations being vastly different yet similar. Although the two situations had taken in different time periods, different places, and were under different circumstances Antigone and John Q were both faced with similar problems involving their families. So, even though Antigone’s story had taken place a long time ago the theme of sacrificing whatever for your family can still be applicable to modern day issues such as the one John Q faced.
DeleteThe classic Greek tragedy Antigone and the 2002 American movie John Q. do have their share of similarities and comparisons that can be made between them. Both involve the main character doing illegal things and sacrificing their own freedom for the sake of a family member. In the former, Antigone buries her brother Polyneices even despite the King, her uncle Creon, declaring it a capital crime. If she did not do so, her brother would not have eternal peace in the afterlife, wild animals being able to do whatever they want with his body and spirit, which would have been entirely unacceptable for Antigone. After all, she was Polyneices’ sister too; besides, to quote her, he was “equal in blood” (411) to their other brother, Eteocles, and “there are honors due all the dead” (413). In John Q., the main character is a poor factory worker whose son, Mike, collapses during a baseball game and needs a heart transplant, but because of his family’s financial situation the hospital staff refuse to put his son’s name on the donor list. Ultimately, he holds up the hospital and effectively turns the other ER patients into hostages before he finally convinces the staff to put his son’s name down, though the outcome is not 100% positive as he is convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. Staff member Rebecca Payne and King Creon also have similarities, as they are both the bureaucratic authority figures who initially stand in the way of the main character doing what’s right, though ultimately both stories end with each family member doing better and each main character indeed having to sacrifice something.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the purpose for Antigone and John Q’s battles are vastly different, they both share the willingness to sacrifice everything in order to appease their beliefs. For example, John is too poor to get his son Mikey on the heart donor list, let alone actually paying for the surgery. After a confrontation with his wife she shouts “Do something John!” This pushes John over the edge and leads to the capture of hostages within the hospital. In Antigone, she is well aware that there is a law prohibiting the burial of her brother. Antigone knows the consequences of her actions, but her loyalty to the gods and her brother is too strong. The common theme of sacrifice everything is shown during the opening scene of Antigone. After informing her sister Ismene, of her intentions to bury her brother, Antigone exclaims “Creon is not enough to stand in my way”(2). This proves that both characters are willing to go to great lengths for their loyalty,beliefs, and family.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, I do not think that John Q was too poor, seeing that he had health insurance but they didn’t want to cover it and so when they didn’t cover it he sold stuff to come up with the money, looking back at the scene where he was adding up all the money he had collect and it being over 10,000 dollars to give to the hospital. I feel that it wasn’t just on John to do something, throughout the movie I didn’t once see the wife try and help with the bills for the hospital and that just shows how similar the sister of Antigone and the wife are, they both saw a problem and did nothing to help or hinder the problem.
Deletei disagree with you both but i slightly agree with Tyler at the same point because yes Spencer he and his family were covered and they didn't wanna take mike into the hospital to do what they had to. however i feel its also relevant to state she did yell on the phone and in turn that could have made him wake up and take action. now yes Spencer has a point because he did give the money to the hospital and whoever the lead girl is told them no to health care. his mom from what we say never put up and money however she was always willing to back john for what he did like isemen for Antigone
DeleteI disagree, It wasn't that he was too poor, it was because his insurance was denied for his son's treatment and they wouldn't even help his son until he showed he had insurance. He only held hostages because Mrs. Payne denied John Q's sons's name on the organ donor list, and he would stop at nothing to get his way
DeleteThe comparisons between John Q. & Antigone are many, but similarities that stood out to me in the movie and the play was when John Q. attempted to commit suicide just before Denise was able to find a heart donor for their son, while for Antigone’s case would be when Creon had to free Antigone from her vault and make a burial for Polyneices, “I will go. Come with me to the tomb. I buried her, i Will set her free.”(874-877) but the concision of these two events are vastly different as when John Q. was about to pull the trigger, he discovered the safety was on, thus allowing him to find out about the heart donor. While for Antigone, Creon would find her as a corpse already taken by her own hand. Another similarity I seen in both the play and movie is the theme of breaking the law for something they believe or need. As John Q’s case he broke the law by taking a hospital's ER wing hostage, in order to force his demands to get a heart for his son, while it can also be inferred that he did this also has an act of vengeance for the hospital’s attempt on not treating his son. For Antigone she broke the law in order to bury her dead brother as she believes the gods law, and what Creon acted as a crime for not burying Polyneices. “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (55-56) While throughout the play it is based mainly on the god’s law but the theme still plays out for breaking the law for what they believe in.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with John Q's choice of holding people hostages in the emergency room because he put a lot of people at risk of dying, since emergency room is very important for saving lives as fast as possible at a critical time. Though things did turn out good for him because in the film, a guy was shot and the ambulance car tried to enter, but John Q locked the doors. John was lucky to have doctors inside the emergency room to help him with the guy that was dying from a gun shot.
DeleteI agree with you that both John Q and Antigone stood up for what did they believed was right and what they thought was morally right for their family's.
DeleteAntigone had risked her life and broke the law to bury her brother. A similar event happened with John Q. as he had broke the law by taking people hostage in the hospital so he could help his son get a new heart. The two characters are very similar because of their mindset's. They both were brave enough to do something about the problem they faced. In addition, they both did it for family members, which shows they both put family before the law. Also, John Q. had gotten thrown in jail as Antigone had gotten thrown in the tomb. Both Antigone and John Q. have a common theme of being rebellious towards the government.
ReplyDeleteCould that rebelliousness get them in more trouble later if say someone hurt family or something? Would they lash out or would someone talk calm like john q in the hospital?
DeleteI disagree that it was their mindset's as characters that were similar. I feel they just felt in general that they would do anything for family, because that's really all they had and could really care for in their life. I definitely do see where you are coming from.
DeleteI agree with you that the character are similar because of there mindsets in the way they they were rebellious and willing to do anything to get/ do what they want for a family member. Because they both did what they felt like was morally right to do for their loved ones.
DeleteI agree with you that they both share a rebellious mindset, and if I were to be put into either situations I would have the same mindset. But I also disagree because if anyone were put into these situations they would also have that mindset.
DeleteWhen it comes to comparing Antigone and John Q they are very similar in their own ways. From the very beginning of the stories, they both start off happy with small struggles. Yet, halfway through both stories, it all goes bad. Towards the end of both stories, everything works out. An example of this is shown in Antigone when they all start off as a happy family. In the beginning, Antigone’s dad, Oedipus has a happy family. Then Oedipus finds out he married his mother and had children. This caused him to gouge his eyes out. This caused the mother to kill herself. The brothers later start to kill each other to see who gets the throne. An example that shows this is in antigone page one line 2 where she says “you would think that we had already suffered enough for the curse on oedipus. Because of this, Antigone wants to honor one of her brothers, Polyneices, who was not buried. She has to make a difficult decision if she is going to help out the family or go against the law. This is very similar to John Q’s story, because John Q’s family starts off family, but with financial problems. Towards the middle of the story it goes bad due to Mike’s heart failure. Because of this, John Q needs to make a difficult decision if he was going to save his son’s life or go against the law. Another example shows both stories are similar is when Creon in Antigone’s story opens his eyes and realizes he is wrong, and he needs to free Antigone to make everything right. This is similar to John Q’s story because Rebecca Payne, the Hospital Director, saw live footage of John Q’s conversations and changed her mind to do the right thing. There are many more similarities between the two stories, but these are the main similarities that prove these stories are similar.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said that they both start off good but end up in bad situations. I also believe this because they both had to sacrifice for what they thought was right. This is shown in the play or movie when Creon lets Antigone go because he knows it’s the right thing to do.
DeleteI was able to connect the film and the play when John Q held up the emergency room to get his son a new heart. In the play, Antigone buried her brother when he betrayed his hometown which she did not care about the consequences, she just wanted respect for her brother. John Q wanted his son to survive and get a new heart and everyone was shutting him down because of his insurance. He held people as hostages just so his son would survive. What he did was wrong but he had a good motive. This film really helps by putting the Antigone play in today’s perspective. John Q was even going to take his own life so his son could get a new heart, this just shows how far he’s willing to go for his son. Most of the hostages were even empathizing towards him because they knew why he was doing this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how they both are similar. What John Q was wrong but was for something good and good thing was that he didn't end up killing anyone. Like he said, "I just want my son on that list and I will let everyone go." He ended up getting what he wanted with going through the consequences for something he believed just like Antigone. She ended up getting locked in a tomb but ended up killing for someone she loved.
DeleteI agree that John Q helps put Antigone into today's perspective. A random emergency one day playing baseball and a huge new financial stress on the family is much more realistic these days. Creon created a rule that no one would mourn or bury Polyneices, if this rule was broken it was punishable by death. In today's world most would consider this as far too extreme. Knowing the consequences each main character suffers, which do you think showcases the theme of “Willing to risk anything for someone you love” more?
DeleteI agree that John Q holding up the hospital was just like Antigone burying her brother and not thinking about the consequences. They knew what the consequences were but they dint care about them and they wanted to respect/save their family.
DeleteThe similarity between Antigone and John Q is that they both risked their lives for something they believed in which is standing up for family. There were only little differences between both but had the same meaning. Antigone was due to her brother not being buried and just being left to get eaten by animals. John Q was due to his son Mike not being put on the heart transplant list for not having enough money. Antigone and Mike played the same role. Antigone went against Creon’s law and buried her brother and John Q went against the law and had a gun in the hospital and kept people hostage until the doctors would help Mike get a heart. Antigone says, “ I will bury the brother I love.” (Line 67) and John Q would say, “I am not going to let my son die. He is supposed to see me get buried, not me seeing him get buried.” At this point, they both talked about the burying of each person they love. The theme for both is the love for family.
ReplyDeleteregardless of motive John put a lot of people in danger. he had to manipulate people to get his way. as did the the brother that was a trader in Antigone. John held up a hospital were people needed to go and get help. if someone had an emergency and needed help they could have died trying to get into the hospital.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you, John made sure that everyone who was injured was helped AND no one was ever in any real danger because John's gun was unloaded and he never had any intention of harming anyone. John Q just said what he needed to, to make sure his son got on that donor list. Matter of fact, when the hostages were freed from the hospital they were all saying how good of a man he was. Not to mention, he fed them.
DeleteI feel that even though the movie setting change things a little, I see Antigone and john Q as slimier because of some things done by both characters. In aspect, john q made more connections then what Antigone did in my opinion. In Antigone, she losses her brothers and bury polyclinics where Eteocles is given full honers. she broke the law and buried polyclinics however this is where john q goes and holds up a hospital for his son. the differences here is when Antigone was caught she kills herself where john q got to watch his son live before he went off to prison. this is where it kicks Creon because his son is now dead to because his wife killed herself where john q and his wife and now son are alive and well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Antigone and John Q are similar, though things are slightly differently played out. John Q is like the main protagonist and the main antagonist, he's a nice person, but when pushed to the point, he has to do something that will protect his family, sacrificing himself. In the film of John Q, John held people hostages in the emergency room of a hospital, to gain advantage of being able to get his son onto the donor's list, risking his life on the line.
DeleteIn John Q and Antigone, they both share the same beliefs of fighting for a family member, not afraid to die for what they believe is righteous. A piece of evidence from Antigone is, “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he is to me” (page 3, lines 55-58). Compared to John Q, he believes that his son deserves to be treated, so he committed a crime of holding people hostage in the hospital. In John Q and Antigone, they have someone who will support them. For Antigone, her sister, Ismene, supported her in the end, willing to die with her, and for John Q, his wife supports his decisions. A piece of text from Antigone is, “Ismene, do you confess your share in this crime, or deny it? Answer me. Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty” (page 16, lines 427-431). A similar scene was shown In the film of John Q where John Q’s wife was being questioned by a police officer, but denied the questions asked by the police officer to defend John Q.
ReplyDeleteAntigone and John Q are similar because they are both breaking the law for their family. But of course there are things that differed them. Antigone’s brother died in war and she just wanted to bury him. She should have every right to bury him, he’s her brother. Family. However; no one stood alongside Antigone because they were all scared of King Creon. Antigone stated her opinion that no one wants to speak their mind because they fear him and he said, “You are alone in that opinion.” and Antigone answered with, “No, they are with me. But they keep their tongues in leash.” (403-404) In the end, it was too late. Antigone never got her happy ending. She was too busy fighting for everyone elses. While, John Q’s son was sick and he didn’t have the money to help him. Which is what makes him more relatable. In this day and age no one is stopping you from burrying your family. However; money and medical insurance is still a problem in today’s society. While no one was there for Antigone, John Q had a lot of suporters. Family, friends, and even strangers were on his side. All of which willing to speak out for him and tell him how proud of him they were. I remember John Q say something along the lines of, “I am not going to let my son die. He’s supposed to watch me get burried, not the other way around.” They were both fighting for a cause they believed in. They were fighting for family. For a life. Or in Antigone’s case, a body. But they were fighting nonetheless. Breaking the law was the only way they could fight. And in the end they had to face the consequences.
ReplyDeleteIf Antigone was taken place in a more modern society do you think she would of had more supporters? Do you think that if Mikey didn’t get a heart transplant and passed away because of it, that John’s actions in the end would have been different? Do you think he would have committed suicide because of that? Lastly, do you think that if Creon was quicker to reach Antigone before she committed suicide she would have gotten the respect she wanted for her brother?
DeleteOne comparison from John Q and Antigone is the main characters because; John Q just like Antigone was willing to do anything to do anything even break the law for their loved ones (John Q son and Antigone's brother) My evidence is in the movie John Q took control of the hospital and held everyone hostage till his son was put on the donor list to get a new heart. And Antigone tried to bury her brother and give him a proper burial. Another comparison is theme because they both did these crimes under the similar theme of being told no and Its the law or problem at hand. The evidence for this is in John Q he was told that his son couldn't get a new heart because he wasn't insured when he was and that he can't do anything about it. And in Antigone she was told she couldn't bury her brother because he was a traitor and therefore to have his body treated as such.
ReplyDeleteAntigone and John Q are both alike because they are both headstrong and determined characters. Furthermore, the events in the play and the movie were similar, for example, when Antigone buried her dead brother and when John Q took people hostage in the E.R. In this example they are both risking their lives by breaking laws to do what they think is right to do. Another event is when Antigone argues with Ismene and Creon about burying Polynices and states, “Yes. Save yourself. I shall not envy you./ There are those who will praise you; I shall have honor, too/...No more, Ismene./ You are alive, but I belong to Death.” (444-445 and 447-448). In this quote we can see that she has accepted her fate similarly to how John accepted his death for his son. Lastly, another event is when the messenger in Antigone states, “She had made a noose of her fine linen veil/ And hanged herself.” (961-962). This quote shows that Antigone was left to deal with the consequences of standing up for her family similarly to how John Q had to go to jail for his actions.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with all the things you mentioned. Some questions I pose you are; If the agent that was sent to kill John through the ceiling was successful, would his son have gotten the heart he needed? If Antigone never talked to Ismene before the burial of their brother, would she have stepped up and said she was a part of the law breaking like she did? Would have Johns son gotten his heart if they had the money for it? Would John have actually killed himself if his wife didn't come just in time? If Antigone never buried her brother and left him how Creon left him, would somebody else have given him a burial?
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree with everything you have said. Both John Q and Antigone just want to stand by and protect their family, even if they have to defy the law. An example of this is when Antigone and Ismene are arguing about burying their brother. Antigone says, "When my strength gives out, I shall do no more."(75) I think that one line does a great job of explaining both John Q and Antigone's personalities. Neither willing to give up until the very end. And that's exactly what they both did.
DeleteYou’re right, all the examples you included clearly show that the main theme for both Antigone and John Q is risk everything for what you love and believe in. Yet another example I found that make them similar are the characters Ismene and the man in the ER with bandaged fingers. This is because they both did the same thing for the main character: Ismene tried to take the blame for burying Polyneices saying, “Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty”, and The man with bandaged fingers pretended to be John while surrendering the hostages so the real John could watch his son’s heart surgery which thankfully was a success.
DeleteJohn Q and Antigone both wanted something for someone they loved. John Q wanted a new heart for his son and Antigone wanted a proper burial for her brother. Out of love they both put themselves on the line in law and their lives on the line. They fought against the higher power of police and law in John Q’s case and Creon in Antigone’s. Both Antigone and John Q were at some point facing death in a battle, sadly Antigone lost her fight while John was lucky enough to be saved by his wife in the nick of time. While they are very similar with their intentions, the choices they had made were different. John decided to put others in the middle of him and his goal by holding up the emergency room with patients present while it was very public on national TV. Who he was, what he wanted and why he was doing it was no secret to the whole world. While Antigone was very secret in what she did and only spoke out to the public about it when she was caught by Creon and had to face the consequences. Another difference between the two is John Q was fighting doctors, Rebecca and money to get a heart, Antigone was going against her uncle who is also the king and nobody else. Both characters make you question how far is too far? When should rules be broken? What are you willing to put your life on the line for?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that both Antigone and John Q put themselves on the line against the law. Antigone put herself on the line knowing Creon would kill her while John Q knew that his freedom would be taken away from him.
DeleteI agree with what you had to say, both characters were very noble for putting their life on the line for what they believed in.
DeleteI say there were a lot of similarities between the characters. I would say Rebecca Payne was most resembled Creon. They both were not gonna give the main character what they wanted. She wanted money. Creon wanted power and respect. They both tried to do the right thing after seeing the true meaning behind why Antigone and John did what they did. Except only one of them succeeded. Rebecca got to the hospital just in time before John was going to kill himself to save his son. Creon did not. He got to the tomb just as Antigone kills herself. I would say Ismene resembles Lester Matthew(guy with Afro and bandaged fingers). He was willing to take the blame and receive the punishment that was gonna be for John. Ismene did the same. She was gonna say she helped Antigone her bury her brother even after knowing what would happen to her. I would say Steve from John Q (male blonde doctor in scrubs) resembles Haimon because they both agreed with Antigone and John and thought what was happening was total crud. Also for obvious reasons I would say John Q resembles Antigone. I don’t need to explain why.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Antigone and John Q have different scenarios, both main characters stand up for what they believe in and are willing to do anything for the people they love. John risked dying and ended up serving jail time to get his son’s name on the transplant list. Similarly, Antigone risked her life to bury her brother with respect. In both of these scenarios, there is someone who tries to stop them from reaching their goals. Rebecca and Creon: Creon forbid anyone from mourning or burying Antigone’s dear brother, and Rebecca refused to put John’s son, Mikey, on the transplant list because of lack of insurance. What I believe to be the biggest difference between the two are the endings: the tragic deaths of the queen, Antigone, and Haimon in Antigone, and the successful transplant surgery keeping Mikey alive in John Q!
ReplyDeleteIn Antigone and John Q. there are a lot of similarities and differences. But one of the biggest similarities in my eyes is Rebecca Payne and Creon. They are characters that basically did the exact same thing but in a different way, Mikey is John Q.’s son and needs a heart transplant because his heart is growing bigger than his body. Mrs. Payne said that she could not help John out with putting Mikey on the list resorting to him having to take the hospital emergency room so he could get his son the heart transplant and live John had a huge heart to heart with His wife and Rebecca heard it and changed her mind about saying she was putting Mikey on the list and actually did it. This is the same as Creon because he was so stubborn about how Polyneices does not deserve a proper burial until he came to his senses after everyone he knew and loved were all dead.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this because John Q and Antigone was different in many ways.The reason I say they different is because is because John Q was risking his life and freedom to save his ill son.Antigone just really wanted people to believe in her in her main thing was buring her brother John Q wasn't worried about buring his son because he had faith in god that he was gone do everything in his power to save his son.Also John Q was brave for holding people hostage in a hositpal and Antigone was just trustworthy.
DeleteJohn Q and Antigone have many things that are similar and many things that are different. One thing that is similar is the theme. Both of their themes focused on doing anything for a family member no matter what. In Antigone, she risked her life to give her brother the burial he deserved, John Q risked his life to get a heart for his son. He was even willing to kill himself for his son, Mikey, and give him his heart. Both characters risked something for the people they love. Something that is different between the two is the ending. In Antigone, almost everybody died. The only main characters that were still alive were Creon and Ismene. In contrast, everybody in John Q survived, but Mikey lost his father for a while. In the end Mikey lost his father because he was arrested for kidnapping the people he held hostage, but nobody died.
ReplyDeleteMaria Valdez
DeleteThe beginning had a lot to do with the setup of each story but the families portrayed in the film and play are totally different and have completely different rolls one is extremely supportive and they other practically ostracized their family to a point of suicide i feel the themes have a mild impact on whats going on, so a place like a hospital has that very blue anxious vibe and i feel that is what they go for and I feel it very well fits the vibe as for the play it paints a visual but you don't really have a visual to go off of it so in my mind it painted a very orange, blue color picture in my head, a very homely vibe but a sense of growing danger or anxiety but in the movie it goes from a homely color and creeps in that anxious feeling as the danger grows.
ReplyDeleteJohn Q and Antigone’s themes/events are very alike. One similar event is John Q willing to put his life on the line for his son by holding up a hospital, which is exactly like Antigone putting her life on the line for her brother. One similar thing about both characters is how Antigone and John Q aren’t willing to take no for an answer they are determined for what they believed in. John Q didn’t listen when the heart doctor told him that holding innocent people hostage was not the way to get his son a heart just like Antigone didn’t listen to Ismene when she told Antigone to leave Polynieces’s body alone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said that John Q and Antigone have the same events . I also believe this because both wanted something and even thought the had to risk their lives still did it. This is shown in the play or movie when John is having to pull a gun on people that have nothing to do with it and keep them in the hospital . For example, [insert quote from Antigone “Creon what more do you want my death” ].
DeleteI agree with you when you had said that John Q and Antigone have the same familiar events. Because they both had a goal that they wanted to accomplish and there were willing to give up there lives for what they believed in or wanted.John Q son was in desperate need of a life saving transplant and Antigone wanted to buried her brother.
DeleteThe movie John Q and the play Antigone are similar because both wanted to have the same thing both wanted to have the people the love with them. This is shown in the movie when John Q helps everyone in the hospital and make sure they are getting the support they need and not just thinking about himself. similarly, in the play Antigone is trying to help her brother by putting him down just how everyone else should be put down, Antigone said, “[This death of mini is of no importance but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied i should have suffered now i do not. ]” (line 370). However, these two texts are different because in the movie because the ones in the past and one is now so we don't see the same views
ReplyDeleteJohn Q and Antigone were very similar in many ways. The characters both risked their lives to save their family. Antigone risked her life knowing Creon would kill her to make sure her brother has a peaceful afterlife while A quote showing how Antigone risked her life is when she says “ “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (55-56) John Q risked his freedom knowing he could go to jail to save his son. Not only did John Q know he was going to lose his freedom when he was in the hospital but eventually he even tried to give his own heart to his son. Both characters have the same morals that their family is more important than themselves. Other characters that I believed were similar were Mikey and Polyneices. They were both struggling and fought for by their families. Lastly I think that Creon is similar to Rebecca because they both were the ones fighting John Q and Antigone.
ReplyDeleteThe movie John Q and the play Antigone are similar because both John and Antigone thought they were doing the right, by trying to help their families. This is shown in the movie when John held hostages in the hospital to help his son, to get him on the donor list for a heart transplant; similarly, in the play Creon said, “What has happened? Why have you come back so soon?... But this is Antiogne! Why have you brought her here?... The details: come, tell me quickly!... Antigone: I do. I deny nothing… It was public. Could I help hearing it? Creon: And yet you dare defy the law… Antigone: Creon, what more do you want than my death… Then I beg you: kill me… Creon: But Eteocles--was he not your brother too? Antigone: My brother too. Creon: And you insult his memory? Antigone: The dead man would not say that I nsult it...” (305-409). However, these two texts are different because in the movie John’s son lives and he saved his sons life by the treat that he made when he was holding the people hostage where as in Antigone, she died just to burry her brother, when her other brother Polyneices got a burial.
ReplyDeleteThe movie John Q and the play Antigone are similar because they both start off happy with small struggles. This is shown in the play Antigone, An example of this is shown in Antigone when they all start off as a happy family. In the beginning, Antigone’s dad, Oedipus has a happy family. Then Oedipus finds out he married his mother and had children. This caused him to gouge his eyes out. This caused the mother to kill herself. The brothers later start to kill each other to see who gets the throne. An example that shows this is in antigone page one line 2 where she says “you would think that we had already suffered enough for the curse on oedipus. Because of this, Antigone wants to honor one of her brothers, Polyneices, who was not buried.. However, these two texts are different because in the movie John Q, John Q’s family starts off family, but with financial problems. Towards the middle of the story it goes bad due to Mike’s heart failure. Because of this, John Q needs to make a difficult decision if he was going to save his son’s life or go against the law.
ReplyDeleteI do disagree with this because I think that Antigone did not start off happy. She was talking to her sister about how bad her life was and they needed some wins and stop losing. I think it was difficult for them at the beginning but it definitely got better over time. It was hardships for them throughout this time.
DeleteJohn Q and Antigone are similar in some ways. The first way that they are similar in the events that happened are because both have someone fighting against a higher power to do something they know is right. John Q was fighting against the government for his son’s surgery to pay for it for holding up the hospital. Antigone was fighting against the powers of Creon who is the king at the time. Another way the two of them are similar is that there is a central theme between the two of them. At one point Creon saying, “And you, Antigone You with your head hanging-- do you confess this thing? I do. I deny nothing.” This is her saying that she is not going to lie about it or anything that has happened. In John Q, when he is holding up the hospital, he was standing up for his son and everyone else who couldn’t afford for medical bills or expensive surgeries. He is willing to say what he believes is right.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie John Q. the main character John did not care about the law or the outcomes of his actions. He also did it for his family so they could get the best. Antigone is a lot like John because she did not care for the law made by her uncle nor did she care for the consequences when she broke the law. All she wanted was the best for her family, "His own brother, traitor or not, and equal in blood" (Line 411). This shows no matter what she will be on her brothers side so he gets the burial he needs. John was doing whatever it took to get his son what he needed, "The fact remains, though, that there's a man threatening to kill innocent people because you refuse to help a son" (John Q. movie). John was risking other peoples life and overall his life because he wouldn't have much of a life after he broke the law or the fact that they were going to shot him so the hostages would be fine. Antigone didn't care to die breaking the law also because she wanted best for her brother and only cared about the Gods law.
ReplyDeleteThe events throughout Antigone and John Q are fairly similar even though the situations are far different. Both John Q and Antigone do something that goes against the law in order to achieve what they want regardless of the consequences. Antigone decides to bury her brother who was considered a traitor and it was against the law to give a traitor a proper burial but she does so anyway because she believed in showing respect towards family more than the law. Also she believed in the rules and laws of the Gods which had played a role in whether to bury her brother or not. “It was not God’s proclamation. That final Justice that rules the world below makes no such laws. Your edict, King, was strong, but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God” (358-361). As for John Q, he holds up at hospital with hostages because his son desperately needs a heart transplant but the people in charge at the hospital won’t put his son’s name on the recipient list since the upfront cost is $75,000. These events carry on to the similar themes in each story. The story of Antigone and John Q both can go along with the theme of “do what you believe in, no matter the consequences” because both characters put things upon themselves and went against authority which led them to face death even though Antigone actually died for her cause where John Q only came close to it a couple times.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the John Q movie, I was able to see some striking similarities between John Q and Antigone. John Q did everything in his power to make sure his some would survive, even if it was against the law. With that being said, Antigone was the same way in the sense that she would do whatever she could to honor her brother even if it was against the law. Both characters valued family and did exactly what they believed was the right thing to do. Both characters believed that family was so important that they were willing to die. I would just like to note that John Q was threatening to kill people with an unloaded gun, when at the end he reveals that he had a single bullet and if it were to be used it would be used on him, I think that’s pretty noble.
ReplyDeleteI connected John Q and Antigone through the way they felt about their families. In John Q he holds up an emergency room so his dying son could be saved. In Antigone she wanted to bury her brother respectfully so he could live on. This made me think that they were connected because John was willing to risk his life to save his son and Antigone was willing to risk her life so her dead brother could live on in his past life. The way they both also did it carelessly made me connect the two because John Q help the surgeon up at gunpoint to get his son's name on the list and Antigone kept going back to her brothers body to re-bury him.
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