“Antigone” is one of three Theban plays written by Sophocles approximately in 442 BC. Chronologically, it is the third tragedy of the cycle, as the events in it happen last; however it was written first. The character of Antigone is unique and presents a huge historical interest, as it is the first female character in the world literature that fights against the power of men and exhibits great bravery comparing with those men who scorn her. This play is not only feminist; it is also very radical in wide meaning of this word, as it rebels against authority in general that appear noble and splendid.
The tragedy tells about Oedipus family. A disaster happens to them. His sons Polynices and Eteocles, Antigone’s brothers, killed each other. The city is now ruled by Creon who does not allow performing the burial ceremony over the dead men. However Antigone violates his order and secretly gives her brother Polynices his final rest. Creon finds out that Antigone was disobedient, but she never tries to diminish her guilt. Being furious Creon decides to kill the girl by walling her up alive in a tomb. The blind prophet Tiresias enters the stage and Creon asks his advice as to the situation. The prophet advices to bury the men in a proper way; but Creon refuses to do so. Tiresias then predicts that the gods will bring down terrible curses upon the city. Reluctantly Creon decides to free Antigone from the tomb where a poor girl has been imprisoned. Unfortunately his change of heart comes too late. Antigone has killed herself, and the son of Creon who was imprisoned together with her goes mad. Accidentally, he stabbed himself with his own sword and died too. Later some terrible news comes – Eurydice killed herself and dying blamed her husband for being a tyrant with no heart. Creon is left alone with no people he loved.
The main themes in the tragedy are: the power of unwritten law, state control, natural law and contemporary legal institutions, civil disobedience, citizenship, fidelity, portrayal of the gods, family and love.
Creon defeated Polynices and took the throne of Thebes. After that he prohibits anyone to bury Polynices so that his flesh is eaten by birds and dogs and this “obscenity” is seen by everyone. (Antigone). Creon believes that Polynices was a traitor and thus deserves this treatment. He considers Polynices to be an enemy of the state that is worth all human lives. The good of the state, according to Creon, comes before all other values and duties. A duty to bury the dead is not a duty of a citizen by a duty of a human. That is why the rotting body of Polynices is not a crime but obscenity. Antigone in her turn appeals to the duty of a human first of all and only then she is bothered with duties of a citizen: “My own flesh and blood—dear sister, dear Ismene, how many griefs our father Oedipus handed down! Do you know one, I ask you, one grief that Zeus will not perfect for the two of us while we still live and breathe? There’s nothing, no pain—our lives are pain—no private shame, no public disgrace, nothing I haven’t seen in your grief and mine”. (Antigone) Antigone demonstrates that family relationships come first for her. Thus, she is eager to violate Creon’s order, but to bury her brother. In her very first speech Antigone sounds like a very dangerous woman. She sounds ready to go over the edge but to do as it is right according to her own beliefs. She acts like she has nothing to lose. At the very begging Antigone anticipates some grief, but before a reader can even imagine it, she already reveals it: her brother is not allowed to be buried. Ismene, her sister, is like a reader always one step behind. It seems that Antigone is the only character who sees what is going on in reality. She is also the only one who has desire and bravery to speak up and point out not pleasant truth. Antigone looks forward to dying for her brother and is not feared at the thought of death in Creon’s hands at all.
“”Antigone” is a great tragedy created by Sophocles. This is a tragic story about a young woman who broke the king’s decree and buried her beloved brother. In fact, she was punished for obeying the law of her gods. The character of Antigone is both a tragic and a perfect hero in this play. She is a noble woman who possesses stature and greatness. As any human being she has her downfalls and makes mistakes; however her misfortune is not fully deserved. Her fate is tragic, because having a high social standing in her environment she was treated in an unjust and unfair way.
Works cited:
Sophocles. Antigone. 13 April 2012. Available at
