What is the book Antigone about?
Antigone, a tragedy by Sophocles, tells the story of Antigone, who goes against King Creon's command by giving her brother Polynices a proper burial. She believes family loyalty is more important than following state laws. The play dives into heavy themes like morality, civil disobedience, and the struggle between personal beliefs and authority. Antigone is part of Theban plays and was originally performed in ancient Athens.
What genre is the Antigone by Sophocles?
Antigone by Sophocles is a classic example of Greek tragedy. This genre focuses on the downfall of a tragic hero, often due to personal flaws and fate. The play explores themes like the conflict between human law and divine law, alongside the repercussions of pride and stubbornness. These elements combine to create a powerful dramatic experience.
How many chapters are in Antigone?
Sophocles' Antigone is a classical Greek play that does not feature traditional chapters; instead, it is structured into distinct scenes and episodes, making it a continuous work popular in theatrical studies.
Antigone summary
Antigone opens in the city of Thebes, after a harsh civil war. Two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, have killed each other while fighting for control. Their uncle, Creon, is the new king. He announces that Eteocles will receive a proper burial, but he declares Polynices a traitor and refuses him a grave. Anyone who tries to bury Polynices will face death.
Antigone, the sister of both brothers and daughter of Oedipus, strongly believes that Polynices deserves a burial according to the laws of the gods. She can't accept Creon's decree, which she sees as an attack on divine law. Her sister, Ismene, is scared and refuses to help. She worries about the punishment if they are caught, but Antigone’s resolve is unshakeable.
In secret, Antigone bravely buries Polynices, performing the sacred burial rites. She spreads dust over him and honors him as tradition demands. Unfortunately, Creon’s guards discover her breaking the law. When confronted, Antigone does not deny her actions; instead, she boldly claims her loyalty to the divine over Creon's command.
Creon is furious at her defiance. He believes a firm hand is necessary to maintain order in Thebes, so he sentences Antigone to be entombed alive. She will suffer a slow death in a solitary cave, with Creon viewing this punishment as a necessary deterrent for others.
Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, tries to reason with his father. He begs Creon to reconsider his decision, telling him that the people of Thebes empathize with Antigone. They see her as a martyr standing against tyranny. Despite Haemon's impassioned plea, Creon's stubbornness prevents him from changing his mind.
Things take a sign of hope when the blind prophet Tiresias arrives at Creon's palace. He warns Creon of the rising tension among the gods due to the unburied Polynices and the terrible fate awaiting Antigone. Tiresias predicts that Creon will face dire consequences if he does not amend his decisions, causing Creon to reconsider.
Shaken by Tiresias's warnings, Creon quickly resolves to redeem himself. He decides to bury Polynices and free Antigone from her grave. However, his decision comes too late—the damage has been done. A messenger arrives with the news that Antigone has taken her own life by hanging herself in her tomb.
In despair, Haemon discovers her lifeless body, overwhelmed by grief. Struck by his loss, he takes his own life, unable to bear the pain. The tragic chain continues as Creon's wife, Eurydice, learns about her son's death. In her grief, she also chooses to end her life, leaving Creon in complete devastation.
Empty and alone, Creon is left to confront the fallout of his inflexible rule. He mourns not only for his family but also for the collapse of his authority. In this tragic end, Antigone reveals the heavy costs of pride and the profound struggles between moral duty and societal laws.
How does Antigone end?
At the end of Antigone, Creon, the ruler of Thebes, discovers that his laws have led to tragic consequences. He has ordered Antigone's death for burying her brother Polynices, which goes against his decree. As he realizes the depth of his mistakes, he hurries to free Antigone but finds she has already taken her own life.
Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, is heartbroken over her death. In his grief and anger, he confronts his father, leading to tragedy. Unable to cope with the loss, Haemon also kills himself. Creon is devastated, facing the full weight of his decisions.
Finally, Eurydice, Creon's wife, learns about her son’s death and takes her own life as well. With this series of losses, Creon loses all he held dear. He ends up alone, a king who ruled with harshness, now condemned to live with the pain and remorse for those he has lost.
Who are the main characters in Antigone?
Antigone: The tragic heroine, daughter of Oedipus; she is determined and rebellious, choosing to defy Creon's commands to bury her brother Polynices, motivated by loyalty to family and divine guidance.
Creon: King of Thebes and Antigone’s uncle; as a practical and authoritative ruler, he values political order over family ties, enforcing stringent laws.
Ismene: Antigone’s sister; she is beautiful and obedient, cautious yet supportive, trying to persuade Antigone against defying the law.
Haemon: Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé; he finds himself torn between loyalty to his father and love for Antigone.
Polyneices: Antigone’s brother, whose death in battle sparks the main conflict, as Creon denies him burial honors.
Eteocles: Another brother who dies protecting Thebes, receiving a proper burial in contrast to Polyneices.
The Chorus: A group of Theban elders who provide commentary on the events, reflecting societal opinions and values.
Frequently asked questions
When was Antigone written?
Antigone was written by Sophocles and was first performed around 442 or 441 BCE. Although it's the third play in the Theban trilogy, it was actually written before the other two plays in that series.
Does Ismene die in Antigone?
No, Ismene does not die in Sophocles' Antigone. She wishes to take the punishment for her sister Antigone’s actions, but Creon spares her since she didn't truly break the law and had tried to stop Antigone from performing the burial.
Who is Eurydice in Antigone?
Eurydice is the Queen of Thebes, married to Creon and the mother of Haemon in Sophocles' Antigone. She appears later in the play, and after discovering her son Haemon has died because of Creon's decisions, she is overwhelmed by grief and takes her own life.