Antigone
is a Greek Tragedy
written by Sophocles. It was
written in 441 B.C.
Setting of the Play: Ancient
Greece
Antigone's Twisted Family Tree:
A brave and proud young woman
named Antigone is the product
of a really messed up family.
Her father, Oedipus, was the
King of Thebes. He unknowingly
murdered his father and married
his own mother, Queen Jocasta.
With his wife/mother, Oedipus
had two daughter/sisters and
two brother/sons.
When Jocasta found out the
truth of their incestuous
relationship, she killed herself.
Oedipus was pretty upset too.
He plucked out his eyeballs.
Then, he spent his remaining
years wandering through
Greece, being led by his loyal
daughter Antigone.
After Oedipus died, his two sons
(Eteocles and Polynices) battled
for control of the kingdom.
Eteocles fought to defend
Thebes. Polynices and his men
attacked the city. Both brothers
died. Creon ( Antigone's uncle)
became the official ruler of
Thebes. (There's a lot of upward
mobility in this city-state. That's
what happens when your bosses
kill each other.)
Divine Laws Vs. Man-made Laws:
Creon buried Eteocles's body
with honor. But because the
other brother was perceived as a
traitor, Polynices's body was left
to rot, a tasty snack for vultures
and vermin. However, leaving
human remains unburied and
exposed to the elements was an
affront to the Greek Gods. So, at
the play's beginning, Antigone
decides to defy Creon's laws.
She gives her brother a proper
funeral.
Her sister Ismene warns that
Creon will punish any who defy
the law of the city. Antigone
believes that the law of the gods
supersedes a king's decree.
Creon doesn't see things that
way. He is very angry and
sentences Antigone to death.
Ismene asks to be executed
along with her sister. But
Antigone doesn't want her by
her side. She insists that she
alone buried the brother, so she
alone will receive punishment
(and possible reward from the
gods).
Creon Needs To Loosen Up:
As if things weren't complicated
enough, Antigone has a
boyfriend: Haemon, the son of
Creon. He tries to convince his
father that mercy and patience
are called for. But the more they
debate, the more Creon's anger
grows. Haemon leaves,
threatening to do something
rash.
At this point, the people of
Thebes, represented by the
Chorus, are uncertain as to who
is right or wrong. It seems Creon
is starting to feel a little bit
worried because instead of
executing Antigone, he orders
her to be sealed inside a cave.
(That way, if she dies, her death
will be in the hands of the gods).
But after she is sent to her
doom, a blind old wise man
enters. He is Tiresias, a seer of
the future, and he brings an
important message: "Creon, you
made a big stupid mistake!" (It
sounds fancier in Greek.)
Suspecting the old man of
treason, Creon becomes
infuriated and refuses Tiresias'
wisdom. The old man becomes
very cranky and predicts bad
things for Creon's near future.
Creon Changes His Mind (Too Late):
Finally scared, Creon rethinks his
decisions. He dashes off to
release Antigone. But he's too
late. Antigone has already
hanged herself. Haemon grieves
beside her body. He attacks his
father with a sword, misses
completely, and then stabs
himself, dying.
Mrs. Creon (Eurydice) hears of
her son's death and kills herself.
(I hope you weren't expecting a
comedy.)
By the time Creon returns to
Thebes, the Chrous tells Creon
the bad news. They explain that
"There is no escape from the
doom we must endure." Creon
realizes that his stubbornness
has led to his family's ruin. The
Chorus ends the play by offering
a final message:
"The mighty words of the proud
are paid in full with mighty blows
of fate."
The End!