Family Honor In Sophocles Antigone

Every decision one makes comes with a consequence. Sophocles precisely illustrates this idea in his play, Antigone. Set in Ancient Greece, in the city of Thebes, the play begins by describing the law ordered by King Creon that Polynices, Antigone’s brother, is to be left to rot on the battlefield, and to be looked upon as an enemy to Thebes. Antigone demonstrates her values as she honors her brother despite the King’s decree. This value of family honor is determined by the sacrifices she makes throughout the play.

From the beginning, Antigone is willing to endanger her life to honor the death of her brother. When Antigone’s brother, Polynices, is defeated and killed, Creon orders that the burying of his body is punishable by death. Knowing the consequences, Antigone says to her sister, “I will bury him myself, and so die nobly” (Sophocles 72). Antigone knows very well about the decree of Creon, but she will disobey the law to do what she thinks is a noble cause. Clearly, she thinks that giving her brother a proper burial is worth risking her life. Later in the play, she is arrested after being caught giving Polynices the last rites of the dead. Creon questions her and

Although Antigone does not specifically state it, she must have known that she would lose Haemon, who she was to marry, by burying her brother. After one of Creon’s guards asks him what he will say to Haemon about the loss of his future wife, he responds “An evil wife for a son fills me with loathing” (571). Creon has no sympathy for his son because he will not allow him to marry an “evil” woman anyway. Antigone gives up her future happiness with Haemon. Not only is her future family ruined, but she leaves behind the only family she has left. After the death of Antigone, her sister, Ismene is her only family member left alive. She not only sacrificed her own life, but also the future life of her