A Critical Analysis Of Antigone By Sophocles

A Critical Analysis of Antigone

By Sophocles

Sophocles’ background influenced him to write Antigone. In the fifth century BCE. the “golden era” of Athens, is an important influence in the author’s life. In that time, Athens has experienced so much change in all facets; in addition, drama continues as a major factor in Athenian culture. In his essay “Sophocles,” Ed Downey reports that Sophocles was born at the beginning of the “golden era” in Athens; furthermore, he lived a long life influenced by “the artistic and cultural achievements in the ancient Greek world.” Sophocles is a wealthy and highly educated, “happy man.” As a young man, Sophocles begins his playwright career, so he eventually become one of the greatest writers in history;

Sophocles formulates a believable plot through Antigone’s social conflict. The conflict in Antigone centers in Antigone needing to bury her brother because of her belief that natural law is higher than the governing law, and does not want to have the god’s fury pointed at her. It also revolves around the fact, that family is significantly greater to Antigone than that of the justice system. Polyneices, her brother, was a traitor and died going to war with his own blood brother. Creon, her uncle and king, has made a decree stating: “I here proclaim to the city that this man shall no one honor with a grave and none shall mourn. You shall leave him without burial...” (222). Opposing the king, she neglects the decree. Since she broke the king’s decree, she is sentenced to die for being disobedient; moreover, Antigone proudly states her crime. There is no sign of remorse shown by Creon as he states, “No, though she were my sister’s child, or closer in blood than all that my hearth god acknowledges as mine. Neither she, nor her sister, should escape the utmost sentence-death” (530-33). Bobrick explains that Creon values the love for his land more than he values family, and this becomes a struggle for Antigone as it becomes a fight between obeying the laws of man, and the laws of the god’s. The second struggle that Antigone faces, comes when she realizes she is alone.

Sophocles also reinforces the theme of this Antigone through symbolism. Tony Burns, author of “Sophocles’ Antigone and the History of the Concept of Natural Law,” states that Creon symbolizes the law, and the “voice of the future” and like so, Antigone the “voice of the past.” He also notes that Sophocles may be warning the audience of the future possibility of autocracy and lawless citizens in the Greek world. Symbols of both dreadful scenarios obviously are Antigone and Creon (552). Teiresias, the blind prophet is also an example of symbolism in the play. “The boy here is my guide, as I am others (1063)”. The prophet symbolizes wisdom and knowledge that one may have. Teiresias is blind, but he sees more than the most-high king Creon. In addition to symbolism, Sophocles also reinforces the theme of this drama with foreshadowing. In the very beginning, one can already tell of the destructive ending for Antigone, “… for whoever breaks the edict death is prescribed, and death by stoning publicly (40-1).” Antigone is foreshadowing her death, and without a doubt knows what will happen to her if she chooses to go against the decree of the king. With Antigone going through with the offence, she sets the stage for what will come soon enough. A second example of Sophocles’ use of foreshadowing in the Antigone, is shown when Creon states: “It is impossible to