Antigone By Sophocles: Plot Analysis

In 441 B.C. Sophocles wrote a sequel to his play Oedipus and called it Antigone. This story focuses on Oedipus’s daughter, Antigone. The city of Thebes is under seize by Polynices. His brother Eteocles is fighting against him. Both of the brothers are killed because of their father’s curse. Creon, their uncle, is now the king of Thebes. Creon orders that Eteocles be buried with full honors for defending the city while Polynices is to be left unburied. He then declares that anyone who attempts to restore honor to Polynices’ body will be killed. However, Antigone plots to bury her brother’s body and reveals this plan to her sister, Ismene. Creon then finds out that his niece, Antigone, attempted to bury the body by herself. Antigone tells Creon

that he has no right to decide who is buried because it is a decision that only the gods can make. Haemon, Creon’s son who is in love with Antigone, defends Antigone’s actions. Creon then decides that Ismene will be spared and Antigone will be starved instead of being stoned. The prophet Tiresias warns Creon that the gods are unhappy with his decisions. Creon decides to free Antigone and allow the burial of Polynices. Before he can declare his intentions though, Antigone hangs herself and then Haemon kills himself. Creon’s wife, Eurydice, is so overcome with grief that she kills herself to and Creon is left alone to suffer the consequences of his actions. Before Antigone’s death she defied civil law in order to uphold the divine law of the gods. Antigone has an undeniable devotion to her family and is rebelliously loyal to them. She is stubborn and independent even if the face of greater tragedy. Antigone’s character is characterized as a tragic heroine but she beyond that she is loyal, independent and brave.
Throughout the story, Antigone is undeniably loyal.

She knows from the start that burying her brother is punishable by death. Even when her sister Ismene will not help her, Antigone goes anyways. Antigone says to her sister “He is my brother and-deny it as you will- your brother too. No one will convict me for a traitor.” She refuses to betray her family no matter what the cost may be to her. She will not betray her own blood. This is ironic though because by burying the body she is still betraying her family because Creon is her uncle. She tells her sister that Creon has no right to keep her from the body and that even if she dies burying him that she will die in glory. Her death will be glorious because she did what was right by her family and by the gods. She holds the divine law of the gods highest in her mind even when she knows that denying the civil law will only bring more tragedy to the city of Thebes. Antigone’s loyalty to her family drives the story and the tragedy that takes place. Without Antigone’s desire to bring honor to her brother then there would not be a family feud with

Creon.
Besides being fiercely loyal to her family, Antigone is also very independent in her actions.

Antigone is so driven to bury her brother than she is not concerned about if anyone will help her. Antigone asked Ismene to help bury the body and when Ismene refuses Antigone says, “I won’t insist, no, even if you should have a change of heart, I’d never welcome you in the labor, not with me. So, do as you like, whatever suits you best- I’ll bury him myself.” Ismene is able to act and understand the consequences of helping Antigone and refuses. However, Antigone knows that consequences and goes about burying the body anyways without her sisters help. Antigone does this because it is what she feels as the right thing to do regardless of anyone else’s opinion. Her desire to be independent is what lands her in trouble with Creon. While the rest of the city is too afraid to be punished, Antigone attempts to bury the body anyways. Even in the end, when she believes that she is going to be left to die, she chooses to create her own death instead of suffering the death others want for her. She refuses to accept and do what others want. She does her own, independent things regardless of the consequences or the effect on other

people.
While Antigone is loyal and independent, she is also incredibly brave. Her disregard for consequences and ability to speak out whenever she pleases is extremely bold and brave. This story takes place in a time where females were not supposed to stand up for themselves or be bold. It was a patriarchal society where women were seen as lesser beings. When Antigone says “These laws- I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods…. But if I had allowed by my own mother’s so to rot, an unburied corpse- that would have been an agony!” Creon does not take her seriously. He doesn’t value her opinions and actions because she is a female character. However, to even say those things to Creon would take extreme bravery especially in the face of death. Not only did what she say defy the law but they also disregarded Creon’s power as a ruler. This puts Antigone in more trouble and it also seals her death sentence even more. It is only when male characters speak to Creon that he changes his mind about her fate.
In Antigone’s short life she showed more bravery and loyalty to her family then most people do in their lifetime. Her defiance of civil law, loyalty to divine law and resistance to traditional female roles shows a character far ahead of her time. Antigone’s loyalty, independence and bravery show a character that is willing to face any danger. Unfortunately, Antigone’s story ended in tragedy.