Oedipus And Antigone Analysis

Daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta, Ismene and Antigone suffer in numerous ways as a result of their choices. The sisters writhe with torture in different ways throughout their lives. Although Ismene and Antigone suffered terrible fates, Antigone had it worst because she stood up for her family and scarified herself for what she believed in.

Antigone stood up for her family when her uncle Kreon created a law not to bury one of dear loved ones. Antigone’s uncle Kreon “buried Eteokles with full … lawful honors due [to] the dead” but Antigone’s other brother “Polyneices … [would] stay unburied” (lines 28-31). Anyone who objected to Kreon’s law, will be stoned to death in public. No one dared to disrespect Kreon’s law except for his niece Antigone. The Sentry said that he saw Antigone “[bring] dust, handful by handful” upon her deceased brother, Polyneices (line 523). Antigone gave her fellow brother a proper burial with the offerings as well. Antigone cried at the grave of her dear brother. She could not let her brother remain unburied. Not only did Antigone stand up for her family, she also sacrificed herself for what she believed in.

Antigone will only follow the god’s law. Antigone said to Kreon that “[he is a] human” and that he “[violated] the lawful traditions” by changing the god’s laws (lines 556-557). Kreon did not have the right to change the laws written by the gods. Only the gods can change them, no mortal or civilian. Antigone is accepting that “[she] will die, and early” too because she tells Kreon that “anyone who lives the troubled life [I have] must benefit from death” (lines 568-570). Antigone knows that she will die anyway, might as well do it for something profitable. Antigone forfeited her single and childless life while Ismene tried to take credit for burying