Summary
Antigone by Sophocles examines the conflict between personal beliefs and state authority. Written around 442 BCE, it is one of Sophocles's earliest surviving plays and part of the Theban cycle. The story focuses on Antigone's refusal to obey King Creon's order. She prioritizes divine laws by burying her brother Polynices. The drama unfolds in Thebes, which faces political instability after a civil war. Addressing themes of duty, loyalty, and justice, Antigone captures the tension between individual rights and governmental power, which remains a contentious issue.
Plot
Set after the destructive civil war in Thebes, Antigone by Sophocles examines the clash of moral duties. Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, die fighting each other for control of Thebes. Their uncle, Creon, takes the throne and orders that Eteocles receive a proper burial while denying the same to Polynices, whom he deems a traitor.
Antigone, their sister, defies Creon's decree due to her belief in divine law and familial loyalty, asserting her commitment to the dead supersedes living allegiances. Her sister Ismene fears taking action, but Antigone remains determined despite the threat of death. She is arrested, facing Creon as he strictly enforces his law to establish authority and prevent chaos.
Creon's son Haemon, who is betrothed to Antigone, urges his father to show mercy, warning that Antigone’s death will cause disaster. Creon remains steadfast, leading to a series of tragedies. Haemon finds Antigone dead by suicide in her tomb and kills himself in grief. Creon's wife, Eurydice, overwhelmed by their son's death, also takes her life. Creon is left to face the severe outcomes of his unyielding pride and opposition to divine will.
Characters
Antigone: Oedipus's daughter. Antigone is determined to uphold familial and divine laws despite the king’s orders. She defies Creon's decree by choosing to bury her brother Polyneices. This decision shows her commitment to honor and duty.
Creon: The ruling king of Thebes and Antigone's uncle. Creon represents the conflict between law and personal pride. His strict adherence to state laws and refusal to accommodate ethical considerations lead to tragic outcomes.
Ismene: Antigone's sister. Ismene initially hesitates to defy Creon. She embodies caution and compliance, but her willingness to accept punishment alongside Antigone shows her loyalty and courage.
Haemon: Creon's son and Antigone’s fiancé. Haemon is caught between loyalty to his father and his love for Antigone. His choices highlight the cost of the conflict between personal desires and authoritarian rule.
Tiresias: A blind prophet. Tiresias acts as a moral guide, warning Creon about the consequences of arrogance.
Eurydice: Creon's wife. Eurydice symbolizes the collateral impact of Creon’s rigidity. Her despair and suicide after Haemon's death further illustrate the personal toll of Creon's hubris and errors in judgment.
Themes
Civil disobedience
Antigone embodies civil disobedience by defying King Creon's decree and choosing to bury her brother, Polynices. This act highlights the clash between personal ethics and institutional mandates. Her defiance indicates that her allegiance is to divine commandments over human laws.
Natural versus human law
Antigone centers on the conflict between divine mandates and man-made legislation. Antigone believes the gods require proper burial rites, suggesting mortal law cannot overrule these traditions. Creon prioritizes state law, creating a tragic clash of principles.
Moral and ethical dilemmas
Both Antigone and Creon face significant ethical decisions. Antigone places familial and religious duties above societal expectations. Creon's focus on civil order leads to his downfall. This illustrates the complex interplay between personal values, legal adherence, and family ties.
Individual conscience versus state authority
Antigone acts from personal conviction, challenging state authority. Haemon, Creon's son, also questions this stance, advocating for governance by collective voices instead of a dictatorship. This situation underscores the dangers of absolute power and the role of personal discernment in politics.
Literary techniques
Sophocles uses various literary techniques in Antigone to add depth and thematic layers. Symbolism plays a key role, with the stone tomb representing Creon's authoritative rule and his challenge to divine laws. The chorus introduces foreshadowing, indicating the tragic fate awaiting Creon, as exemplified when Tiresias warns him of dire outcomes for ignoring prophetic advice.
Dramatic irony is a significant device, evident in Creon's unawareness of his impending downfall. While he enforces a strict law against burying Polynices, the audience understands the tragic consequences of his pride. Metaphors, such as Haemon's analogy of trees bending in the wind, underscore the need for adaptability against rigid authority. These techniques together explore themes of power, pride, and fate.
Historical context
Antigone by Sophocles, first performed around 441 BC, reflects the sociopolitical climate of ancient Greece. At the time, Greece was experiencing a transition as city-states like Athens moved from oligarchic rule toward democracy. This period saw intense debates on governance. Sophocles explores themes of allegiance, law, and rebellion, resonating with a society often involved in wars and internal conflict. The play examines the clash between human-made laws and divine decrees. This theme was relevant against the backdrop of evolving Greek legal systems and philosophical discourse. During a time of political and social upheaval, Antigone addresses the struggle between personal conscience and state power, a theme that remains significant today.
Quick facts
Antigone was first performed at the Festival of Dionysus around 442-440 BC.
Antigone is part of the Theban plays, along with Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus.
Sophocles wrote Antigone before Oedipus Rex, though its events occur last chronologically.
The play focuses on Antigone’s moral conflict with King Creon over his decree forbidding her brother’s burial.
Antigone defies Creon, insisting burial rites align with divine, unwritten laws.
The play explores major themes such as civil disobedience, familial loyalty, and divine versus human law.
Sophocles's portrayal of Antigone as a strong female lead challenges traditional gender roles in ancient Greek society.
The play highlights Creon's tragic downfall driven by pride and rigid adherence to the law.
Modern adaptations of Antigone frequently transpose its themes into contemporary political contexts.
Jean Anouilh's WWII adaptation was a symbolic resistance to Nazism, portraying Creon as authoritarian.
Film adaptations
Antigone has inspired several film adaptations. George Tzavellas's 1961 adaptation, with Irene Papas as Antigone, closely follows the original play, focusing on the conflict between personal conviction and state laws. Sophie Deraspe's 2019 Canadian film reinterprets Antigone in a modern context. Set in Montreal, this adaptation addresses contemporary sociopolitical issues such as the refugee crisis and systemic injustice, reinforcing the relevance of Sophocle’s play to current global dilemmas.
About the author
Sophocles, born around 496 BCE in Colonus near Athens, made significant contributions to ancient Greek drama. He introduced the use of a third actor, increasing the complexity of character interactions and plot development. He wrote more than 120 plays, according to scholars, yet only seven have survived. Oedipus Rex and Antigone are among these enduring works. His dramas address themes of human suffering, offering psychological and moral contemplation. Sophocles also held public positions, such as treasurer and general, integrating civic roles with his artistic pursuits. His innovations in drama and thematic exploration continue to influence literary discourse, engaging with questions of fate, autonomy, and the divine.
