Antigones Character - 1565 Words

Steeped in family drama, death, politics, and religion, Sophocles’ Antigone is a complex tragedy to say the least. The basic plot of the tragedy is the conflict between Antigone’s family principles and religious tradition and Creon’s embodiment of state and its authority (Scodel). It is on of three tragedies written by Sophocles that chronicle the life of Oedipus. It was written before Oedipus the King, but is a culmination of the events that occurred after Oedipus’ death (Norton 610). Antigone’s brothers, Eteocles and Polynices had battled over the throne of Thebes, resulting in the death of both (Lawall). To show his disdain for the treasonous acts of Polynices, Creon passes a decree against his burial: †¦a proclamation has forbidden the†¦show more content†¦In a battle over Thebes, her brothers kill each other in hand-to-hand combat. Her family is dwindling away at a fast pace, dealing with the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming. Antigone’s grief over the death of her brothers is compounded by the ensuing controversy over the burial rights of Polynices. While Eteocles is considered a hero for protecting Thebes, Polynices is labeled a traitor for waging war against his homeland (Norton 610). On top of her losses, she faces the decision of going against a direct order from the state to leave Polynices corpse unburied. She easily decides to defy Creon out of her loyalty to Polynices, the gods, her duty as a sister. Antigone makes no distinctions between her brothers and when Ismene refuses to help her, she disowns her (Lawall). Babko writes, â€Å"Any loyalties are revealed in the first lines of Antigone, as Antigone announces that she will defy Creonâ€⠄¢s order and bury her brother.† Antigone is well aware that the penalty for defying Creon’s order, she states, â€Å"†¦he won’t treat the matter lightly. Whoever disobeys in the least will die, his doom is sealed: stoning to death inside the city walls!† (41-41). Her devotion to her family, in spite of its consequences, is one of Antigone’s most admirable qualities, a quality that fosters compassion for her suffering. In addition to defying Creon based on her loyalty to her family,Show MoreRelatedSympathy for the Main Character in Sophocles Antigone Essay794 Words   |  4 PagesSympathy for the Main Character in Sophocles Antigone Sophocles play is named after its main character, Antigone, and for one the first times in Greek Tragedy it is a woman. In this play, Antigone is clearly the protagonist, as she is showed in her grief, seems sympathetic and the reader or spectator sees her from the beginning; it creates more impact and draws attention to the extremity Read MoreSophocles Antigone : The Third Of The Three Theban Tragic Plays1106 Words   |  5 Pageslove for her brothers. After Antigone’s two brothers, Polynices and Eteocles died in battle, Creon became the new leader of Thebes. 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