Antigone (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: Sophocles
- First Published: 441
- Type of Work: Classical Drama
- Genres: Drama, Mythological literature, Tragedy
- Subjects: Mythology or myths, Suicide, Gods or goddesses, Fratricide, parricide, or filicide, Heroes or heroism, Prophecy or prophets, Greek or Roman times, Greece or Greek people, Heads of state, Oracles, Tyrants or tyranny
- Locales: Greece, ancient, Thebes, ancient
Oedipus’ two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, each lead an army which clashes at the gate of Thebes. The two brothers kill each other. Their uncle, Creon, orders an honorable burial for Eteocles but orders that Polynices’ body be left to rot, vowing death to anyone who disobeys his command.
Antigone, Creon’s niece and sister of the two fallen combatants, tries to persuade her sister Ismene to help her bury Polynices’ body. The fearful Ismene refuses. Antigone buries the body herself, contending that the laws of the gods supersede the laws of the state.
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