Antigone

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Extended Character Analysis

Antigone is the protagonist of Sophocles’s play Antigone. She is Oedipus’s daughter and Creon’s niece. She is pious, brave, and loyal to her family. Upon returning to Thebes and learning that Creon has forbidden anyone from giving her brother, Polynices, a proper burial, Antigone decides to bury him herself. Rather than doing so in secret, Antigone is proud of her actions and readily claims responsibility. She accuses Creon of impiety and asserts the superiority of the so-called unwritten laws of the gods over the laws of men. Faced with execution, Antigone exclaims that she can die happily knowing that she preserved Polynices’s dignity in death.

Antigone and Her Family

Family is important to Antigone. As Jocasta and Oedipus’s daughter, she has lived with the legacy of being the offspring of incest. However, she still loves and cares for her father up until his death in Oedipus at Colonus. Upon returning to Thebes in Antigone, she sacrifices herself in order to give her brother a proper burial and asserts that the bonds between family members supercede Theban law. Though her family legacy has filled her life with “misery,” she still feels duty-bound to honor her fallen brother, and she disdains her sister, Ismene, for refusing to help. Antigone believes that she will be reunited with her family in death, a belief that helps her face execution with stubborn dignity.

Antigone and the Tragic Hero Narrative

Antigone is sometimes read as a tragic hero. She begins the play as a highborn woman who is betrothed to Haemon, the future king of Thebes. By this reading, her hamartia, or tragic flaw, is her lack of respect for Theban law and her pride in having defied it. By defying Creon’s will, she brings about her own downfall and is forced to confront the consequences of her actions. Just as Antigone’s mother, Jocasta, hanged herself after discovering that she had committed incest, Antigone also hangs herself after being entombed for her crimes. By this reading, her suicide is a form of penance.

However, many aspects of Antigone’s story do not fit into the narrative of a tragic hero. Antigone arguably begins the play at a low point rather than a high one. Her parents and her brothers are all dead, and, as women, Antigone and Ismene are relatively powerless in Theban society. Unlike her father, Oedipus, Antigone’s tragic fate is not determined by the gods nor does she defy them at any point. Indeed, Antigone defies Creon in order to uphold the laws of the gods. Teiresias suggests that the gods support Antigone’s actions and that Creon will bring ruin to Thebes by executing her. By this reading, Antigone is not a tragic hero; rather, she is a heroic martyr who sacrifices herself in order to prove the superiority of the laws of the gods.

Antigone as a Proto-Feminist

Antigone can also be read as a proto-feminist text. Creon’s prioritization of state superiority and Antigone’s prioritization of natural law epitomizes the gender expectations of ancient Greece. Whereas men were leaders and heads of state, women were expected to maintain the home and focus on building a family. This expectation is reflected in Antigone’s belief that the laws of the gods and the bonds among family members are more important than the laws of the state. Creon is obligated to look after the interests of Thebes; by contrast, Antigone is excluded from political decision-making and legal discourse on account of her sex. Instead, she is driven by her own moral code. This leads her to criticize the male-dominated government that prioritizes law and order over emotional and religious considerations. Unlike Ismene, who willingly bows to Creon’s authority, Antigone refuses to accept the common view that women are socially inferior. Narratively, Sophocles praises these attributes, aligning Antigone’s beliefs with those of the gods. At the end of the play, Antigone becomes a martyr for the idea that love and family are more important than Creon’s cold logic.

Expert Q&A

Why is Antigone's suicide significant to her beliefs?

Antigone's suicide in the play is significant as it reflects her beliefs and ideals. Despite the state's decree, she followed her religious faith to bury Polyneices, an act she believed was commanded by the gods. Her suicide can be seen as an act of defiance against the state, regaining control over her fate, and upholding her religious faith. Even though suicide was considered an act against the state, Antigone's actions align with the ancient Greek belief in fate and the will of the gods.

What are Antigone's positive and negative traits?

Antigone's positive traits include her loyalty and independence. She defies King Creon's edict to ensure her brother receives a proper burial, demonstrating courage and familial devotion. However, her negative trait is stubbornness; her refusal to compromise or consider alternative solutions leads to her downfall. This inflexibility ultimately results in her tragic death, suggesting that her inability to adapt or think strategically limits her potential for broader change.

Can you provide a quote from Antigone that demonstrates her stubbornness?

Antigone's stubbornness is evident when she tells Ismene, "If that is what you think, I should not want you, even if you asked to come... But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy." Her defiance is further highlighted in her confrontation with Creon, where she states, "Your edict, King, was strong, But all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God." These quotes illustrate her unwavering commitment to her beliefs.

Why is Antigone more justified than Creon in their tragic collision?

Antigone is justified in disobeying Creon's law because she believes she is following higher and more just laws: her sense of duty to family and the gods.

Identify two quotes of indirect characterization for Antigone.

In "Antigone," indirect characterization reveals Antigone's strong moral convictions through her dialogue and actions. Her determination to bury her brother Polynices, despite the king's edict, shows her belief in natural law over human law. This is evident in her defiance towards her sister Ismene, saying, "But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy." Her actions, ultimately leading to her death, reinforce her commitment to her beliefs.

In scene 4 of Antigone, what is Antigone's only regret?

Antigone's only regret is that she will not experience marriage and motherhood, notably with Haemon, due to her impending death. Despite this sadness, she remains resolute in her actions, believing she was obeying the gods' will by burying her brother. She laments her fate as an "unwed wife" and questions the justice of her punishment, but does not repent for her actions, viewing them as pious and just.

In Sophocles' Antigone, why does Antigone bury her brother a second time?

Antigone buries her brother Polynices a second time because, despite Creon's edict against it, she is determined to honor her brother and obey the divine laws over human laws. After the initial burial is disturbed, she returns to cover the body again with dust and perform burial rites. Her actions are driven by her belief in the eternal laws of the gods and her loyalty to her family, ultimately leading to her arrest and tragic death.

How does Antigone exhibit bravery and courage in Sophocles' Antigone?

Antigone and Creon are similar in their unwavering nature. Both characters' stubbornness leads to negative consequences for both of them.

In Sophocles' Antigone, what does Antigone mean when she says "this crime is holy?"

When Antigone refers to her act as a "holy crime," she means that while burying her brother Polyneices defies Creon's edict, violating human laws, it aligns with divine laws, which she holds as supreme. Antigone believes that honoring the dead and ensuring their peace in the afterlife is a sacred duty, more important than obeying temporal authority. This highlights the central conflict in the play between divine and human laws.

Does Antigone treat Ismene fairly?

Antigone's treatment of Ismene can be viewed from different perspectives. If one supports Antigone's defiance of Creon, her criticism of Ismene is justified, as Ismene is seen as cowardly. Conversely, if Antigone's actions are deemed wrong, her harshness seems unfair. Antigone's courage makes her intolerant of those less brave, like Ismene, who believes she is right by conforming to societal norms. Both characters are sympathetic, each flawed yet understandable in their choices.

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