Antigone
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.
Antigone's motivations and justification for burying Polyneices
Antigone's motivations for burying Polyneices stem from her loyalty to her family and the gods. She believes it is her divine duty to ensure her brother receives proper burial rites, despite the king's edict. Her justification is rooted in the belief that divine law supersedes human law, and she is willing to face death to honor this principle.
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.
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.
Why does Antigone not let Ismene share guilt and what are the consequences?
Antigone does not let Ismene share the guilt because Ismene initially refuses to help bury their brother Polynices, fearing Creon's death decree. Antigone views the burial as an honorable act required by divine law, while Ismene's reluctance makes her a "traitor" in Antigone's eyes. As a result, Antigone alone faces the consequences, ultimately being sentenced to death, leading to her suicide and triggering further tragedies, including the deaths of Creon's son Haemon and others.
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.
Character analysis in Antigone
In Antigone, the characters are driven by their moral convictions and personal flaws. Antigone herself is defiant and loyal, prioritizing divine law over human law, while Creon, the king, is stubborn and prideful, valuing order and state law above all else. Ismene represents caution and obedience, contrasting with Antigone's rebellious spirit. The tragedy unfolds as these conflicting values clash.
The reasons behind the suicides of Antigone and Eurydice in Antigone
The suicides of Antigone and Eurydice in Antigone stem from their profound grief and despair. Antigone takes her own life because she cannot live with the dishonor of leaving her brother unburied, defying Creon's edict. Eurydice, in turn, kills herself out of unbearable sorrow after learning of her son Haemon's death, who committed suicide over Antigone's fate.
Antigone's final words and unusual statements in her last scene
Antigone's final words and unusual statements in her last scene express her unwavering resolve and defiance. She laments her fate but remains steadfast in her belief that she has acted justly by burying her brother. Her statements reflect a mixture of sorrow, pride, and acceptance of her tragic destiny.
How does Antigone exhibit bravery and courage in Sophocles' Antigone?
The circumstances and responsibility surrounding the deaths of Haemon and Antigone
Haemon and Antigone's deaths are intertwined with themes of pride and defiance. Antigone defies King Creon's edict to honor her brother, leading to her death sentence. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, pleads for her life but ultimately commits suicide upon finding her dead. Creon's rigid enforcement of the law and refusal to heed counsel contribute significantly to their tragic ends.
How is Antigone an allegory for the individual versus the state?
Antigone serves as an allegory for the conflict between the individual and the state, with Antigone embodying personal conscience and Creon representing state authority. Her defiance against Creon's edict highlights the moral conflict when state laws clash with personal ethics. Creon's harsh punishment of Antigone demonstrates the dangers of state oppression, ultimately leading to personal and societal loss. The play advocates for a balance where state and individual needs coexist through moral dialogue.
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