of Thebes which he rules and represents.

ISMENE. ... Shall we not perish wretchedest of all,
If in defiance of the law we cross
A monarch's will?—weak women, think of that,
Not framed by nature to contend with men.
Remember this too that the stronger rules;
We must obey his orders, these or worse.
Therefore I plead compulsion and entreat
The dead to pardon. I perforce obey
The powers that be.

After the entrance of the Chorus in the Parados, in which the Chorus memorializes the civil war and the deaths of Eteocles and Polynices—"both perished, brother slain by brother"—Creon provides further background information about the play when he addresses the Chorus in episode 1.

Creon first explains how he became King of Thebes.

CREON. (to Chorus) I knew you loyal to Laius of old;
Again, when Oedipus restored our State,
Both while he ruled and when his rule was o'er,
Ye still were constant to the royal line.
Now that his two sons perished in one day,
Brother by brother murderously slain,
By right of kinship to the Princes dead,
I claim and hold the throne and sovereignty.

Creon then attempts to justify his decree which allows Eteocles, "the foremost champion" of Thebes, to be buried with honors as a hero to the state, but which forbids anyone to bury Eteocles's "miscreant" brother, Polynices, under pain of death.

CREON. ... I have proclaimed an edict as concerns
The sons of Oedipus; Eteocles
Who in his country's battle fought and fell,
The foremost champion—duly bury him
With all observances and ceremonies
That are the guerdon of the heroic dead.
But for the miscreant exile who returned
Minded in flames and ashes to blot out
His father's city and his father's gods...
For Polyneices 'tis ordained that none
Shall give him burial or make mourn for him,
But leave his corpse unburied, to be meat
For dogs and carrion crows.

Shortly thereafter, a guard enters to tell Creon that someone has tried to bury Polynices, against Creon's decree, and this sets the main plot of the play into motion.

One important element of a subplot of the play isn't revealed until dialogue between Ismene and Creon in episode 2.

Antigone is brought before Creon for violating his decree, and he condemns her to death.

CREON. Away with her, and having walled her up
In a rock-vaulted tomb, as I ordained,
Leave her alone at liberty to die.

Ismene tries to intercede on her sister's behalf and reveals information about Antigone which hasn't previously been disclosed.

ISMENE. What, wilt thou slay thy own son's plighted bride?

Antigone is betrothed to Creon's son, Haemon.

Haemon appeals to his father to release Antigone, but Creon refuses, which ensures that Antigone will die and that Haemon will cause Creon to regret his decision to condemn Antigone to death.

The background information in the play Antigone is provided in the exposition in two ways. The first way that the reader is given necessary background information is through the opening scene of the play. The play opens with Antigone having a conversation with her sister, Ismene, about their uncle, King Creon, who will not allow their brother Polynices to have a proper burial. Antigone is outraged at the injustice and is determined to ensure that her brother is given proper burial rights.

The second way that exposition is provided is through the chorus's dialogue. The odd thing about this play is that the exposition continues throughout the play as the chorus reveals what is happening in the present, as well as offering more background information about past events. This allows the play to maintain one setting without having to worry about creating scenes that depict past events, which could be confusing to the audience. The chorus begins explaining the events that led the brothers to their deaths, directly after Antigone and Ismene's initial conversation. Polynices and his brother both died while fighting each other for the right to be the king of Thebes. Polynices is not provided a proper burial because he is considered to be a traitor to Thebes.