ANTIGONE (SOPHOCLES)
King Oedipus has died in exile, leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles
and Polynices. The king had decreed that his two sons are supposed to take turns as rulers; they
agree, initially. After Eteocles refuses to step down after one year, the two brothers fight over the
prize. Polynices attacks Thebes, leading to civil war, and in the end both brothers are dead, each
by the others hand. Creon, their uncle, assumes the role of king. He gives a state funeral to
Eteocles but orders that the body of Polynices be left to rot in the sun as an example to his
supporters.
Antigone, Oedipuss daughter, meets her sister Ismene at the gates to Creons palace in
Thebes. Antigone feels duty bound to bury her brother Polynices despite Creons edict and asks
her sister for help. Ismene refuses, arguing that as women they should not go against the
decisions of men, especially those of the king.
The Chorus is summoned to the palace. Creon informs the Chorus that he claims the
throne and that Polynices is to be left unburied. However, Antigone has stealthily sprinkled
Polynices body with a layer of dirt, giving her brother a symbolic burial. A guard runs to Creon
and reports the attempted burial. Creon is furious and accuses the guard of being involved. One
of the elders says it is the work of a god, but Creon disagrees. He threatens to torture and kill the
guard unless he captures the real perpetrator. The Chorus sings about the wonder of humanity,
but for the city to be safe, humanity should both honor civil law and revere the gods.
The guards brush the dirt off Polynices body and then hide, looking to ambush whoever
tries to rebury him. Antigone soon arrives and tries to bury Polynices again, but is caught by the
guards. She is brought before Creon, where she readily confesses. They argue over her actions
and his decree. Creon tries to reason with Antigone, urging her to renounce her crime and
assuring her of total indemnity so that she can go on to marry Haemon as planned and,
presumably, to lead a happy life. Antigone, however, will have none of Creons proffered
happiness, preferring to die rather than to take part in her uncles political scheme. Creon decrees
that she must die. Ismene is brought in and questioned. She demands that she share the guilt.
Antigone argues with her.
Creons son Haemon argues with his father, trying to convince him to relent. Creon
remains stubborn and Haemon threatens to die with Antigone. Creon decrees Antigone to be
entombed alive. Antigone mourns her fate and the curse on her family. The Chorus is divided in
loyalty between Antigone and Creon. Antigone defends her actions and asks the gods to punish
Creon. The Chorus reminds the audience of others who suffered because they tried to subvert
the gods will.
The blind prophet Tiresias tells Creon that he has angered the gods and that Creon is to
blame for the peoples prayers going unanswered. A sickness plagues Thebes, and neighboring
cities bear Thebes ill will. Creon accuses the prophet of being paid to upset him. Tiresias calls
Creon a tyrant and warns him that he will lose his son. This troubles Creon, and he asks the
Chorus for council. They advise him to yield and release Antigone. Creon agrees and leaves. The
Chorus then asks Dionysus to help Thebes.
A messenger arrives and relates to the Chorus what happened at the tomb. The
messenger says that Creon and his men went to bury Polynices and to release Antigone, only to
discover that she had killed herself. Haemon, weeping over her body, then kills himself before
their eyes. Eurydice overhears the messenger. Creon arrives and openly accepts responsibility
for the deaths of Antigone and Haemon. A second messenger arrives and tells him that his wife,
too, has committed suicide. Creon prays for death. The Chorus delivers one of the moral lessons
of the tragedy: Obedience to the laws of the gods comes first.
