thesis statement for antigone

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — Antigone

Essays on Antigone

Hook examples for "antigone" essays, the tragic heroine hook.

Introduce the character of Antigone as the tragic heroine of the play. Discuss her noble qualities, her determination to uphold her beliefs, and the tragic consequences of her actions.

The Conflict of Divine and Human Law Hook

Explore the central conflict in "Antigone" between divine law and human law. Discuss how Antigone's defiance of King Creon's decree highlights the clash between moral duty and political authority.

The Power and Pride of Creon Hook

Focus on the character of Creon as a symbol of political power and pride. Discuss how his decisions and hubris lead to tragedy within the play and explore the lessons it conveys.

The Feminist Interpretation Hook

Analyze "Antigone" from a feminist perspective, highlighting the role of gender and the defiance of traditional gender roles in the play. Discuss how Antigone's actions challenge societal norms.

The Chorus as a Moral Compass Hook

Examine the role of the Chorus in "Antigone" as a moral compass and commentator on the events of the play. Discuss how the Chorus adds depth to the themes and characters.

The Tragedy of Ismene Hook

Explore the character of Ismene, Antigone's sister, and her role in the tragedy. Discuss her internal conflict and her ultimate fate as a foil to Antigone.

The Ancient Greek Context Hook

Provide historical and cultural context for "Antigone" by discussing ancient Greek beliefs and values, including the significance of burial rituals and the influence of Greek tragedy.

The Universal Themes Hook

Highlight the enduring themes of "Antigone," such as the consequences of moral choices, the conflict between individual and state, and the nature of justice. Discuss how these themes resonate with audiences today.

The Tragedy's Relevance in Modern Society Hook

Discuss the relevance of "Antigone" in contemporary society, drawing parallels to issues of civil disobedience, government authority, and individual conscience. Emphasize the enduring impact of the play's themes.

The Lessons of "Antigone" Hook

End your essay by summarizing the lessons and insights that "Antigone" offers to readers and audiences. Reflect on the enduring importance of this classic Greek tragedy.

List of Interesting Antigone Essay Topics

• The Role of Fate vs. Free Will in Sophocles' "Antigone"
• Moral Conflict and the Law: Analyzing Antigone and Creon's Dilemmas
• Gender Roles and Resistance in "Antigone"
• The Complexities of Morality and Duty in Sophocles' Antigone
• The Concept of Divine Law vs. Human Law in "Antigone"
• Antigone and Creon: A Study of Foil Characters in Sophocles' Tragedy
• The Influence of Greek Chorus in Shaping the Narrative of "Antigone"
• "Antigone" and the Politics of Rebellion: Insights into Authority and Obedience
• The Theme of Family Loyalty vs. Civic Duty in "Antigone"

Foreshadowing in Antigone

Examples of foreshadowing in antigone, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Creon's Pride in Sophocles' Antigone

The moral obligations of antigone society to families and elders, an analysis of power, authority and truth in antigone, a play by sophocles, modern feminism vs antigone feminism, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Pride Comes before a Fall: Creon's Tragedy in Antigone

Book review: antigone written by sophocles, comparison of antigone and creon in sophocles’ antigone, ismene: a tragic hero in antigone, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

How Egos Compete in Antigone

Antigone: a heroine meets her tragedy, the story of true family love: antigone, the tragic flaw of hero in the antigone by sophocles, sophocles’ antigone play: following the heart against the authority demands, the contrast between antigone and creon in the play antigone, the symbolism of light and darkness as depicted in antigone, shadows and sunshine: imagery in antigone, the theme of violence and its role in the odyssey and antigone, how protagonist females use masculine characteristics to overpower men in antigone and salome, creon and his views in in antigone, analysis of the tragic heroes of antigone by sophocles: antigone and creon, pride of pentheus, antigone and oedipus, the power of pride in oedipus rex and antigone, how opposing viewpoints destroy the relationship between antigone and ismene, moral dillema and inner conflict in antigone, the comparison of romeo & juliet and antigone, the role of antigone in sophocles' play, the hero archetype: antigone and lysistrata, metaphors in tragedy: indirection and bloodshed in "agamemnon" and "antigone".

441 BC, Sophocles

Play; Tragedy

Antigone, Ismene, Creon, Eurydice, Haemon, Tiresias, Sentry, Leader of the Chorus

In ancient Thebes, after the death of King Oedipus, his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, vie for the throne. However, a conflict arises as Eteocles assumes power and denies Polynices a proper burial, condemning him to be left unburied on the battlefield. Antigone, the sister of the two brothers, defies the decree and resolves to give Polynices a burial, honoring the sacred duty to her family and the gods. Antigone's act of defiance pits her against King Creon, who has proclaimed the decree. Despite Antigone's pleas and the counsel of his son Haemon, Creon remains steadfast in his decision, believing it necessary to maintain order and authority. As the tension escalates, the chorus, representing the voice of the people, questions the morality of Creon's actions. Tragedy unfolds as Antigone is sentenced to death and her actions set off a chain of events leading to a series of tragic outcomes. The play explores themes of duty, loyalty, and the clash between personal beliefs and the laws of the state. In the end, the consequences of Creon's stubbornness and Antigone's steadfastness bring about profound sorrow and self-reflection.

The ancient Greek tragedy "Antigone is set in the city of Thebes. The play takes place in a time of political turmoil and upheaval following the events of the mythological story of Oedipus. Thebes is portrayed as a city plagued by a curse due to the sins of Oedipus and his family. The specific locations within the setting include the royal palace, where King Creon resides and makes his decrees, and the battlefield where the two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, have fought and died. The city streets and public spaces serve as the backdrop for the interactions between the characters and the chorus.

One of the main themes is the clash between individual conscience and state authority. Antigone, the protagonist, defies the decree of King Creon by burying her brother Polyneices, despite it being forbidden. This conflict raises questions about the limits of governmental power and the importance of personal ethics. Another prominent theme is the nature of divine law versus human law. Antigone's actions are motivated by her belief in honoring the divine laws and giving proper burial rites to her brother, highlighting the tension between religious and civil obligations. The theme of fate versus free will also emerges as characters grapple with their predetermined destinies and the choices they make. Antigone and Creon are both victims of their own tragic flaws, facing the consequences of their decisions. Other themes include the nature of power and its corrupting influence, the roles of gender and patriarchy, and the consequences of pride and hubris.

Dramatic irony (the audience knows that Antigone's defiance will lead to her downfall, while the characters remain unaware of their impending fate), symbolism (the burial of Polyneices), imagery (vivid descriptions of suffering, death, and familial bonds), dramatic dialogue and monologues.

Sophocles' tragedy "Antigone" has had a profound influence on literature, theater, and even broader aspects of society throughout history. One significant influence of "Antigone" is its exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas. The play raises questions about the clash between individual conscience and societal norms, highlighting the importance of standing up for one's beliefs. This theme resonates with audiences across time, inspiring discussions on topics such as civil disobedience, justice, and the limits of authority. "Antigone" has also left a lasting impact on dramatic techniques. Sophocles' masterful use of dialogue, monologues, and dramatic irony has influenced playwrights for centuries, shaping the development of tragedy as a genre. The play's emphasis on complex characters and their inner struggles has provided a template for character development in theater and literature. Furthermore, "Antigone" has influenced political and social movements. Its themes of rebellion against oppressive regimes and the pursuit of justice have served as rallying cries for activists throughout history. The play's examination of power dynamics, loyalty, and the consequences of unchecked authority continues to resonate in discussions of human rights, democracy, and social justice.

"Nobody likes the man who brings bad news." "I have no love for a friend who loves in words alone." "You are always defying the world, but you're only a girl, after all." "It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands." "We have only a little time to please the living.

1. According to accounts, Sophocles is said to have passed away while reciting a part of his play Antigone. 2. In 1944, the French playwright and screenwriter Jean Anouilh released a play titled Antigone, which garnered significant attention despite being staged in Paris under German occupation. 3. Sigmund Freud, the influential figure in psychoanalysis, chose to name his daughter Anna Antigone.

Antigone, the timeless Greek tragedy written by Sophocles, holds immense significance as a topic for essay writing. This profound play explores complex themes that resonate with the human experience across different cultures and time periods. The enduring relevance of Antigone lies in its exploration of fundamental moral dilemmas, the clash between personal convictions and societal norms, and the consequences of individual actions. It delves into themes of justice, loyalty, defiance, and the struggle for autonomy. Antigone's relevance extends beyond its original context, making it a captivating subject for analysis. The play prompts discussions on topics such as civil disobedience, the abuse of power, gender roles, and the role of religion in society. Its multidimensional characters, including the fearless Antigone, the conflicted Creon, and the wise Tiresias, provide rich material for character analysis and interpretation. Furthermore, Antigone's literary and dramatic elements, such as its use of dramatic irony, tragic flaw, and catharsis, make it a compelling work to study. By examining Antigone's themes, characters, and literary techniques, one can gain valuable insights into human nature, ethics, and the complexities of societal structures.

1. Murnaghan, S. (1986). Antigone 904-920 and the Institution of Marriage. The American Journal of Philology, 107(2), 192-207. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/294602) 2. Honig, B. (2009). Antigone's laments, Creon's grief: Mourning, membership, and the politics of exception. Political Theory, 37(1), 5-43. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0090591708326645) 3. Rouse, W. H. D. (1911). The two burials in Antigone. The Classical Review, 25(2), 40-42. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-review/article/abs/two-burials-in-antigone/5F435DF66023E724D84BE90BCA655AAA) 4. Meltzer, F. (2011). Theories of desire: Antigone again. Critical Inquiry, 37(2), 169-186. (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/657289?journalCode=ci) 5. de Fátima Silva, M. (2017). Antigone. In Brill's Companion to the Reception of Sophocles (pp. 391-474). Brill. (https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004300941/B9789004300941_007.xml) 6. Davis, C. (1995). The Abject: Kristeva and the Antigone. Paroles gelées, 13(1). (https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qt465qh#main) 7. Margon, J. S. (1970). The Death of Antigone. California Studies in Classical Antiquity, 3, 177-183. (https://online.ucpress.edu/ca/article-abstract/doi/10.2307/25010605/33738/The-Death-of-Antigone?redirectedFrom=PDF) 8. Marini, F. (1992). The uses of literature in the exploration of public administration ethics: The example of Antigone. Public Administration Review, 420-426. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/976801) 9. Benardete, S. (2014). Sacred Transgressions: A Reading of Sophocles' Antigone. (https://philpapers.org/rec/BENSTA-7)

Relevant topics

• A Rose For Emily
• Thank You Ma Am
• Frankenstein
• A Modest Proposal
• Between The World and Me
• Lord of The Flies
• Their Eyes Were Watching God
• The Outsiders
• The Crucible
• The Alchemist

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Five thesis statement why Antigone is a tragic hero in the play Antigone?

This is for my essay

I can't formulate five in this but here are a few for you:

Antigone has a few tragic flaws going for her, or rather against her. Her loyalty to the gods and her brother's memory means that she will have to be disloyal to King Creon.

Antigone is also pretty stubborn. That is kind of a good trait in a heroic sort of way but unfortunately her stubbornness gets herself in trouble but also risks other characters as well like Ismene and Haemon.

Antigone's modus operandi seems to be a reverence for all things dead, like Polynices, rather than herself or the people alive that she cares about.

Log In To Your GradeSaver Account

• Remember me
• Forgot your password?

Create Your GradeSaver Account

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Drama Criticism › Analysis of Sophocles’ Antigone

Analysis of Sophocles’ Antigone

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 29, 2020 • ( 0 )

Within this single drama—in great part, a harsh critique of Athenian society and the Greek city-state in general—Sophocles tells of the eternal struggle between the state and the individual, human and natural law, and the enormous gulf between what we attempt here on earth and what fate has in store for us all. In this magnificent dramatic work, almost incidentally so, we find nearly every reason why we are now what we are.

—Victor D. Hanson and John Heath, Who Killed Homer? The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom

With Antigone Sophocles forcibly demonstrates that the power of tragedy derives not from the conflict between right and wrong but from the confrontation between right and right. As the play opens the succession battle between the sons of Oedipus—Polynices and Eteocles—over control of Thebes has resulted in both of their deaths. Their uncle Creon, who has now assumed the throne, asserts his authority to end a destructive civil war and decrees that only Eteocles, the city’s defender, should receive honorable burial. Polynices, who has led a foreign army against Thebes, is branded a traitor. His corpse is to be left on the battlefield “to be chewed up by birds and dogs and violated,” with death the penalty for anyone who attempts to bury him and supply the rites necessary for the dead to reach the underworld. Antigone, Polynices’ sister, is determined to defy Creon’s order, setting in motion a tragic collision between opposed laws and duties: between natural and divine commands that dictate the burial of the dead and the secular edicts of a ruler determined to restore civic order, between family allegiance and private conscience and public duty and the rule of law that restricts personal liberty for the common good. Like the proverbial immovable object meeting an irresistible force, Antigone arranges the impact of seemingly irreconcilable conceptions of rights and responsibilities, producing one of drama’s enduring illuminations of human nature and the human condition.

Antigone is one of Sophocles’ greatest achievements and one of the most influential dramas ever staged. “Between 1790 and 1905,” critic George Steiner reports, “it was widely held by European poets, philosophers, [and] scholars that Sophocles’ Antigone was not only the fi nest of Greek tragedies, but a work of art nearer to perfection than any other produced by the human spirit.” Its theme of the opposition between the individual and authority has resonated through the centuries, with numerous playwrights, most notably Jean Anouilh, Bertolt Brecht, and Athol Fugard grafting contemporary concerns and values onto the moral and political dramatic framework that Sophocles established. The play has elicited paradoxical responses reflecting changing cultural and moral imperatives. Antigone, who has been described as “the first heroine of Western drama,” has been interpreted both as a heroic martyr to conscience and as a willfully stubborn fanatic who causes her own death and that of two other innocent people, forsaking her duty to the living on behalf of the dead. Creon has similarly divided critics between censure and sympathy. Despite the play’s title, some have suggested that the tragedy is Creon’s, not Antigone’s, and it is his abuse of authority and his violations of personal, family, and divine obligations that center the drama’s tragedy. The brilliance of Sophocles’ play rests in the complexity of motive and the competing absolute claims that the drama displays. As novelist George Eliot observed,

It is a very superficial criticism which interprets the character of Creon as that of hypocritical tyrant, and regards Antigone as a blameless victim. Coarse contrasts like this are not the materials handled by great dramatists. The exquisite art of Sophocles is shown in the touches by which he makes us feel that Creon, as well as Antigone, is contending for what he believes to be the right, while both are also conscious that, in following out one principle, they are laying themselves open to just blame for transgressing another.

Eliot would call the play’s focus the “antagonism of valid principles,” demonstrating a point of universal significance that “Wherever the strength of a man’s intellect, or moral sense, or affection brings him into opposition with the rules which society has sanctioned, there is renewed conflict between Antigone and Creon; such a man must not only dare to be right, he must also dare to be wrong—to shake faith, to wound friendship, perhaps, to hem in his own powers.” Sophocles’ Antigone is less a play about the pathetic end of a victim of tyranny or the corruption of authority than about the inevitable cost and con-sequence between competing imperatives that define the human condition. From opposite and opposed positions, both Antigone and Creon ultimately meet at the shared suffering each has caused. They have destroyed each other and themselves by who they are and what they believe. They are both right and wrong in a world that lacks moral certainty and simple choices. The Chorus summarizes what Antigone will vividly enact: “The powerful words of the proud are paid in full with mighty blows of fate, and at long last those blows will teach us wisdom.”

As the play opens Antigone declares her intention to her sister Ismene to defy Creon’s impious and inhumane order and enlists her sister’s aid to bury their brother. Ismene responds that as women they must not oppose the will of men or the authority of the city and invite death. Ismene’s timidity and deference underscores Antigone’s courage and defiance. Antigone asserts a greater allegiance to blood kinship and divine law declaring that the burial is a “holy crime,” justified even by death. Ismene responds by calling her sister “a lover of the impossible,” an accurate description of the tragic hero, who, according to scholar Bernard Knox, is Sophocles’ most important contribution to drama: “Sophocles presents us for the first time with what we recognize as a ‘tragic hero’: one who, unsupported by the gods and in the face of human opposition, makes a decision which springs from the deepest layer of his individual nature, his physis , and then blindly, ferociously, heroically maintains that decision even to the point of self-destruction.” Antigone exactly conforms to Knox’s description, choosing her conception of duty over sensible self-preservation and gender-prescribed submission to male authority, turning on her sister and all who oppose her. Certain in her decision and self-sufficient, Antigone rejects both her sister’s practical advice and kinship. Ironically Antigone denies to her sister, when Ismene resists her will, the same blood kinship that claims Antigone’s supreme allegiance in burying her brother. For Antigone the demands of the dead overpower duty to the living, and she does not hesitate in claiming both to know and act for the divine will. As critic Gilbert Norwood observes, “It is Antigone’s splendid though perverse valor which creates the drama.”

Before the apprehended Antigone, who has been taken in the act of scattering dust on her brother’s corpse, lamenting, and pouring libations, is brought before Creon and the dramatic crux of the play, the Chorus of The-ban elders delivers what has been called the fi nest song in all Greek tragedy, the so-called Ode to Man, that begins “Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.” This magnificent celebration of human power over nature and resourcefulness in reason and invention ends with a stark recognition of humanity’s ultimate helplessness—“Only against Death shall he call for aid in vain.” Death will test the resolve and principles of both Antigone and Creon, while, as critic Edouard Schuré asserts, “It brings before us the most extraordinary psychological evolution that has ever been represented on stage.”

When Antigone is brought in judgment before Creon, obstinacy meets its match. Both stand on principle, but both reveal the human source of their actions. Creon betrays himself as a paranoid autocrat; Antigone as an individual whose powerful hatred outstrips her capacity for love. She defiantly and proudly admits that she is guilty of disobeying Creon’s decree and that he has no power to override divine law. Nor does Antigone concede any mitigation of her personal obligation in the competing claims of a niece, a sister, or a citizen. Creon is maddened by what he perceives to be Antigone’s insolence in justifying her crime by diminishing his authority, provoking him to ignore all moderating claims of family, natural, or divine extenuation. When Ismene is brought in as a co-conspirator, she accepts her share of guilt in solidarity with her sister, but again Antigone spurns her, calling her “a friend who loves in words,” denying Ismene’s selfless act of loyalty and sympathy with a cold dismissal and self-sufficiency, stating, “Never share my dying, / don’t lay claim to what you never touched.” However, Ismene raises the ante for both Antigone and Creon by asking her uncle whether by condemning Antigone he will kill his own son’s betrothed. Creon remains adamant, and his judgment on Antigone and Ismene, along with his subsequent argument with his son, Haemon, reveals that Creon’s principles are self-centered, contradictory, and compromised by his own pride, fears, and anxieties. Antigone’s challenge to his authority, coming from a woman, is demeaning. If she goes free in defiance of his authority, Creon declares, “I am not the man, she is.” To the urging of Haemon that Creon should show mercy, tempering his judgment to the will of Theban opinion that sympathizes with Antigone, Creon asserts that he cares nothing for the will of the town, whose welfare Creon’s original edict against Polynices was meant to serve. Creon, moreover, resents being schooled in expediency by his son. Inflamed by his son’s advocacy on behalf of Antigone, Creon brands Haemon a “woman’s slave,” and after vacillating between stoning Antigone and executing her and her sister in front of Haemon, Creon rules that Antigone alone is to perish by being buried alive. Having begun the drama with a decree that a dead man should remain unburied, Creon reverses himself, ironically, by ordering the premature burial of a living woman.

Antigone, being led to her entombment, is shown stripped of her former confidence and defiance, searching for the justification that can steel her acceptance of the fate that her actions have caused. Contemplating her living descent into the underworld and the death that awaits her, Antigone regrets dying without marriage and children. Gone is her reliance on divine and natural law to justify her act as she equivocates to find the emotional source to sustain her. A husband and children could be replaced, she rationalizes, but since her mother and father are dead, no brother can ever replace Polynices. Antigone’s tortured logic here, so different from the former woman of principle, has been rejected by some editors as spurious. Others have judged this emotionally wrought speech essential for humanizing Antigone, revealing her capacity to suffer and her painful search for some consolation.

The drama concludes with the emphasis shifted back to Creon and the consequences of his judgment. The blind prophet Teiresias comes to warn Creon that Polynices’ unburied body has offended the gods and that Creon is responsible for the sickness that has descended on Thebes. Creon has kept from Hades one who belongs there and is sending to Hades another who does not. The gods confirm the rightness of Antigone’s action, but justice evades the working out of the drama’s climax. The release of Antigone comes too late; she has hung herself. Haemon commits suicide, and Eurydice, Creon’s wife, kills herself after cursing Creon for the death of their son. Having denied the obligation of family, Creon loses his own. Creon’s rule, marked by ignoring or transgressing cosmic and family law, is shown as ultimately inadequate and destructive. Creon is made to realize that he has been rash and foolish, that “Whatever I have touched has come to nothing.” Both Creon and Antigone have been pushed to terrifying ends in which what truly matters to both are made starkly clear. Antigone’s moral imperatives have been affirmed but also their immense cost in suffering has been exposed. Antigone explores a fundamental rift between public and private worlds. The central opposition in the play between Antigone and Creon, between duty to self and duty to state, dramatizes critical antimonies in the human condition. Sophocles’ genius is his resistance of easy and consoling simplifications to resolve the oppositions. Both sides are ultimately tested; both reveal the potential for greatness and destruction.

24 lectures on Greek Tragedy by Dr. Elizabeth Vandiver.

Share this:

Categories: Drama Criticism , Literature

Tags: Analysis of Sophocles’ Antigone , Antigone Analysis , Antigone Criticism , Antigone Essay , Antigone Guide , Antigone Lecture , Antigone PDF , Antigone Summary , Antigone Themes , Bibliography of Sophocles’ Antigone , Character Study of Sophocles’ Antigone , Criticism of Sophocles’ Antigone , Drama Criticism , Essays of Sophocles’ Antigone , Greek Tragedy , Literary Criticism , Notes of Sophocles’ Antigone , Plot of Sophocles’ Antigone , Simple Analysis of Sophocles’ Antigone , Study Guides of Sophocles’ Antigone , Summary of Sophocles’ Antigone , Synopsis of Sophocles’ Antigone , Themes of Sophocles’ Antigone , Tragedy

Related Articles

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

ENG 1002 Writing Resources | R. Rambo Home Page

English Composition 2

Essay questions for sophocles's antigone.

A thesis statement can be regarded as an answer to a question, so coming up with a one-sentence response to one of the questions below could give you a good thesis statement for an essay on Sophocles's Antigone .

• In what ways is Creon responsible for his own downfall?
• Does Creon suffer from excessive pride?
• How would you characterize Creon as a ruler?
• Is Creon deserving of sympathy?
• How might we interpret Creon's character psychologically? What personal characteristics lead to the decisions that he makes?
• What personal characteristics lead Antigone to defy Creon in burying her brother?
• How should we regard the character Antigone? As prideful and reckless? As heroic? As an innocent victim of tyranny? As a martyr? As a masocist? As an idealist?
• In what significant ways are Creon and Antigone similar?
• In what ways is Ismene important to the play?
• In what ways is Haemon important to the play?
• How are women portrayed in the play?
• What does the play say about the place of women in society?
• What does the play Antigone say about absolute power?
• What does the play say about obligations to family and obligations to authority?
• What does the play say about human laws and religious laws?

These are only some of the questions we could ask about the play. Can you think of other questions?

Copyright Randy Rambo , 2022.

ELA  /  10th Grade  /  Alternate Unit 3: "I was born to join in love, not hate—that is my nature": Civil Disobedience in Antigone

"I was born to join in love, not hate—that is my nature": Civil Disobedience in Antigone

Students will examine the central conflict in Antigone between loyalty to one's family and religion and loyalty to society and the law, exploring how characters use rhetorical appeals and devices to convey their stance about their allegiance.

Alternate Unit 3

• Text and Materials

Key Knowledge

Unit summary.

The core text Antigone fits within the year-long theme of the individual in society, as the play grapples with the question about whether an individual should prioritize their moral conscience over the law. Antigone, who is loyal to her family and divine law, practices civil disobedience by giving her brother a proper burial when King Creon has forbidden it. Her character invites students to make connections to other real-life figures who have practiced civil disobedience when faced with oppressive laws. Later in the unit, when students watch the Theater of War Productions' Antigone in Ferguson , students make further connections between the major themes of the play and contemporary issues of racism, police brutality, and misogyny.  

Prior to reading the play, students will build background knowledge about Greek theater and tragedy, and they will read a summary of The Legend of Oedipus to understand how Antigone's tragic fate is largely a consequence of the circumstances she was born into. Students will continue to explore the theme of fate throughout the unit by making connections between choral odes in Antigone and contemporary texts such as the Radiolab podcast episode "Death Interrupted" and excerpts from Sam Harris's talk "The Delusion of Free Will." Additionally, students will examine the theme of civil disobedience in the play by analyzing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and by performing research on other global figures who broke unjust laws.

As students read Antigone and other unit texts, they will examine how characters and real-life speakers use rhetorical appeals and devices to persuade an audience. For the unit's performance task, students will use the rhetorical appeals and devices analyzed throughout the unit to write a persuasive speech about a personal, social, or political issue that they feel passionately about. On the final day of the unit, students will employ effective delivery techniques as they deliver their speech to their classmates. 

Fishtank Plus for ELA

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Texts and Materials

Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links. This means that if you click and make a purchase, we receive a small portion of the proceeds, which supports our non-profit mission.

Core Materials

Book:  Antigone by Sophocles; Translated by Robert Fagles (Pearson; First Edition)

Supporting Materials

Article:  “The Legend of Oedipus” (CommonLit)

Non-Fiction Text:  “Excerpt of 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail'” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Podcast:  “Death Interrupted” by Radiolab (YouTube)

Resource:  Performance Task Mentor Text (G10, U3, L 20–21)

Transcript:  “Emma Watson's UN Speech on Gender Equality”

Transcript:  “Every kid needs a champion” by Rita Pierson

Video:  “An Introduction to Greek Theatre” by National Theatre (YouTube)

Video:  “An Introduction to Greek Tragedy” by National Theatre (YouTube)

Video:  “How to lead in a crisis” by Amy Edmondson (TED)

Video:  “Emma Watson's UN Speech on Gender Equality” by United Nations (YouTube)

Video:  “Every kid needs a champion” by Rita Pierson (TED)

Video:  “Antigone in Ferguson” by House Seats (PBS)

Visual:  Antigone's Family Tree

Video:  “Free Will” by Sam Harris (YouTube)

Rubric:  Antigone Research Prompt and Rubric (G10, U3, L7–8)

• Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading

This assessment accompanies Unit 15 and should be given on the suggested assessment day or after completing the unit.

Download Socratic Seminar

Download Performance Task

Intellectual Prep

Suggestions for how to prepare to teach this unit

Before you teach this unit, unpack the texts, themes, and core standards through our guided intellectual preparation process. Each Unit Launch includes a series of short videos, targeted readings, and opportunities for action planning to ensure you're prepared to support every student.

Essential Questions

The central thematic questions addressed in the unit or across units

• Should we obey laws that we believe are unjust?
• What makes a good leader? 
• To what extent does fate dictate our lives?

Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text

decree degrade extremist galvanize infallible precipitate revile retribution reckless submit subordinate

Literary Terms

ad hominem allusion anaphora antithesis bandwagon characterization conflict emphasis ethos false dilemma greek tragedy hasty generalization logos logical fallacies metaphor parados pathos personification red herring rhetorical question rhetorical appeals simile straw man syllogism tone

To see all the vocabulary for Unit 3, view our 10th Grade Vocabulary Glossary .

• “An Introduction to Greek Theatre”
• “An Introduction to Greek Tragedy”
• “The Legend of Oedipus”
• Antigone's Family Tree

Build background knowledge about Greek theater and tragedy.

RI.9-10.2 SL.9-10.1

Analyze how Sophocles uses characterization to introduce the major conflict of the play.

Analyze Creon's use of rhetorical appeals. 

RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4 RL.9-10.5

• Antigone pp. 76 – 78 — lines 376–424
• “Death Interrupted”

Analyze the first choral ode and make connections to the podcast episode "Death Interrupted." 

RI.9-10.2 RI.9-10.3 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.4

Evaluate Antigone's argument for reasoning, rhetorical appeals, and logical fallacies.

RI.9-10.8 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s reasoning for breaking unjust laws and make connections back to Antigone . 

RI.9-10.2 RI.9-10.5 RI.9-10.9 RL.9-10.6

Evaluate the credibility of sources about a global figure who practiced civil disobedience. 

W.9-10.7 W.9-10.8

Write about the challenges and achievements of a global figure who practiced civil disobedience. 

W.9-10.2 W.9-10.4 W.9-10.5 W.9-10.7 W.9-10.8

Present about a global figure's civil disobedience and engage in a small group discussion. 

SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.1.c SL.9-10.1.d SL.9-10.4 SL.9-10.6

• Antigone pp. 91 – 92 — lines 656–704
• “Free Will”

Analyze the theme of fate in a choral ode.

RI.9-10.2 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.4

• Antigone pp. 93 – 101 — lines 705–899
• “How to lead in a crisis”

Evaluate Creon's leadership by synthesizing an informational text with Antigone . 

RI.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

• “Emma Watson's UN Speech on Gender Equality”

Analyze how Emma Watson persuades her audience using delivery techniques, as well as rhetorical appeals and devices.

RI.9-10.6 W.9-10.1

Analyze Antigone as a tragic hero.

RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4 SL.9-10.1

Analyze Creon as a tragic hero. 

Analyze the director's purpose in creating Antigone in Ferguson and make connections between the events of the play and Michael Brown's death in 2014.

RL.9-10.6 RL.9-10.7

Analyze the role of the chorus in Antigone in Ferguson .

Analyze the role of catharsis in Antigone in Ferguson and brainstorm an adaptation of Antigone .

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3

Assessment: Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic seminar about Antigone by supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

SL.9-10.1 SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.1.b SL.9-10.1.c SL.9-10.1.d SL.9-10.4

Assessment: Performance Task

• “Every kid needs a champion”

Analyze Rita Pierson's Ted Talk "Every kid needs a champion" and brainstorm a topic for the performance task speech.

RI.9-10.2 RI.9-10.6 W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.5

Conduct credible research to appeal to ethos and logos in a speech. 

Draft a persuasive speech using rhetorical appeals and devices.

L.9-10.3 W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.1.b W.9-10.1.c W.9-10.1.e

Provide peer feedback on written speech and delivery. 

SL.9-10.4 SL.9-10.6 W.9-10.1 W.9-10.10 W.9-10.4 W.9-10.5

Deliver a speech to persuade an audience.

SL.9-10.3 SL.9-10.4 SL.9-10.6

Create a free account to access thousands of lesson plans.

Already have an account? Sign In

Common Core Standards

Core standards.

The content standards covered in this unit

Language Standards

L.9-10.3 — Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Reading Standards for Informational Text

RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.

RI.9-10.5 — Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).

RI.9-10.6 — Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

RI.9-10.8 — Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.

RI.9-10.9 — Analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance (e.g., Washington's Farewell Address, the Gettysburg Address, Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech, King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"), including how they address related themes and concepts.

Reading Standards for Literature

RL.9-10.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

RL.9-10.5 — Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

RL.9-10.6 — Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.

RL.9-10.7 — Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment (e.g., Auden's "Musée des Beaux Arts" and Breughel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus).

Speaking and Listening Standards

SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9—10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

SL.9-10.1.a — Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.

SL.9-10.1.b — Work with peers to set rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g., informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual roles as needed.

SL.9-10.1.c — Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.

SL.9-10.1.d — Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.

SL.9-10.3 — Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.

SL.9-10.4 — Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.

SL.9-10.6 — Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Writing Standards

W.9-10.1 — Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

W.9-10.1.a — Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

W.9-10.1.b — Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.

W.9-10.1.c — Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.

W.9-10.1.e — Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

W.9-10.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

W.9-10.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

W.9-10.5 — Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

W.9-10.7 — Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

W.9-10.8 — Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

W.9-10.10 — Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Supporting Standards

Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit

L.9-10.1 — Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

L.9-10.2 — Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

L.9-10.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

L.9-10.5.b — Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations.

L.9-10.6 — Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

RI.9-10.1 — Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RI.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).

RI.9-10.10 — By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 9—10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.<br />By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 9—10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

RL.9-10.1 — Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RL.9-10.9 — Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work (e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare).

W.9-10.3.a — Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.

W.9-10.9 — Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Censorship, Truth & Happiness in Fahrenheit 451

Home, Grief, and Storytelling in Men We Reaped

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School information, what courses are you interested in, are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders, any other information you would like to provide about your school.

Effective Instruction Made Easy

Access rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free

The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context Analytical Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Works cited.

While researching texts about Sophocles’ “Antigone”, I found three articles that discussed the historical significance of the story. These articles explored various themes in the story. They explain how Antigone’s past experiences are still relevant in the present. My goal in this paper is to discuss the historical context of the story with regard to its timeless significance.

To achieve this goal, I have organized my paper into three sections and four subsections. In the first section, I give a brief introduction about Sophocles’ “Antigone”. In the second section, I outline three elements that link the story to the present. I explain the reasons that prompt Antigone to defy her king. I discuss Antigone’s actions with regard to present day societies. I end my paper with a third section which explains the timeless themes that are evident in the story.

An understanding of history usually elucidates the present. Antigone’s story is still relevant in the present. Sophocles writes about a fictional king named Oedipus, who rules the city of Thebes (Anouilh 17).

Oedipus is banished from Thebes because he has inadvertently committed incest (Woodruff 92). He has two sons named Polyneices and Eteocles (Braun 62). He also has a daughter named Antigone (Woodruff 22).

After Oedipus is banished, Eteocles banishes his older brother and claims the throne. Polyneices leaves Thebes with plans to overthrow his sibling (Braun 137). He returns and attacks the city with the help of his newfound military. Polyneices and Eteocles kill each other in the midst of the onslaught (Braun 148). Creon, a despot, is later crowned king of Thebes (Woodruff 160).

Creon decrees that Eteocles will be remembered as a hero while his brother will rot in disgrace (Braun 128). Creon is the antagonist in of the story (Woodruff 14). He is a ruthless leader. He can be described as a dictator. His penalty for disobedience is death. Antigone defies Creon by planning to give Polyneices a proper burial (Braun 142).

Sophocles’ opinions about war are evident when the two brothers kill each other in the story (Woodruff 140). Sophocles believes that in war, there are no victories. When countries go to war, every side expects to have casualties. Lives are lost for the sake of petty squabbles. Antigone is also a casualty of war (Anouilh 134). She loses both of her brothers to a conflict that could have easily been resolved.

Failed State

Oedipus represents a failed state (Woodruff 129). He was the king of Thebes. He failed to meet the standards of his people. He was therefore banished shortly after he blinded himself for the atrocities he had committed. He also ruled his father’s kingdom before discovering that he had committed an act of patricide (Braun 31).

Many political leaders have been destroyed by mistakes that they made in the past. For example, a certain Italian minister was accused o having sex with an underage prostitute. Like Oedipus, his statesmen have lost faith in him. His integrity has been compromised.

Freedom of Expression

One of the political elements evident in the story is freedom of expression. Antigone intends to bury her brother in a dignified manner. Creon represents an oppressive regime (Braun 92). He plans to have her punished because her actions are akin to civil disobedience (Woodruff 152).

Creon justifies his cruelty by regarding Polyneices as an enemy of the state (Braun 147). In the present, Polyneices would be regarded as a traitor and a domestic terrorist. Attacking Thebes may be termed as an act of treason (Woodruff 67). However, his sister’s compassion for him is not an act of treason. It is an act of love and honor. Antigone believes in the gods of her people (Anouilh 24). She defies her king because she believes that her actions are justified. She is even willing to die in the name of honor.

Antigone is a symbol of martyrdom (Braun 167). She is willing to die for her beliefs. She believes that she must honor her brother. Creon represents an autocratic government (Woodruff 150). Antigone’s actions drive Creon mad (Anouilh 45). He accuses Antigone’s younger sister, Ismene of committing the same offence (Braun 178). Ismene confesses to burying her brother despite the fact that she was not involved (Woodruff 192).

Ismene’s selfless actions represent family ties. She is willing to die for her sister. Shortly after her confession, Creon discovers the truth. He orders his men to bury Antigone alive in a cave while sparing her sister (Anouilh 67). Creon’s subjects notice a change in his behavior. They assume that he is a lunatic. His son, Haemon is appalled by his actions (Braun 90). Antigone’s simple act of compassion leads to the fall of an empire (Anouilh 78).

Antigone invokes Theban law by stating that Creon’s actions are dishonorable (Braun 126). Antigone’s defiance rallies the people of Thebes (Anouilh 97). Some scholars have argued that Antigone represents the feminist movement (Anouilh 142). She is strong and compassionate. She defies an oppressive king. She also inspires the people of Thebes (Woodruff 165). Sophocles’ story is timeless (Braun 174). It elucidates the present.

Anouilh, Jean. Antigone. Chicago: Illinois, 2004. Print.

Braun, Richard. Antigone: Greek Tragedy in New Translations. New York: New York, 1990. Print.

Woodruff, Paul. Antigone. Los Angeles: California, 2001. Print.

• “Antigone” by Sophocles Is a Play Without a Hero
• Creon and Antigone's Debate in Sophocles' Tragedy
• Mythology: The Tragic Hero in Antigone
• Othello as the Outsider
• Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs
• "The Sound of a Voice" by Henry Hwang
• The Function of the Soliloquies in Hamlet
• Recurring Theme of Revenge in Hamlet
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, September 5). The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context. https://ivypanda.com/essays/antigone/

"The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context." IvyPanda , 5 Sept. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/antigone/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context'. 5 September.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context." September 5, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/antigone/.

1. IvyPanda . "The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context." September 5, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/antigone/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The “Antigone” by Sophocles and Its Historical Context." September 5, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/antigone/.

Antigone Themes

Themes are overarching ideas, thoughts, and philosophical concepts that the writers present in their works. Antigone has themes that are not only universal but also applicable to this day. Sophocles has put a few intriguing themes in Antigone that display his understanding of those concepts and ideas of his time. Some of the major themes of Antigone by Sophocles have been analyzed below.

Themes in Antigone

Blindness in a real or metaphorical sense is the major theme of various Grecian plays. Creon ignores Tiresias’s warning and is unable to see the facts which are similar to that of Oedipus. The words of this seer echo as they show the clear path to Creon who is unwilling to compromise like Oedipus. He appears to have attributed the holy laws to himself ordering not to bury Polynices, Antigone’s brother who has rebelled against him. He does not rethink and changes his mind about his order to leave Polynices’ body to rot. As he does not see past his pride, he is blind. When the crisis spirals out of his control, he becomes level-headed again cursing himself that his blindness to the facts has caused the death of his near and dear ones. This is metaphorical blindness as opposed to Oedipus who suffered from both.

Natural Law

The debate of law as a natural element or man-made has been going on since time immemorial. Creon, as the king, has assumed the role of a lawgiver as was considered during those times. He believes in complete obedience of his subjects to the law that is also from the divine powers. His command of non-burial of Polynices, the brother of Antigone, invites silent wrath from the citizens but open rebellion from Antigone. She appeals to the natural laws that have come from the divine powers instead of Creon. She believes that it is from the gods that the dead should be given a proper burial. However, when Creon distorts this divine law, her sense of justice is outraged, and she openly rebels despite severe consequences. She performs his burial rights and defies the kingly law of Creon.

Political and Family Loyalty

Greeks were aware of the rights and duties of a citizen and the role of a family in a state. They were also aware of how a citizen should behave politically. Both of the characters of Sophocles, Antigone, and Creon represent political as well as family loyalties in the play .

Whereas Creon is a king and has kingly duties of issuing commands and implementing laws, Antigone is loyal to her family. For Creon, the issue is not whether a transgressor is a man or a woman. He doesn’t hesitate to punish her niece and nephew for breaking the law. While Antigone goes against his rule of having no proper burial for her brother, Polynices was on the rebels’ side in the civil war unlike his brother Eteocles. As a citizen, she is bound to abide by the law of the city. On the other hand, long family traditions and family loyalty permit her not to bow before man-made laws. When she stands up against Creon who does not see the happiness of his own son, Haemon, she shows that she has loyal to her family as well as god and both of them outweigh the disloyalty to the city and the ruler.

Pride or Arrogance

Arrogance or pride is despised by the Grecian gods as shown by Sophocles in his plays. When Creon says that he has the power to create a law and that he believes that divine will is at his back, it is a pride and arrogance. As humans are not supposed to be law creator law nor have the divine right. Therefore, when Tiresias warns Creon that he would suffer, Creon realizes that he has sinned. He accepts Tiresias only when it dawns upon him that he will have to suffer more. In other words, his pride has brought him to kneel before the Thebans for what he considers his just and right path sheer in his arrogance of being a wise ruler.

Feminine Elements

The very title of the play shows that it is about Oedipus’ daughter, Antigone. She has risen to prominence for being the sister who has refused to accept Creon’s command. She decides to go against him and give a proper burial to her brother, who rebelled against the state. As a woman, a second-class citizen of Thebes, Creon has not given her any importance. However, she refuses to accept his logic. On the other hand, Ismene submits to the patriarchal will and power.

Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience is another major theme of the play. Creon argues his case that whatever he says is a law and that must be obeyed as it is the foundation of justice. He means that he cannot be wrong in dispensing justice as a ruler. However, Antigone, on the other hand, believes that Creon’s law is stressing upon is unjust as the dead has a right to burial. It is her moral duty to give a proper burial to her brother. She thinks that the law is contrary to the traditions and customs of the society in which they are living. Therefore, her decision to give a proper burial to her brother is a sort of civil disobedience.

Free Will and Fate

Even before the play, Oedipus was caught between free will and fate that the gods have decided for him. When Oedipus was about to die, he prophesied that his sons would kill each other and when Tiresias comes to Creon, he warns him about his wrong decision of not permitting burial. However, Tiresias has stated that now the fate has been sealed yet Creon has a free choice to redeem himself. On the other hand, Creon demonstrated the same obduracy that Oedipus did and faced a terrible fate.

Threat of Tyranny

The Greek city-states were inimical to the threat of tyranny. Citizens looked at such tendencies with a bit of antagonism. However, Creon seems to be crossing the line, due to which it also becomes one of its thematic strands. It is the abuse of power that he starts with issuing man-made laws to subdue what he calls rebellion. His noble intentions reach their point and stand exposed when he levels the same allegations against Antigone who sees Creon having crossed the line of landing into tyranny. When Tiresias comes to warn him about divine retribution, he does not pay heed and loses family.

Creon uses his power as a ruler to stop the rebellion and award death sentences . However, when it comes to natural or divine rights and prevalent morality, his power does not seem to override the moral framework. Although he tries his best to justify his action of preventing the burial of Polynices’ body and terrifying Antigone of consequences, he faces divine punishment in the shape of the devastation of his how family. This is what he has to face on account of the wrong use of power.

Feminine Rivalry

Antigone and Ismene are daughters of the doomed Oedipus. While Ismene seems reasonable and coward in the face of the mounting pressure, Antigone seems more confident than her sister. She has sensed that Creon’s legal thrust can be blunted with divine legitimacy and public morality. This rivalry, in the end, wins Antigone a good place as a heroic figure.

Related posts:

• Antigone Quotes
• Oedipus Rex Themes
• Macbeth Themes
• Hamlet Themes
• 1984 Themes
• The Crucible Themes
• Frankenstein Themes
• The Metamorphosis Themes
• Beowulf Themes
• Odyssey Themes
• Beloved Themes
• Slaughterhouse-Five Themes
• Inferno Themes
• Fahrenheit 451 Themes
• Into the Wild Themes
• The Alchemist Themes
• Night Themes
• Life of Pi Themes
• The Invisible Man Themes
• The Tempest Themes
• The Iliad Themes
• The Jungle Themes
• Siddhartha Themes
• The Stranger Themes
• The Aeneid Themes
• Dracula Themes
• Themes in The Bible
• To Kill a Mockingbird Themes
• The Scarlet Letter Themes
• The Canterbury Tales Themes
• Heart of Darkness Themes
• Brave New World Themes
• Death of a Salesman Themes
• Things Fall Apart Themes
• A Tale of Two Cities Themes
• A Doll’s House Themes
• The Grapes of Wrath Themes
• Twelfth Night Themes
• Crime and Punishment Themes
• Their Eyes Were Watching God Themes
• Wuthering Heights Themes
• In Cold Blood Themes
• The Kite Runner Themes
• The Glass Castle Themes
• King Lear Themes
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Themes
• Romeo and Juliet Themes
• Lord of the Flies Themes
• Jane Eyre Themes
• Julius Caesar Themes
• 10 Different Themes in Taylor Swift Songs
• A Huge List of Common Themes
• Examples of Themes in Popular Songs
• To Kill a Mockingbird Racism
• Oedipus Rex Characters
• Oedipus Rex Quotes
• Oedipus The King
• Oedipus at Colonus

Post navigation

Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles

This essay will provide an in-depth analysis of Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone.” It will explore the play’s themes, including the conflict between individual moral duty and state law, the role of gender, and the concept of hubris. The piece will examine key characters like Antigone, Creon, and Ismene, and how their actions and beliefs drive the plot. Additionally, the essay will discuss the play’s historical and cultural context and its relevance in contemporary discussions of ethics and morality. Moreover, at PapersOwl, there are additional free essay samples connected to Analysis.

How it works

Sophocles, one of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived, created the main character, Antigone, as a civil disobedience.  The play embellishes the opposing conflicts between Antigone who stands for the values of family, and Creon who stands for the values of the state.  It includes terms that are demonstrated throughout the Discovering Literature textbook.  Antigone is one of the great Greek Tragedies remembered today, and it contains an important message to readers.

Throughout Antigone essay , many literary devices such as plot, foreshadowing, and allusion are used to enhance the play.

  Plot is the chain of events in fiction or drama.  Antigone begins with the death of her two brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles.  The two men fought for authority over Thebes.  However, they each lost their lives in the struggle for power.  Polyneices is considered a traitor by Creon, the new king and Antigone’s uncle.  Creon declares no one can bury Polyneices’s body due to his actions towards Thebes.  Antigone disagrees with her uncle’s commandment, and she goes against his order.  Creon sentences Antigone to death.  However, he has a change of heart after speaking with a prophet.  Creon decides to let Antigone go, but it is too late when he finds her.  The play concludes with Antigone taking her own life, and Haemon, Antigone’s fiance and Creon’s son, taking his own life.  After Haemon’s mother discovers the death of her son, she takes her life as well.  Creon is left to grieve alone.  Foreshadowing occurs when the playwright gives a hint pointing forward to a future development.  In Antigone, foreshadowing is shown right off the bat.

In Creon’s opening speech to the people, he describes his loyalty to the city of Thebes over anyone, including his family.  Creon tells the people that for a leader to really be known, they must be tested.  As the audience, we know that Antigone has already planned to bury her brother, Polyneices.  This will test Creon as the leader of Thebes.  Creon’s speech foreshadows the future conflict with Antigone.  Another example of foreshadowing is shown in the Prologue of Antigone.  Here, Antigone foreshadows her own death in a conversation with her sister, Ismene.  Antigone welcomes death by stating she would rather risk her life and die with honor.  Antigone wants to do the right thing for her brother.  She tells Ismene that when she completes the task of burying Polyneices, she will openly welcome death.  The final literary device is allusions.  An allusion is a brief mention that calls a character, event or idea to the reader’s mind.  It taps into associations and meanings already in the reader’s memory.  At the end of the play, Creon is unable to save Antigone, his son, and his wife.  An allusion is made to the goddess Nemesis, the goddess of punishment and resentment.  Creon is left with nothing, due to his harsh punishment towards Antigone.  Creon, himself, is punished for his actions, and he finally admits to his wrong doings and acknowledges his faults.  Another allusion is made when Antigone is sent to captivity in a cave.  The chorus alludes to the goddess Danae.  Danae was locked away in a tower by her father when prophecy stated her son would kill him.  Both Antigone and Danae were summoned to captivity.

Antigone is considered one of the most famous tragedies ever written.  The play fits into the category of Greek Tragedy.  Greek Tragedy is one of the more unique categories in drama.  The tragedy contains a plot, a tragic hero, theme, diction, a chorus, and spectacles.  Sophocles used these six characteristics when creating Antigone.  One of the more noticeable characteristics is the chorus.  The chorus is introduced to the audience near the beginning of the play.  The chorus comes in celebrating the recent victory in Thebes.  Here, the chorus provides background information about the scene.  It is clear to the audience that Thebes has just won a battle.  In Greek Tragedies, the purpose of the chorus is to describe the background information about a scene, and help the audience follow along with the play.  In Antigone, the chorus does just that.  Another important characteristic contained in Antigone is the use of a tragic hero.  Throughout the play, Antigone displays herself as the tragic hero in a variety of ways.  In the play, Antigone is pure in the eyes of others.  However, she is guilty in the eyes of Creon.  Antigone is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, death, to do what she considers an honorable act towards her brother.  Antigone receives sympathy because she chooses to stand alone.  In Greek Tragedy, the tragic hero is the character who has heroic traits, but often has flaws or make mistakes that lead to their own downfall.  Antigone’s tragic flaw is her arrogance.

Although Antigone may be difficult to understand, I believe it contains many important lessons that others should read.  I first became familiar with Antigone my sophomore year of high school, when I read it in English class.  At first, I honestly was not interested in the play because I had a difficult time comprehending what was happening.  However, after completely dissecting the play in class, everything was put into perspective for me.  I became aware of Creon’s unbelievable pride in Thebes over his family.  I was in awe after reading and understanding Creon’s opening speech.  However, I believe he got what he deserved in the end.  A reoccurring theme in Antigone is how power both corrupts and blinds the characters in the play.  Creon is the most evident example of this theme.

Sophocles’ tragedy, Antigone, is a play that is still widely known today.  Antigone’s character is described as a civil disobedience, and the tragic hero of the play.  Antigone believed that Creon’s law was unjust, and she had the moral right to defy it.  Antigone’s belief in family values ultimately sentenced her to death.  Antigone embodies the characteristics of a Greek Tragedy and contains important terms from our Discovering Literature textbook.  Antigone also contains a memorable lesson readers should take away from the play.

Cite this page

Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles. (2019, Feb 07). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/analysis-of-antigone-by-sophocles/

"Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles." PapersOwl.com , 7 Feb 2019, https://papersowl.com/examples/analysis-of-antigone-by-sophocles/

PapersOwl.com. (2019). Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/analysis-of-antigone-by-sophocles/ [Accessed: 7 Jun. 2024]

"Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles." PapersOwl.com, Feb 07, 2019. Accessed June 7, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/analysis-of-antigone-by-sophocles/

"Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles," PapersOwl.com , 07-Feb-2019. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/analysis-of-antigone-by-sophocles/. [Accessed: 7-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2019). Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/analysis-of-antigone-by-sophocles/ [Accessed: 7-Jun-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

The concept of citizenship and the duties that citizens owe to the state were subjects of huge importance and debate in fifth-century B.C.E. Athens, where Sophocles lived and where Antigone was first performed. Antigone and Creon represent the extreme opposite political views regarding where a citizen of a city should place his or her loyalties.

In the play, Creon has a strict definition of citizenship that calls for the state to come first: "…whoever places a friend / above the good of his country, he is nothing: / I have no use for him." From Creon's perspective, Polynices has forfeited the right to a proper burial as a citizen of Thebes because he has attacked the city. In attacking Thebes, he has shown his disloyalty to the state and has ceased to be a citizen. In fact, Creon is more devoted to his laws than he is to even his own son Haemon's happiness, refusing to pardon Antigone for burying Polynices even though she is Haemon's fiancée. Antigone, on the other hand, places long held traditions and loyalty to her family above obedience to the city or to its ruler. In doing so, she makes the case that there are loyalties to both the gods and one's own family that outweigh one's loyalty to a city.

Citizenship vs. Family Loyalty ThemeTracker

Citizenship vs. Family Loyalty Quotes in Antigone