The play Antigone, by Sophocles, depicts tragedy as a product of civil disobedience and pride. In the game, one of Antigone’s brothers, Polynices, dies due to civil disobedience and is remembered as a traitor. Eteocles, his brother, also dies as a product of Polynices’ treachery towards Thebes. The film ends with the deaths of Antigone, Haeman, and Eurydice all die because of Creon’s pride and Antigone’ s civil disobedience.
One can best describe Antigone with three adjectives; uncooperative, decisive, and courageous. Antigone is uncooperative as she failed to heed to Creon’s decree that Polynices must not be buried. Also, her stubbornness and uncooperative nature are evidenced in her reluctance to listen to Ismene when she warned her not to bury their brother, Polynices. Moreover, after her arrest, Creon tries to advise her against disobeying his rule because she is engaged to his son, Haeman, but she does not relent and asks him to go ahead and kill her (Antigone, 2005).
Antigone’s decisive nature is apparent throughout the play from her conversations with her sister and Creon. For instance, while speaking to Ismene about the tragedy that had befallen their family, Antigone promises herself that she would bury her brother, regardless of the consequences. She tries to convince Ismene to share her labor and honor her mother’s son in death (Antigone, 2005). Although Ismene refuses to join her, Antigone’s decisiveness makes her a tragic heroine in the play. The trait also makes her unable to understand the ‘limits’ to her actions imposed by Creon. Similarly, Antigone’s courage drives her to conduct a religious burial for Polynices. Moreover, Antigone portrays courage even when she is on the verge of prosecution as she question’s Creon’s beliefs and motives.
Antigone is morally superior to Creon because while the latter only cares for power and self-gratification, she acts on righteous and moral indignation. The character believes in the gods and religion, thus burying her brother would not only put his soul to rest but also please Zeus. I am very sympathetic towards Antigone because she has lost her parents and both her brothers due to moral corruption. Although headstrong, Antigone also has noble traits of love, sacrifice, and justice. For instance, she tells Creon, “I cannot share in hatred but love” to show her willingness to overlook her brother’s mistakes (Antigone, 2005).
Creon continuously ignored people’s advice during his rule on Thebes. The ruler overlooked the council from Antigone, Haeman, and even the seer, Teiresias. For instance, Teiresias warns, “the sun won’t roll its course many more days before you come to give corpse for these corpses, a child of your own loins.”(Antigone, 2005). Creon, however, disregards his warnings and losses both his son and wife. I sympathize with him because he was consumed by the greed and blindness that comes with power and ended up losing his family. Just like Antigone, Ismene lived a life filled with tragedy. Therefore, I sympathize with her character. As Antigone argues with Ismene, she mocks and rebukes her for lacking bravery to honor her brother. Antigone’s arguments with Creon surround values of morality and respect for the dead.
After Haeman asks Creon to spare Antigone, the chorus leader states, “If your son has spoken to the point, you must take his lesson” (Antigone, 2005). The chorus, therefore, offers sound advice to Creon. However, in some aspects of the play, the chorus only acts as a narrator and spectator, not intervening in Creon’s actions. When Creon takes charge of Thebes, the chorus promises to follow his rule blindly.
Traditional Greek heroes indeed go through a transition that depicts their change from a timid nature to one of bravery. Critics contend that Antigone did not walk the same path. However, the play shows that Antigone did transform, from being a rebellious child to being a fighter for justice and peace in the underworld. Antigone’s sorrow for losing her family drives her conviction and path to heroism. As most heroes do, Antigone sacrifices her love for Haeman and life, to honor her brother and father’s headstrong nature.