Antigone

Antigone In Sophocles’ play Antigone we are faced with a simple conflict between Creon, king of Thebes, and his niece, Antigone. Although the conflict is clear and easy to understand on its surface, beneath the surface onlookers often become jaded as to which character, Creon or Antigone, Sophocles intended to portray this tragic play through. As the play begins, Antigone is alone in her beliefs. The chorus sides with Creon and most likely the audience as well. However, as the play develops Antigone gains the support of her peers, including the chorus. In the end Creon also sides with Antigone but only after it is too late and his fate has been sealed. The play begins with Antigone conversing with Ismene, her sister. She proposes to Ismene that they disobey the decree of Creon and bury the body of Polynices, even at the cost of death. Ismene is afraid to join her and tries to dissuade Antigone from her purpose, urging the weakness of women and the necessity of obedience to the state. However, Antigone scorns her advice and buries the body of Polynices. Upon repeating the burial rights of Polynices, Antigone is arrested and led to antigone, creon, gods, polynices, play, own, ll, state, however, country, body, yield, true, through, thebes, nor, loyalty, ismene, himself, death, conflict, clear, above, zeus, witness, upon, theban, surface, stubbornness, statesman, sides, power, position, oedipus, mortal, loyalties, live, law, late, judgment, importantly, house, holds, friend, faced, face, ever, end, edict, develops