What is the basic story of Antigone?

Antigone is a tragedy written by Sophocles in the year 441 BCE and is a play about the aftermath of a civil war in which the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other, where the new king and their successor, Creon, tries to punish Polyneices for his disloyalty by not burying him properly.

Is Antigone based on a true story?

In ancient Greece, Antigone is mostly related to the myth that was told by the Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, although there is reference to a different Antigone in the ancient Greek World.

Why is Antigone a tragedy?

The play Antigone is often thought to be a Greek tragedy because each of the tragic heroes is neither extremely good or bad, their fortunes change from good to bad, their misfortunes do not result from their own wrong doings, and they arouse pity within the audience.

What is Sophocles message?

I think Sophocles’ message to his audience was that fate is very important and that the gods control what goes on in your life. You will always fulfill your fate but when, depends on your actions you take in life.

What lesson does Antigone teach?

Antigone learns to have faith and follows her own beliefs. She is a confident woman with strong morals. She learns not to follow in other’s footsteps, ignores the society’s rules, and becomes more of a leader. Antigone did not have an easy life but it was very similar to life today on Earth.

What does Antigone say is the cause of her death?

What does Antigone say is the cause of her death? The cause of her death is the fact that she was conceived through an abomination – an incestuous relationship between her father/brother and her mother.

Is Shakespeare an Antigone?

Is One Crime Holier Than Another? A reader should have their answer in mind when analyzing the two crimes of Brutus, in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, and Antigone, in Antigone by Sophocles. These two crimes are different in many ways but they both had good intentions behind their actions.

Who is the hero in Antigone?

Creon
Lesson Summary Both Creon and Antigone can be seen as the tragic hero in Antigone. Creon is the tragic hero because he tries to restore order in Thebes and is a good ruler but ends up alone due to his excessive pride.

Is Antigone a hero or villain?

Antigone’s last act of defiance was to join her father and brothers in death. At this moment, she becomes a truly tragic hero. Pride and fear drove her to hang herself just before she would have been rescued and released from her fate.

Why is Antigone relevant today?

The ideas Sophocles presents in Antigone have relevance in today’s world, and indicate that modern society is not as advanced as we believe. The problems of gender equality, democratic voice, and religious faith still resonate today. Antigone attempts to show the strength women have in the face of male authority.

What is the meaning of Antigone?

She is a sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene. The meaning of the name is, as in the case of the masculine equivalent Antigonus, “worthy of one’s parents” or “in place of one’s parents”. She is the protagonist of the eponymous play by Sophocles.

What is the summary of Antigone?

Antigone Summary. As the play begins, the invading army of Argos has been driven from Thebes, but in the course of the battle, two sons of Oedipus (Eteocles and Polynices) have died fighting for opposing sides.

How does Polynices die in Antigone?

Play Summary Antigone After the bloody siege of Thebes by Polynices and his allies, the city stands unconquered. Polynices and his brother Eteocles, however, are both dead, killed by each other, according to the curse of Oedipus, their father.

How does Creon react to Antigone’s refusal to defy the king?

When Ismene timidly refuses to defy the king, Antigone angrily rejects her and goes off alone to bury her brother. Creon discovers that someone has attempted to offer a ritual burial to Polynices and demands that the guilty one be found and brought before him. When he discovers that Antigone, his niece, has defied his order, Creon is furious.

What does Ismene say about the burial traditions in Antigone?

She declares that the burial traditions are the unwritten laws of the gods, and are more important than the decrees of one man. She vows to give Polynices the proper burial rites. Ismene begs Antigone not defy the laws of the city and add to their family’s tragedy. Antigone will not yield. Get the entire Antigone LitChart as a printable PDF.