What Is The Basic Story Of Antigone?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

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

What does the story of Antigone symbolize?

Antigone and Creon act as symbols of

honoring the gods versus honoring man

. Antigone will not turn away from the gods, while Creon insists that you must obey the laws of man. Teiresias also acts as a symbol of the will of the gods.

What is the moral of Antigone?

In Antigone, the moral of the story is

that of fate

. … This moral is incorporated through the actions of both Creon and Antigone. The moral also corresponds with a recurring theme of the abuse of power, something that Creon is more than guilty of.

What did we learn from Antigone?

The lesson I learn from “Antigone” is that

you have to be ready to accept the consequences of your convictions

. Not only is she loyal to her brother and her religious beliefs, brave when confronted with danger and death, but she accepts the consequence (death) before she ever acts.

Why is Antigone important 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 does Antigone death symbolize?

By walling Antigone up, Creon thinks he avoids actually being responsible for killing her. If she dies

it will be the will of the gods

. He thus hopes to avoid the endless cycle of ritual pollution and divine vengeance.

What is the irony in Antigone?

Antigone describes

Creon as “a worthy king” despite feeling the exact opposite

. This is considered a verbal Irony in which a character would say something despite feeling the exact opposite. The audience, in this case, since the ironic play on our heroine’s words, border lining sarcasm to an extent.

What does Polynices represent in Antigone?

In Oedipus at Colonus, Polynices represents

the son who wishes to reconcile with his father for self-serving reasons

.

Is Antigone a royalty?

The Antigone family tree is crucial to understanding what happens in the Greek playwright Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone. She is

a member of the Royal Line of Thebes

, and her family is the main subject of Sophocles’ plays in The Oedipus Plays; Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone.

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 does Antigone teach us about moral responsibility?

Antigone illustrates that

unjust laws are morally required to be broken

, as Martin Luther King, Jr. would write centuries later in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

Why is Antigone a hero?

Antigone is a hero

because she remains true both to the Gods and her brother

. Even when faced with death, she refuses to go against either one, choosing to end her own life. Thus, she seals her testimony with her own blood and dies a tragic hero.

What is Antigone famous for?

Antigone is famed

in Greek mythology for her unwavering beliefs

. Her father, King Oedipus of Thebes, married his own mother Jocasta. Thus Antigone was both sister and daughter to Oedipus, and both daughter and grandchild to Jocasta. She was called Antigone, which means “in place of one’s parents”.

Why is Antigone a good story?

Antigone’s love for her brother,

her sense of right and wrong and her bravery makes her admirable

. Sophocles has also been bold in basing his entire play around this strong female at a time when women were considered inferior to men. … Stories like Antigone are so important.

How does Antigone view death?

Death 8: Antigone feels as if she is not yet dead or not yet alive, because she has been sentenced to die and therefore can no longer think of living, but she is not actually dead yet.

She is obsessed with her own death

and somewhat looks forward to it, is all-too willing to receive her punishment.

How will Antigone be killed?

Antigone died

by hanging herself with her veil

. Haemon saw this and killed himself with his own sword.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.