Antigone

• Antigone and Ismene


  Two sisters who are daughters of Oedipus, the former king of Thebes
• Polyneices and Eteocles


  Brothers of Antigone and Ismene who fought against each other in a battle, resulting in their deaths
• Creon


  The new king of Thebes who decrees that Eteocles will be given a proper burial, but Polyneices will not be buried and will be left for animals to eat
• Antigone's actions


  1. Determined to give her brother Polyneices a proper burial, despite Creon's decree

  2. Asks Ismene to help her, but Ismene is afraid of defying the king's orders

  3. Decides to bury Polyneices alone, regardless of the consequences

  4. Believes it is her duty to honor her brother and follow divine laws, even if it means disobeying human laws
• Prophecy


  A prediction of the future told to Creon by the blind prophet Teiresias
• Teiresias


  • A blind prophet
  • Warned Creon that his refusal to bury Polyneices and harsh treatment of Antigone would anger the gods and bring disaster upon Thebes
  • Predicted that Creon's actions would lead to the death of his own son, Haemon
• Creon's refusal to bury Polyneices and harsh treatment of Antigone


  Angered the gods and brought disaster upon Thebes
• Creon's actions


  Led to the death of his own son, Haemon
• The prophecy served as a warning to Creon about the consequences of his pride and stubbornness
• Creon initially dismissed Teiresias' words, believing that his authority as king justified his decisions
• It was only after experiencing the tragic events foretold by the prophecy that Creon realized the error of his ways
• the death of Haemon caused Creon's wife - Eurydice - to unalive herself
• Theme 


  individual conscience vs. state law
• story by


  Sophocles