Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3) Summary & Key Insights

Sophocles' Antigone, the third play in his Theban Plays, centers on the clash between divine law and human law, epitomized by the conflict between Antigone and Creon, the new ruler of Thebes. Following the epic battles depicted in Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus, Thebes is reeling from the recent fratricidal struggle between Eteocles and Polynices, two sons of Oedipus. Creon, now in power, decrees that Eteocles, who died defending Thebes, will receive a proper burial, while Polynices, deemed a traitor, will be left unburied, his body exposed to the elements and scavengers.

Antigone, Polynices’ sister, deeply devout and bound by religious law, refuses to abide by Creon's edict. She believes that all the dead, regardless of their actions in life, deserve proper burial rites to appease the gods. This act of piety, driven by familial duty and divine obligation, places her in direct defiance of Creon's absolute rule. She secretly performs burial rites for Polynices, an act discovered by Creon's sentinels.

The central conflict revolves around the opposing ideologies of Creon and Antigone. Creon, representing the authority of the state and the maintenance of order, prioritizes civic law above all else. His rigid adherence to his decree stems from a desire for stability and control after a period of turmoil. He sees Antigone's act as an affront to his authority and a threat to the social order.

Antigone, on the other hand, represents the unwavering power of divine law and the inescapable bonds of family. For her, the unwritten laws of the gods transcend the capricious decrees of mortal rulers. Her unwavering commitment to her brother and her religious beliefs lead her to accept the consequences of her actions, even death.

The play unfolds through a series of confrontations and arguments. Creon initially tries to reason with Antigone, emphasizing the gravity of her crime and the potential consequences. However, Antigone remains steadfast in her defiance, choosing death over betrayal of her religious duty. Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, pleads with his father to show mercy, highlighting the public's sympathy for Antigone. Tiresias, the blind prophet, warns Creon of the wrath of the gods if he persists in his cruelty.

Despite these warnings, Creon remains unyielding, condemning Antigone to death by entombment. His stubbornness ultimately leads to tragedy. Haemon kills himself upon discovering Antigone's death, and Eurydice, Creon's wife, also takes her own life upon learning of her son's fate. Creon is left utterly broken, his pride and stubborn adherence to human law having caused the destruction of his family and the revelation of his flawed judgment. Antigone powerfully explores the tension between individual conscience, religious duty, and the dictates of the state, leaving the audience to contemplate the true nature of justice and the devastating consequences of unchecked power.