Antigone Character Analysis Essay

Character Analysis of Antigone

Antigone is an award winning play by Sophocles, one of the three best Greek dramatists of all time. Antigone is a mythical princess of Thebes. She is the product of the accidental incestuous marriage between King Oedipus and Jocasta, whom is Oedipus’ mother as well. Antigone had two brothers and a sister: Polynices, Eteocles, and her sister, Ismene. After Oedipus discovered that he had married his mother, he fled, leaving Thebes to be ruled by his sons. Polynices and Eteocles had their differences arguing over the throne. Polynices left Thebes and returned with an army to declare war on Thebes. The two brothers killed each other during the war, leaving Thebes to be ruled by Jocasta’s brother Creon,
If she had been pliant and had conformed to the laws of Creon she would not have died. Antigone had a separate opinion on the matter and “she has never learned to yield” (II, 86). She was completely shameless in burying her brother and denied nothing. Actually, when her sister Ismene offered to keep Antigone’s actions a secret, Antigone thundered, “Oh tell it! Tell everyone” (Pro 76)! She “dared” to defy Creon, and did not fear the consequences of her actions (II, 65). She even put her pride above Creon as she said, “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way” (Pro,
Antigone does not consider herself to be guilty. Antigone attempted to justify herself to Creon saying that, “There is no guilt in reverence for the dead” (II, 121). Haimon brought to the attention of Creon the whispers of the city, and even “they say no woman has ever, so unreasonably, died so shameful a death for a generous act” (III, 66). Antigone’s reminded Creon of the gods, and how his judgment and law is miniscule in contrast to that of the gods: “it was not god’s proclamation. That final justice that rules the world below makes no such laws” (II, 66). Nevertheless, Creon did not show mercy at this