Antigone's Decisions

What kind of actions would you take to honor your family? Would you go to the extremes of risking your life? Or would you obey rules placed before you and remember your loved ones in silence? In the play Antigone, the title character had to ask herself those questions before making a difficult decision. She had to choose to obey the rules or put her life in jeopardy for the sake of honoring her brother, who was seen as a rebel and would not be honored, according to the king’s orders (Sophocles, 22). Many people in the play had to make choices they thought was just. King Kreon saw Polynieces as a rebel and instead honored Eteokles who was actually the bad brother because he did not want to give Polynieces a turn with the crown. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, did not want to disobey the king’s orders and did not want to help her sister bury Polynieces yet, when Antigone was waiting to be sentenced, Ismene tried to take the blame because she felt bad (Sophocles, 42). During a class discussion we talked about who the hero was in Antigone. Some of us believe there was no hero, just different people making decisions based on what they thought was either just or unjust. Another prediction is that everyone could be a hero in their own way, no matter how just or unjust they may seem.

They were told they had to share the kingdom they were given by their father Oedipus. When it was Polyneices turn to rule, Eteokles would not give him the crown. Enraged, Polyneices started a rebellion and scorched most of the land. In an epic battle, both brothers were fatally wounded. When they died they’re uncle, Kreon, became king. Kreon ordered that Eteokles would be given a proper burial, however, Polyneices was to be left outside as food to the wildlife (Sophocles, 22). We then start the play with Antigone confessing to her sister that she is going to disobey the law and bury Polyneices