How Does Antigone A True Depiction Of Greek Tragedy?

Is Antigone a True Depiction of Greek Tragedy?

It is only in the Greek tragedy Antigone, written by Sophocles, where the citizen of Thebes that rebelled against the law is the soon to be daughter-in-law of the king. All actions have consequences, which is one thing Sophocle taught the audience. In Antigone’s case, her action lead to a chain of deaths, including hers, and the lifelong suffering of her sister and uncle. The recurring themes of conflict between personal and public affairs, death, and suffering throughout this play written by Sophocles is what makes Antigone the epitome of a Greek tragedy.

One of the main aspects of a Greek tragedy is the constant conflict between family and state that reappears throughout the play. In the prologos,

Even before Antigone took stage, it already satisfied this key factor. Polynices and Eteocles had already entered into the afterlife, joining their father Oedipus and mother Jocasta. After going against the king’s orders, Antigone was sentenced to death by Creon, who said, “Though she is my niece, and bound to me more close than all who worship at our family hearth, she shall not escape a death most shameful” (Sophocles 71). Although, Creon didn’t kill her directly, he left her in a jail cell with minimal food so that she would eventually starve to death. After Creon was warned about his pride by the blind prophet Teiresias, he had a change of heart about Antigone’s fate. But, it was too late, for Hæmon found his future wife, “at the far end of the tomb, a noose of fine linen about her neck” (Sophocles 81). Furious, Hæmon attempted to strike his own father, but then angry at himself, took his last breath and drove the sword straight into his side. Two lovers laid in death together, just how they were meant to in marriage. The final death that took place was Queen Eurydice, wife of Creon and mother of Hæmon. Once the queen was told her last son had killed himself, she too committed suicide. With all the catastrophic death, it is obvious why Antigone is called a

It is not the suffering of those who have entered eternity, but those who are left to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Ismene is one of the two main characters who experience suffering. After Antigone kills herself, Ismene is left alive with the guilt of knowing her sister died while angry at her. Although she experienced suffering, it was Creon who endured the most. In the exodus, or closure, of Antigone, Creon cries out, “Lead me away, a poor, rash fool, Who killed his son unwittingly, and killed his wife. I know not where to look, or where to turn. All is gone amiss. A fate intolerable has leapt upon my head” (Sophocles 83). Here, he recognizes his mistakes. Creon was so obsessed with his power that the madness got to his head. He caused his only family left, Hæmon and Eurydice, to kill themselves. In the end, he was left by playwright Sophocles to rave, rant, and mourn in