Self Sacrifice In Antigone

The story of Antigone by Sophocles is a story of a sister on a quest to bury her brother who was killed in combat. The new incoming king forbids such acts of burial for the brother, as he is labeled a traitor. Antigone has shown that she is a strong woman as she continues to believe in her ways of things. Even if she is told by others to stand down, she continues to hang on to her beliefs till the end. Creon who is told by his son and Teiresias is late to think about how her punishment was unreasonable that he took it too far. Antigone, who had an idea of performing a burial for her brother: “Ismene, I am going to bury him. Will you come?” (Prolouge.31). She continues to say: “I should not want you, even if you asked to come. You have made

The law is strong, we must give into the law” (Prolouge.47-48). Antigone refuses what her sister has to say and responds back with: “You have made your choice, you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him; and if I must die, . . . I shall lie down With him in death” (Prolouge.55-58). Ismene goes on to say this: “Impossible things should not be tired at all” (Prologue.76). Antigone responds back with: “Leave my foolish plan: I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death” (Prolouge.79-80). Creon has brought in Antigone to talk to her as he talks: “Had you head my proclamation touching this matter?” (Scene 2.55). Antigone responds back to what Creon had said: “Your edict, King, was strong, But all your strength is weakness itself against The immortal unrecorded laws of God” (Scene 2.59-61). She continues to add on to her earlier statement: “This death of mine Is of no importance; but if I had left my brother Lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not” (Scene 2.69-72). She ignores what the law has said about her brother, and gave her brother the proper burial that should be given as the other brother

Haimon has gone to town to see what the people have said about this incident and has gotten more information: “They say no women has ever, so unreasonably, Died so shameful a death for a generous act: “She covered her brother’s body. Is this indecent?” (Scene 3.63-65). Creon is angry to have been told this by his son: “You consider it right for a man of my years and experience To go to school to a boy?” (Scene 3.95-96). Soon after sending Antigone away Teiresias appears before Creon to say: “This, Creon: you stand once more on the edge of gate” (Scene 5.8). Creon who is confused responds with: “What do you mean? Your words are kind of dread” (Scene 5.9). Teiresias continues from his earlier statement: “I tell you, Creon, you yourself have brought This new calamity upon us” (Scene 5.25-25). Teiresias angered after what Creon said tells him what is fate is for his actions: “You have kept from the gods below the child that is theirs: The one in a grave before her death, the other, Dead, denied the grave. This is your crime” (Scene 5.74-76). Creon realizes that the meaning of what Teiresias has said: “The laws of the gods are might, and a man must serve them To the last days of his life!” (Scene