Who Is Responsible For Antigone's Death

Finn Barton

Mrs. Burdette

Argument Essay

17 March 2023

Antigone’s Unfortunate Death Due to Fate Antigone’s death was caused by fate, although some may argue that her death was caused by her own free will. Her fate caused her death because there is a history of fate in her family, most of Antigone’s family is already dead, and Antigone accepts her fate from the beginning of the story. An argument could be made that Antigone could have followed Ismene and feared the law, or she could have changed her mind after she heard the punishment of burying Polyneices.

The first reason for how Antigone’s death was caused by fate is that her family has previously been cursed by fate. Antigone’s father, Oedipus, had fate in his life because there was a

Besides Ismene, Antigone is completely alone which can cause her to want to honor and be loyal to her family more. In the prologue, it states, "... and Iocaste died, his mother and wife at once: she twisted the cords that strangled her life; and our two brothers died, each killed by the other’s sword, and we are left..." (Prologue.38-42). This quote shows just how much of Antigone and Ismene’s family is already dead. Most of the family was killed by fate and the people already dislike Oedipus. Now that Antigone is left with no one, she has to honor what she has left of her family. Antigone later says that she would have rather died and buried Polyneices than lived and not buried him. This proves that she had to bury him no matter the

When Antigone was talking to Ismene in the prologue, she was trying to convince her to go with her to bury Polyneices. Ismene refuses because she thinks that she will get in trouble and she is also scared of what will happen to her if they get caught. In the prologue, Ismene says, "We are only women, We cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong, we must give in to the law In this thing, and in worse. I beg the dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business to be always meddling." (Prologue. 46-51). Some people think that because Ismene chose not to bury Polyneices, Antigone could also make this decision. This is not the case because it was not Ismene’s fate, it was Antigone’s. Another reason that this thought is wrong is that Ismene later agrees with Antigone and even wants to take the punishment. Ismene tells Antigone in the second scene, "Do you refuse me, Antigone? I want to die with you: I too have a duty that I must discharge to the dead" (1.2.436-437). This proves that Ismene later feels like she has to take responsibility for the burial of Polyneices along with Antigone, which shows that she no longer fears the consequence, but only wants to honor her