Analysis of Tragic Story Antigone

Understanding Tragedy in Literature

Tragedy is defined as an “event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress.” It can be challenging to see someone else’s viewpoint on tragedy, as people’s experiences with it vary. Everyone who has an opinion will weigh in—agreeing, or simply not able to see eye-to-eye on the tragedy. In Sophocles' Antigone, tragedy sweeps through Antigone’s life. She is distraught about her brother Polyneices not having a proper burial. Her actions go against the king's law. Her acts of bravery for the gods proved her worth to the people of Thebes. Though she thought her actions were noble, Antigone was left to carry out her plans alone. Her sister denied helping, and her future husband was not able to assist her. With no one by her side, injustice and immoral acts were brought upon her. She lost her family, and she was punished for trying to honor her brother one last time.

Analysis of the Tragic Story of Antigone

Antigone wants to bury her brother because she believes the gods will it. She was aware of the law that prohibited her from burying him because he was a traitor to the state. The acts of her brother did not matter to her; he was dead, and he deserved to have an honorable resting place to serve the gods. The common people believed Antigone when she asserted that the gods’ words overpower the king's. Their culture was more important to them than a new king who sought to discourage other rebels by showing what he did with Polyneices. Kreon wanted to ensure everyone knew that his words had more power than the gods, and if Antigone was going to risk her life to honor her brother and her religion, she would be sentenced to death. “Antigone: ...I didn’t suppose your decree had strength enough, or you, who are human, to violate the lawful traditions…” Antigone explains to Kreon her view of his laws. She had no intention of incurring the wrath of the gods for breaking his edict. She believed they would favor her for following traditions. Kreon’s laws would not affect her through death, and so she accepted her tragic fate with open arms.

The Role of Family and Society

Antigone wanted help from her sister, Ismene, who declined. Much to Antigone's dismay, she refused to see how burying him would be logical. “Ismene: ...No, we should be sensible: we are women, unfit to battle men;...” Ismene wanted to remind Antigone of the place where she, a woman, stands against a male tyrant ruler. Ismene had to know her sister's heart was in a good place, but no one would listen to them if they broke the law. Antigone then accepted that she was going to have to bury her brother alone and go against her uncle's laws. Antigone knew what would happen if she got caught going against Kreon, but she still did it willingly. Her stance of honor for her family, even without the support of her sister, shows her devotion to pleasing the gods and how important her brothers were to her, even though her deed would get her sentenced to death. Her fiancé, Haimon, did what he could to try to convince his father to let Antigone go free. He pleaded that she did nothing wrong. But he already agreed with Kreon that he has leadership and that if he keeps Antigone alive, the people will start questioning the king's authority. Haimon did agree with Kreon about Antigone, and then disagreed. If he had disagreed first, without praising his father's decision, Kreon might have thought about Antigone differently. If Haimon had fought harder, it might not have ended as tragically for the couple as it did.

Antigone's Acceptance of Her Fate

Antigone's acceptance of her death was grim. She willingly went into her “tomb.” She admitted to everything. It could have been because she knew the gods would be in her favor, but she still would lose her life over nothing. She never got married or had kids, which she said was a reason that she does not care if she dies. There is no one who needs to rely on her, so she will pass peacefully. She ultimately gave up. Her tragic story was over once she ended her life in the cave.

Conclusion

In the tragic story Antigone, Antigone was apt to break the law, going once when it was dark, and then again when it was mid-day. She wanted to give her dead brother a proper burial, no matter what he stood for in life. She believed the gods would want that. She did not fear retribution. Kreon would condemn her to her death. Her family was gone, but she had the citizens of Thebes on her side. Antigone’s righteous action to bury her brother was what made her actions tragic. The law that was enforced showed no compassion for the traditions, and Antigone had no justice to be able to save her life.

References

1. Sophocles. Antigone. Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Books, 1984.

2. Knox, Bernard. “Introduction.” Antigone, by Sophocles, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Books, 1984, pp. 1-30.

3. Schein, Seth L. Sophocles: Antigone. Cambridge University Press, 2013.

4. Segal, Charles. Tragedy and Civilization: An Interpretation of Sophocles. University of Oklahoma Press, 1999.

5. Winnington-Ingram, R. P. Sophocles: An Interpretation. Cambridge University Press, 1980.