Analysis of Tragic Story Antigone

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

Antigone wants to bury her brother because she believes the gods will it. She knew about 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 says that the gods’ words overpower the kings. 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 make sure everyone knew that his words have more power than the gods, and if Antigone was going to risk her life to honor her brother and her religion, she will 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 getting the wrath of the gods for breaking his edict. She believed they would be in her favor for following traditions. Kreon’s laws will not affect her through death, and so she accepted her tragic fate with open arms.

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 sisters heart was in a good place, but no one will listen to them if they break the law. Antigone then accepts that she is going to have to bury her brother alone and go against her uncles laws. Antigone knew what would happen if she gets caught going against Kreon, but still does it willingly. Her stance of honor for her family, even without support of her sister, shows her devotion to please 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 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 disagreed first, without praising his father's decision, Kreon may have thought about Antigone differently. If Haimon fought harder, it may not have ended as tragic for the couple than it did.

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 will 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.

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 to the traditions, and Antigone had no justice to be able to save her life.