Antigone is a female character featured by Sophocles in the play Antigone. The play is about a great tragedy that occurred in Greek. Antigone defied the odds after realizing his brother was denied a decent burial. Antigone’s action made her uncle Creon, who had taken over the thrown, ruin his family. The purpose of this essay is to discuss Antigone’s character as depicted in the play.
Antigone is defiant and daring. At the beginning of the play, she called out her sister, Ismene, for a meeting at night. She had learnt that her two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, had killed each other while fighting for the thrown. Creon had decided to give Eteocles a decent burial accorded to heroes who die in the battle field. However, he refused to do the same to Polyneices’ remains. This action infuriated Antigone, and she sought her sister’s help to give Polyneices a decent burial: “Ismene, I am going to bury him. Will you come?”(The Theban Plays). Antigone’s decision to defy the ruler showed how daring she can be.
Antigone is courageous, stubborn, and stands by her decisions. This is shown when she tells her sister, “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way” (The Theban Plays). Burying Polyneices against the wishes of Creon would mean accepting a death sentence. However, Antigone is not afraid of the threats. This makes her disown her own sister who refuses to help her. To fulfill her mission, Antigone sets to bury her brother at night. A sentry finds out about the burial and immediately reports to Creon. Creon seeks to find the culprit and unburies Polyneices posting guards around the body. Being stubborn, Antigone makes another attempt to bury his brother amidst the tight security. She comes under the cover of a whirlwind to hurriedly bury her brother. Unfortunately, the wind dies before she could finish burial that leads to her capture.
Antigone is truthful. After being arraigned before the ruler, she openly admits burying her brother. She does not feel shaken by the death penalty. Creon is stunned by the girl’s courage and truthfulness. Moreover, Antigone argues her case claiming that she did nothing wrong by burying her beloved brother. She is also angered by the statements made by Creon portraying Polyneices as a traitor. Upon realizing Antigone’s reaction, Creon became furious and summoned her sister Ismene. He knew that Ismene must have participated in the planning of Polyneices’ burial. Ismene tried to give false information in a bid to exonerate her sister. Antigone knew her sister was lying and refused the assistance, “Share not thou my death, nor claim deeds to which thou hastnot put thy hand: my death will suffice,” (Internet classics). Creon ordered temporary imprisonment of the two sisters, and later, the execution of Antigone.
Antigone is persistent, brave, and believes in God. Even after receiving the news about her execution, Antigone remained firm on what she knew was right. She welcomed the opportunity to die as a chance to meet her departed family members: “But I cherishgood hope that my coming will be welcome to my father, and pleasant tothee, my mother, and welcome, brother” (Internet classics). She warns Creon before leaving for the cave where she hangs herself: “You will remember what things I suffer”.
The essay gives a summary of Antigone’s role in the play. She is seen as a person who does not give in to the pressure from the authority. She believes in her decisions and would do anything to ensure she fulfils them. This makes her standout in the play as a self-righteous person. Her character makes the story enjoyable and intriguing.