Antigone A Complex, Yet Debatable Play - 1343 Words

Antigone is a complex, yet debatable play, written by Sophocles somewhere around 442 BC (Johnston). Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays, but was the first and also one of the most famous tragedies ever to be written (Sophocles). The setting of the play is set in front of the Palace, Thebes, and Ancient Greece, though most Greek playwrights were from Athens, their plays are hardly ever set there. (Sophocles). It begins with the death of two brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, each on opposing sides in Thebes ’civil war. They are both killed in battle fighting for the ruling throne. Creon, the king of Thebes, decides it should be Eteocles the one to be honored and Polyneices disgraced by improper burial. The punishment†¦show more content†¦Although there are multiple interpretations as to what drove the play to a tragic end, one that can be viewed as a central conflict in Antigone, is arguably the struggle between the will of her self-reassurance and actions of morality. The play opens with Antigone trying to convince her sister Ismene, during a secret meeting, to help her bury Polyneices body, abusing the king’s law as an act of morality and respect for her sibling. In other words, the text depicts Antigone as the rebellious sister making Ismene appear to be more in favor with the kings ruling. Therefore, Ismene, fearful of the death penalty by King Creon, refuses to help her sister and fails at convincing Antigone of abandoning her rebellious plan as well. As Ismene refuses to carryout out the crime, Antigone replies with â€Å"Let that be your excuse. I’m going now to make a burial mound for my dear brother† (Johnston 99-100). This is where morals are being portrayed as one would want a proper burial for the loss of a loved one. Antigone has that of a men’s physique despising her self-image and is stubborn towards accepting her girlhood. However, it is understood by the reader that Antigone had always been complex, te rrorizing Ismene as a child, always insisting that her sister was beautiful and had a place in acceptance, as for her, she wasn’t destine for such pleasures. By these accusations, the author