Analysis Of Short Story “Antigone”

Introduction

Antigone picks up where Oedipus at Colonus leaves off. Oedipus has just passed away in Colonus, and Antigone and her sister decide to return to Thebes with the intention of helping their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, avoid a prophecy that predicts they will kill each other in a battle for the throne of Thebes. Upon her arrival in Thebes, Antigone learns that both of her brothers are dead. Eteocles has been given a proper burial, but Creon, Antigone's uncle who has inherited the throne, has issued a royal edict banning the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone defies the law, buries her brother, and is caught. When Creon locks her away in prison, she kills herself (Chialant, 2012).

Discussion

The plot of Antigone by Sophocles begins with all the characters onstage, with the Prologue narrator walking amongst them, describing each of them in detail. He first walks up to Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and niece of Creon, a girl who was never regarded as a valuable member of her family. He then goes to Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé. He is talking with Ismene, Antigone's more beautiful sister. The prologue tells a brief story about how Haemon had been smitten with Ismene, and all had expected they would get married, but one day he had surprised everyone by revealing that it was Antigone he wanted. He then describes Creon as a former courtier who enjoys pleasures more than power and avoids conflict when possible.

The narrator of the prologue says that sometimes, “he wonders whether it's not pointless, being a leader of men. Whether it's not a sordid business that ought to be left to others less... sensitive than himself” (Sophocles, 80). The Nurse is briefly introduced, as is the page, with little ...