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Greek tragedies, such as The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, often end with a loss, a lover's betrayal, or death. "Antigone", a Greek play, portrays series of events that follow the deaths of Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, who died fighting for the throne of Thebes a few hours after the Trojan War. Sophocles' play discusses the effort and determination of Antigone's will to bury her brother and defend her rights. This play presents several themes that relate to historical issues during the Ancient Greek Era, such as standing up for one's belief, foolish pride, and gender discrimination. Gender discrimination was common throughout the play, because during the Greek period, women and girls couldn't attend school and had very minimum freedom.
To begin with, standing up for one's beliefs is one of the many themes present in "Antigone". Antigone notifies Ismene her plan to bury Polynices, but Ismene renounces to aid her, so she banters:
ISMENE. Then don't, at least blurt this out to anyone, keep it a secret. I'll join you in that, I promise.
ANTIGONE. Dear god, shout it from the rooftops. I'll hate you all the more for silence-tell the world (99-100).
Although Ismene refuses to help, Antigone still carries out the plan. She knows the consequences that would follow if she buries his body, but she doesn't care. She believes that she is doing the respectable thing. Likewise, Antigone represents the theme when Antigone admits, "I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory," (85-86). Antigone knows if she buries Polynices' body, she will face death. Nevertheless, Antigone decides to bury her brother's body anyways because she knows that it is proper. ...

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...eplaceable toys.
To conclude, "Antigone" presents several themes throughout the play: standing up for one's belief, foolish pride, and gender discrimination. The first theme is present when Antigone continues on with her plan to bury her brother, even though she knows she will be killed. Another theme Sophocles' play portrays is foolish pride: Creon's pride often results in disastrous situations. Last of all, gender discrimination is often found throughout the play, given that is was common during the Greek Era, when girls were not allowed to attend school. As others read "Antigone", they will find that there are several more theories that can be found in many Greek tragedies such as this.

Works Cited

Sophocles. "Antigone." Trans. Robert Fagles. The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus. Penguin Group. New York. 1982. 1-1470. Print.

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