Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles

In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles we the reader are presented with the tragic events that befell that of Antigone (the character) when he tried to do right by the laws endowed by the gods. These laws would inevitably clash with the royal edict King Creon asserted (no one was to “grace him with sepulture or lament, but leave him unburied…Antigone 11). In the play Antigone becomes the embodiment of the natural laws; endowed upon by the gods, and those who oppose these laws will eventually buckle but only when all has been lost.

From the get-go of the play we can already witness Antigone assuming the role of the natural laws. This can be noted in the dialogue between Antigone and Ismene. Ismene isn’t as steadfast as Antigone is in defying the newly enacted law stating that “to defy the State,-I have no strength for that.” (Antigone, 6), but when compared to Antigone we can see that she has no intention of obeying the decree ushered in by a human. Antigone at this point is fully aware of the penalty that will befall her for disregarding the rules but she has wholefully accepted her fate in that she states “the folly that is mine alone, to suffer this dread thing; for I shall not suffer aught so dreadful as an ignoble death.” (Antigone, 8). It is so intriguing to see one fight for a fallen loved one going against all the odds to do right by your families side, even though in the case of Polynices his being a traitor of the state.

When Creon was notified of the deed that had been committed he and his guards were at first dumbfounded to who could have possibly committed such an unthinkable action. In the clamour that was the deducing the “culprit” we as a reader can find a direct reference of Antigone being the natural law. This i...

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...lly slaining himself at the end of his sword. And his wife met her tragic end at the fangs of a viper, once finding out that her son was no longer a part of this plane, and that of the role in which her husband played in all of this. This can all be wrapped up in one quote “Alas, I was already as dead, and thou hast smitten me anew! What sayest thou, my son… a wife’s doom-of slaughter headed on slaughter.” (Antigone, 55).

In the end as time proceeds throughout the play there is an avalanche of evidence that supports the claim that Antigone is the embodiment of natural laws that are imposed by the gods themselves, and that those who oppose these laws will eventually buckle but only when all has been lost. In hindsight only wisdom could have avoided this calamity, if only Creon had heeded the advice of those wiser than him could all of this have been avoided.