The Role Of Death In Sophocles Antigone

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In Sophocles ' play Antigone, the city of Thebes was left to Polyneices and Eteocles to share. A war between Polyneices and Eteocles for control of the throne erupted, and killed them both. Creon was left in power and declared that Polyneices would not be buried. As a sister of Polyneices and Eteocles, Antigone challenged Creon’s decree and attempted to bury Polyneices; resulting in her punishment of death, that indirectly lead to the deaths of Haemon and Eurydice. The repetition of death portrayed that life was weak, and suicide was the only control the characters had over fate. For each character, death had a different meaning. Polyneices died for honesty, Eteocles for loyalty, Antigone for divine law, Ismene offered death because of selfishness, …show more content…

She had also been able to share her thoughts and ideas with her sister Ismene. Throughout the play, Ismene changed her stance on death. In the beginning, Ismene was conflicted over the fate of Polyneices’ body. Ismene understood Antigone’s frustration, and why Antigone would want to give Polyneices a proper burial. Polyneices and Eteocles were Ismene’s brothers, as well as Antigone’s. Therefore, Ismene sympathized with Antigone, trying to have their family member’s soul rest in peace. However, Ismene also did not want to go against Creon’s law prohibiting the burial of Polyneices. Instead of being caught trying to get her brother the proper burial resulting in death, Ismene would rather live and attempted to talk Antigone out of breaking the law. Ismene pleaded to Antigone that there had to be another option; they would find a way to bury Polyneices but not have to break the law in order to do so. Ismene even tried to reach out to Antigone by saying that as women they were too weak to dig a grave in order to bury Polyneices. By not supporting Antigone’s decision, Antigone lost her trust in Ismene. Antigone saw Ismene as a traitor to their family by not respecting Polyneices’ …show more content…

The loss of love or of a loved one, can cause many people to do things that they normally would not consider doing. Haemon was Creon’s son, but he was also in love with and engaged to Antigone. When Haemon discovered that Antigone was going to be put to death, as a result of his father’s decree, Haemon tried to persuade his father to cancel Antigone’s punishment. Being a respectful son, Haemon did not yell at his father and instead tried to flatter his father into changing his mind over the punishment. After Haemon realized that Creon would not change his mind, his love for Antigone empowered his actions.“..shall she perish; nor shall you ever set eyes more upon my face” (Sophocles 98). Haemon alludes to his father that he would have killed himself if Antigone died. Creon did not take Haemon seriously and proceeded with Antigone’s punishment. Later, when Antigone was found dead, Haemon was outraged and blamed his father. In a fit, Haemon killed himself. His love for Antigone, and his desire to be with her lead to his rash decision to kill himself. If he was destined to be with her forever, and Antigone was dead, then he could have only been with her if he had died as well. Haemon viewed his death as a symbol of his love and dedication to Antigone. If she was no longer on this Earth, then he did not want to be on it either without

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