The Theme Of Fate In Antigone

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Demetrios Drew
Fate in Antigone
Like many other Greek epics and poems, Sophocles ' Antigone follows the theme that fate is a predestined series of events and consequences that are outside the control of mortals and are instead controlled by the Gods. The consequences of the battle between Eteocles and Polyneices serve as the precursor to the conflict between the principled views of Antigone and Creon. After the death of Eteocles and Polyneices at each other 's hand, Eteocles was given a ceremonial burial but the body of Polyneices, who was labeled a traitor as a result of Creon 's edict, was left unburied and rotting. In this story, fate is fulfilled because of the beliefs and characteristics of the characters. Antigone 's two main characters each follow two separate rules of law; Antigone follows religious law, or law of the Gods, and Creon follows, and creates, civic law, and these characters fates have been …show more content…

The qualities Creon and Antigone express in the beginning of the play condemn them to their fates at the end. Antigone 's conviction in her religious beliefs and understanding of the punishments from Creon 's edict leads her to see that her actions have no other consequences than death, but yet, she must bury Polyneices ' body, and her quote to Ismene, "but that man shall I / bury. For me, the doer, death is best," represents that (71-72). Another exchange between Antigone and Ismene shows Antigone 's knowledge of her fate with Ismene stating, "Alas for me. Am I outside your fate?" and Antigone replying, "Yes. For you chose to live when I chose death" (554-555). Antigone maintains her agency throughout the play including her suicide, choosing death. Although this death was in a different way than what Creon was assuming would happen, Antigone fulfilled the fate she always knew was

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