Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles
write an academic analyzing essay, and below is the details
of the essay and I will attach the references file, also I attached an
example of the essay I need.
The topic of the essay is: Sophocles Antigone
This is the details: For this written assignment, choose an intellectual
tradition from Unit 1 to analyze. You can choose to reflect or analyze on a
particular tradition using your notes, class discussions and own
understanding. Assignment need to be 4 pages long. Use only your
readings from the course to complete this task. Late assignments will be
graded accordingly.
Solution
Introduction
Antigone is a play by an ancient Greek playwright Sophocles and was written around
442BCe. It is postulated to have been written before Sopholes two other Theban plays namely
Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. It was the third play and is assumed to have picked
from where Aeschlus’ play known as Seven against Thebes terminates. Antigone the play
revolves around the burial of Polynices against the laws of Creon and the state and the
consequences of her civil disobedience (Mastin, 2009). The paper will give a comprehensive
analysis of the source which is the play Antigone considering traditional issues keenly.
Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles
The play is written in the city state of Thebes many years before Sophocles time which
was the era of the Trojan War. The play is set in Athens during the reign of the Pericles which
was a period of military expedition against Samos Island shortly after the first publication is
done. Having given the background of the plays setting and that of its authors, it is amazing and
distinctive how the play leaves out propaganda and contemporary allusion which was the current
situations in Athens at the time. All that unfolds in all scenes takes before the royal palace which
confirms the traditional dramatic standard of a unity of place. The mood of uncertainty
dominates Thebes in the era of uneasy calm after the Theban civil war. As the debate between
two major figures in the play escalates, elements of apprehension and impending doom
preponderate in the atmosphere (Johnson, 2016). The series of death that take place as the play
comes to an end, leaves a ultimate intuition of catharsis and an emptying of all emotion with all
passions spent.
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Antigone is the ideal character in the play as she risks her life knowingly as observed
from her actions. She fights to obey the laws of the gods and orders of familial loyalty and social
decency. Creon unlike Antigone is concerned with political feasibility and physical power and is
observed to be insistent in his stance. The major tragedy lies in the fact that Creon realization of
his recklessness and impulsiveness comes too late as he pays a heavy prize since he is left alone
in his misery. Haemon who is betrothed to Antigone tries to persuade his father to spare
Antigone as he feels that he has punished her harshly. Creon refuses and a heated argument
ensues which makes Haemon get out vowing never to see his father again (Sophocles, 2009).
Later in the play news reaches the king that Haemon and Antigone have committed
suicide. Eurydice who is the king’s wife is distressed over the loss of her son and flees the scene
leaving the king all alone. The chorus in the play which comprises of Theban elders alienate
themselves from the general moral and immediate scene although it allows itself to be carried
away severally from the events occurring in their surrounding or their initial intension for
speaking. The chorus is seen to beg Creon to try and reconsider his verdict on Antigone and he
consents as he is observed to fear the prophet’s warnings (Sophocles, 2009).
The character of the sentry is also twisted from the beginning of the play to the end since
he is observed to speak in a remarkably natural, lower class language unlike the styled poetry of
other characters in the play. The striking feature in the play is that gods are sparingly mentioned
giving a clear conclusion that the unfortunate incidences that happen in the play are caused by
human error and not by divine intervention. Creon’s laws do not auger well with Antigone since
she feels that her brother Polyneices deserves his final rights which was not in the best interests
of Creon. The argument that ensues between the two individuals becomes so heated because
neither Creon nor Antigone wants to submit and listen to the other leading to the loss of life as
ANTIGONE 4
Antigone feels she better hang herself than compromise her morals as she feels she was totally
right in what she did (Sophocles, 2009).
The play portrays some themes that are clear and evident in the text. One major theme
that is expressed in the novel is civil disobedience. According to the Greek custom, a city held
the responsibility of burying its own citizens. However, Creon feels that Polinieces lost that right
when he led a rebellion through a foreign army against its rightful king. Antigone on the other
hand does mind what the king says as she has a strong conviction despite what Polyneices did, he
still deserves a decent burial since he died as a citizen of Thebes. To show her seriousness, she
commits her own life as she as she feels unfairly judged by the king and decides to take her own
life instead of being killed brutally as punishment for defying the king’s orders (Sophocles,
2009).
The other themes revolve around the same context. They include state control which can
be explained as the right of a person to defy societal infringement on the basis of personal
freedom and obligations. The other theme is citizenship where the ruler’s verdict that Polynices
should be left unburied advocates that Polynices treasonous attempt of attacking the city
invalidates his citizenship and the rights that go with it bring out clearly the concept of
citizenship by law rather than citizenship by nature. Antigone brings out the theme of family
where to her, the honor and respect to family and its members is far much important than
anything as it clear from the play how she break rescinds her duties to the state (Sophocles &
Mulroy, 2013).
Antigone is convinced beyond doubt that state law is not absolute meaning there is room
for modification and civil disobedience is justified only in extreme cases not like in her case. The
reason why Antigone had a strong urge to bury her brother the second time can raise questions
ANTIGONE 5
since pouring dust initially over his body would have satisfied her religious obligation. It can
however be argued that it was done as a dramatic expediency of the author. The argument that
seems to have weight attributes Antigones actions to her shaken state after her release (Sophocles
& Mulroy, 2013).
Conclusion
The analysis of Sophocles article provides clear illustrations of intellectual tradition
especially in the case where the happenings of a particular environment do not contribute to the
events of the story. The authors text has reflected on a unique tradition with exceptional
characters who have an association yet argue for what they feel is right. The events that unfold
between Creon and Antigone who are major characters in the story play a significant role in
providing the different themes and moral lessons in the story.
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References
Johnson, F. (2016).Antigone by Sophocles: Summary, Characters & Analysis. Retrieved on 23 rd
February 2016 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/antigone-by-sophocles-summary-
characters-analysis.html
Mastin, L. (2009). ANCIENT GREECE – SOPHOCLES – ANTIGONE Retrieved on
February 23, 2016 from http://www.ancient-
literature.com/greece_sophocles_antigone.html
Sophocles, (2009). Antigone. Retrieved on February 23, 2016 from
http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html
Sophocles. & Mulroy, D. (2013). Antigone. Madison, Wis: The University of Wisconsin Press.
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