Characters
She defies Creon’s decree and insists on burying her brother despite the consequences.
Who is Antigone?
Antigone believes these unwritten laws are higher than Creon’s decree.
What are the laws of the gods?
In addition to Antigone, Creon wants to punish this person for burying Polynices.
Who is Imene?
The Chorus often represents this group within Thebes.
Who are the elders (or citizens) of Thebes?
“I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.”
Who is Antigone?
This cautious sister refuses to help bury Polyneices out of fear of the law.
Who is Ismene?
Creon claims this must be upheld above all else to keep Thebes stable.
What is state authority?
He accuses Antigone of showing loyalty to a traitor.
Who is Creon?
Early in the play, the Chorus praises humanity’s ability to control everything except this.
What is death?
“Whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing.”
Who is Creon?
He becomes king of Thebes and orders that Polyneices remain unburied.
Who is Creon?
The punishment Creon declares for anyone who buries Polyneices.
What is death?
He warns Creon that the people of Thebes actually sympathize with Antigone.
Who is Haemon?
The Chorus warns that too much of this will anger the gods and lead to someone's downfall.
What is bravado (pride or arrogance)?
“We are only women; we cannot fight with men.”
Who is Ismene?
He is Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé, who argues passionately for her life.
Who is Haemon?
This central conflict drives the play: the clash between divine law and this opposing force.
What is human (or man-made) law?
This brother of Antigone was allowed to be buried by Creon.
Who is Eteocles?
Throughout the play, the Chorus gradually shifts its loyalty away from Creon and toward this character.
Who is Antigone?
"You've seen trees by a raging winter torrent, how many sway with the flood and salvage every twig, but not the stubborn - they're ripped out ... "
Who is Haemon?
The elderly group of Thebans, who include their perspective throughout the play.
Who are the Chorus?
This is why Creon believes Polyneices should not be buried.
What is a traitor?
Haemon believes his father should be more flexible when dealing with Antigone. He says Creon should be more like this.
What is a tree?
The Chorus opens the play by celebrating Thebes’ victory over this attacking army.
What is the army of Argos?
“Only Death, from Death alone, he will find no rescue.”
Who are the Chorus?