Antigone by Sophocles

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Antigone and Ismene, the daughters of the ill-fated Oedipus and his wife/mother, have just seen their brothers Polyneices and Eteocles kill one another.  Creon, who is brother to their deceased mother and now King of Thebes, has declared that Eteocles died defending Thebes and will be buried with honor, but Polyneices was a traitor whose body must be left for the dogs and birds.  Creon has issued a decree that anyone who attempts to bury Polyneices will be killed.


Antigone and Ismene disagree on an appropriate course of action.  Antigone is a spunky lady with a strong sense of what is right. Ismene counsels her:  ...we were born women, as who should not strive with men....we must obey in all things, and in things yet sorer.  Antigone is not swayed by Ismene and determines that she will bury Polyneices herself no matter what the consequences.


King Creon is a pompous fellow who can't believe anyone would willfully disobey his decree, but he orders guards to make sure that Polyneices' body is left unburied.  He is convinced that people will do pretty much anything for the right amount of money, and that someone might pay to have Polyneices buried.  Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men.


A guard arrives in fear for his life, because he must tell Creon that an attempt to cover the body has been made.  Creon is accusatory with the guard and demands that the offender be found and brought to him.



The action is paused while the chorus philosophies about man and his skill, cleverness and yet helplessness in the face of death.


Shortly the guard returns with Antigone who has been caught spreading dust on the body.  She does not deny her actions.  Creon is incredulous that she would defy him.  He tells her that all of Thebes agrees with him and does not share her view.  She retorts that:  All here would own that they thought it well, were not their lips sealed by fear. ....they curb their tongues for thee.


Someone has seen Antigone and Ismene talking and the assumption is made that Ismene agrees with Antigone's actions and must die too.  Although she did not agree, Ismene is willing to stand with her sister and die.  Antigone rejects this and says that Ismene can serve her best by living.  Ismene pleads with Creon for Antigone's life.  She points out that Antigone is engaged to Creon's son Haemon.  But, Creon does not want an "evil wife" for his son.


Haemon arrives and speaks to Creon.  Initially he seems totally submissive to the will of his father as King of Thebes.  However, he works around to telling his father that rigidly adhering to a course of action against wise counsel from others is folly..  ...though a man be wise, 'tis no shame for him to learn many things, and to bend in season...forego thy wrath; permit thyself to change.  They argue, and Haemon leaves.  Creon refuses to change his mind and orders Antigone to be brought for death, specifically he declares that she is to be entombed alive in a rock vault.


The blind prophet Teiresias enters the scene and sways Creon.  After some bickering Creon does relent.  Ah, me,  'tis hard, but I resign my cherished resolve--I obey.  We must not wage a vain war with destiny.  He declares that he will go himself to release Antigone.


Unfortunately, destiny has already come crashing down on Creon.  Antigone has hanged herself in the vault where she has been entombed.  Haemon, in grief, has stabbed himself and died by her side.  Creon's wife Eurydice, hearing of the death of her son, has also killed herself.


Creon departs with:  lead me away..a rash foolish man...all is amiss with that which is in my hands.


The final chorus:  Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness and reverence to the gods must be inviolate.  Great words of prideful men are ever punished with great blows, and, in old age, teach the chastened to be wise.


Or...


As the Bible puts it...the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.  Psalm 111:10


Sophocles and the Bible should be required reading for politicians!  I fear that "all is amiss" in the hands of those currently running our government.