Antigone, A Protagonist

NOTE: This article was written before any grading had taken place! Read at your own risk!

In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone can be seen as a protagonist for going against the king and doing what Antigone thought was right to do. Antigone says, “… And now- have they told you of the new decree of our King Creon?” Antigone’s brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, have died in the civil war of Thebes. Creon, king of Thebes, wants Eteocles to have a proper burial and Polyneices to be reposed in the ground for the animals to pick at the corpse. Antigone says, “You must decide whether you will help me or not.” Antigone wants Ismene, Anitgone’s sister, to help Antigone bury their brother. Ismene will soon turn Antigone down on helping her.

Creon declares, “And you, Antigone, you with your head hanging- do you confess this thing?” Antigone was burying Polyneices’ body, when Antigone was caught by one of Creon’s guards. Antigone was taken to Creon, where Antigone showed her altruistic character, and benevolently denied nothing. The Messenger replies, “We obeyed; and in the cavern’s farthest corner we saw her lying; she had made a noose of her fine linen veil and hanged herself.” Creon ordered Antigone to be cast away in an uncanny cave for her punishment for going against Creon’s law and amicably burying Polyneices’ body. Antigone was then found dead in the cave with Haimon also dead by Antigone’s side.

In conclusion from the story, Antigone was a protagonist because Antigone believed that Polyneices deserved a proper burial for his bravery fighting in the civil war.

Thanks for reading!

JohnB0127

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