Antigone: Lines 1-416 Summary & Analysis

It is nighttime in Thebes. The Thebans have defeated an invading army from Argos. During the fighting, the two sons of Oedipus, Polynices and Eteocles, have died, each killing the other as they fought for opposing sides. Polynices, the older brother, led the army from Argos in an effort to try to regain the throne of Thebes, which he lost years earlier when Eteocles overthrew him. Now that both brothers have died, the brothers' uncle, Creon, is king of Thebes.

Oedipus's two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, discuss their grief in the palace. The outraged Antigone tells Ismene that Creon has decreed that the slain attackers will not be given proper burial rites. Eteocles, who defended Thebes, will be buried with military honors, but Creon has ordered that Polynices's body will be left unburied, for animals to eat. In addition, Creon has commanded that anyone who attempts to bury Polynices's body will be put to death.

Angry and defiant, Antigone challenges Ismene to help her bury their brother Polynices. Ismene is frightened, both of Creon's decree and of her sister's rash words. She begs Antigone to think of all of the tragedy that has already befallen their family and to recognize that they are women with less power than men—particularly the king. She says that they must obey Creon's law.

Antigone responds that she won't let Ismene join in the glory of burying their brother even if Ismene changes her mind. Though Ismene reminds Antigone that she would be defying the laws of the city by burying Polynices, Antigone argues that burying Polynices is obeying the laws of the gods, which demand that her brother be given a proper burial.

Ismene continues to plead with Antigone, but Antigone only grows angrier with her and more determined to defy Creon's decree. Antigone challenges Ismene to tell the world what Antigone is about to do, and then she exits. Ismene says that though she thinks her sister is irrational, she loves her, and exits.

The chorus enters. They are elder citizens of Thebes. They offer a chant to the rising sun and tell of the battle in which Thebes defeated Polynices and his attacking army from Argos. They speak of Zeus, who they believe helped to defend Thebes, of the goddess Victory, and then call on Dionysus, god of the dance, to celebrate their victory.

Creon enters and addresses the chorus. Creon explains that, after the death of Oedipus's two sons, he is now king, and the "ship of state is safe." He gives a speech about the character of a leader—a leader must make the soundest policies and put nothing above the good of the state. He declares that Eteocles will receive a burial with military honors, but that the body of the traitorous Polynices will not be dignified with a burial, but will instead be left out to rot, "an obscenity for the citizens to behold!"

A sentry enters. He's afraid to speak because he brings bad news and is afraid of Creon's reaction, but is at last persuaded to say what he knows. The sentries have discovered that someone has given Polynices's body burial rites. The body isn't fully buried, but it is covered with a sprinkling of dry earth.

The leader of the chorus suggests that this might be the work of the gods. This idea sets Creon into a rage. He accuses the sentry of having been bribed to allow the burial rites to take place. He threatens to torture the sentry if the sentry doesn't find the man who buried Polynices. Creon exits. The sentry considers he's had a lucky escape, and swears he'll never come back to Thebes.

Alone on the stage, the chorus offers a chant on the nature of man. With their capacity for hard work and their ingenuity, humans can conquer every obstacle—except death. When a man makes laws and combines them with the justice of the gods, his city will prosper and he will become great. But when he strays from the laws of the land and the laws of the gods, he will become an outcast.