Source edition
Sophocles, Volume 1. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1912.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This Greek tragedy depicts the clash between the laws of the state and the unwritten laws of the gods. Set in front of the royal palace of Thebes, the story centers on the conflict between the new king, Creon, and his niece, Antigone, who resolves to bury her rebel brother, Polynices, in defiance of the king's decree. Despite her sister Ismene's refusal to help, Antigone performs the burial alone, is captured, and fiercely defends her actions before Creon, who sentences her to be entombed alive. Although Creon's son Haemon pleads for flexibility, the king remains obstinate until the blind prophet Tiresias warns of divine wrath. By the time Creon relents, it is too late: Antigone, Haemon, and the queen all commit suicide. The play concludes with a devastated Creon facing the ruin of his entire family, highlighting the tragic weight of human pride and the necessity of wisdom.