Antigone

A classic Greek tragedy written in the 5th century BC. The play revolves around the central character, Antigone, a determined and principled young woman who defies the edict of King Creon, her uncle, to honor her deceased brother with a proper burial according to divine laws. The themes of familial loyalty, civil disobedience, and the conflict between human laws and moral duty are explored throughout the narrative. The opening of ''Antigone'' introduces us to Antigone and her sister Ismene as they discuss the aftermath of the brutal conflict between their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, which has left them dead. Creon, now the ruler of Thebes, has decreed that Eteocles will be honored with a burial, while Polyneices will be left unburied as punishment for his betrayal. Antigone, feeling a deep moral obligation towards her brother Polyneices, plans to bury him despite Creon's prohibition. As she expresses her intentions to Ismene, the reader witnesses the stark contrast between the sisters' differing views on loyalty to the family versus obedience to the state, setting the stage for the inevitable tragedy that will ensue.