Antigone (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Sophocles

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Book Reviews of Antigone (Dover Thrift Editions)

Book Review: Antigone: The Downfall of a Dynasty
Summary: 4 Stars

Most of his plays had morals to them, and "Antigone" is no exception. The foundational principal of "Antigone" is pride, and the effects that it has on those around it. According to Sophocles, the very presence of pride can bring down a dynasty. Because of the pride of two people, Antigone's world crumbles at her feet.

Antigone comes from a family full of turmoil. Her father, Oedipus Rex, the king of Thebes, had been sent away from his family due to a prophecy that he would kill his father, and he did just what was prophesied. While traveling toward Thebes, he came across a band of men who attacked him, and he unknowingly killed his father. Then, when he arrived in Thebes, he married a newly widowed woman named Jocasta who is his mother and the mother of his children, Antigone and her brothers and sister.

After many years, Oedipus Rex was informed of what he had done, and he is so completely devastated that he plucks his eyes out and retreats into the wilderness. Josasta upon hearing the news of husband's identity kills herself. In the midst of his grief, Oedipus Rex places a curse on the lives of his two sons, Polynices and Eteocles. The curse being that they will both die by the other brother's hand, which is exactly how they die. The brothers wage war against each other over who will be the next king of Thebes, and they are both slain during the rebellion lead by Polynices who is the second in line for the throne.

With the death of both Eteocles and Polynices, Creon, the brother of Jocasta and the uncle of Antigone, seizes the throne and places an edict that no one can burry the body of the traitorous Polynices who lead the rebellion on Thebes. If anyone so much as touches his body, they will be killed. For this time period, not to be buried was a great offence to the person's soul, and considered the worst things ever to happen to a person. It is at this point in the trilogy that Antigone steps up to defend the honor of her family and her deceased bother.

In the middle of the night, Antigone sneaks off to burry her brother despite her uncle's unretractable law. When Creon discovers the missing body, he is furious and demands that the criminal be found and put to death. After much searching, Antigone is found guilty. In order to save the life of her sister, Ismene claims that she was the true culprit, but Creon takes no heed. He sentences Antigone to be jailed in a cave out side of town where her life will be in the hands of the gods. If they wish her it live, than they will keep her alive. By punishing Antigone in such a way, Creon attempted to remove her death from his couscous.

All of these proceedings and charges angered Creon's son, Haemon, who was betrothed to Antigone. Haemon along with other cancellers of Creon attempted to convince Creon to refrain from harsh judgment of Antigone. Haemon even proclaimed to Creon that he would be sorry if Antigone was harmed in any way for his love for her was sincerely deep, yet Creon heeded not his warning.

Creon proceeded with his plans of for Antigone's punishment, and doing so, angered the gods. Shortly after placing Antigone in her eternal imprisonment, Creon encounters a blind prophet named Tiresias who warns Creon of the gods' anger. He tells Creon that because of his crimes everything he holds dear will be lost to him.

In order to save both his kingdom and his loved ones, Creon buries Polynices' body with the honor that it deserves and attempted to release Antigone from her stone prison, but he is too late. Antigone full of misery hung herself from the ceiling of cavernous jail cell. Haemon who had come to her stone tomb with the hope of releasing his love from death found her death body hanging from the rafters. In his love-sickened grief, Haemon took his sword and ended his life at the feet of his lover.

On hearing the news of the death of her son, Eurydice, the wife of Creon and the mother of Haemon, kills herself as well. Creon who is so distressed with the death of his family members wishes he could take his life as well, but he knows that he cannot. He is destined to live out the rest of his life in misery and anguish due to his harsh and unforgiving treatment of Antigone.

I believe that Sophocles is clearly showing the downfalls of pride. He wants the reader to walk away with a humble spirit and a forgiving attitude. I personally felt humbled by this play. When I finished reading it, I felt a strong sense of gratefulness for loved ones that I hold dear. It made me want to tell them that I loved them, because you never know when death will come knocking at your door.

I recommend "Antigone" only if the reader is willing read the play many times over. It is not an easy read full of many words and phrases that had no meaning to me. But over all, "Antigone" was an excellent play full of principals that everyone needs to learn during their lifetime. My hope is that when it is read that we will all learn the truths taught by Sophocles. If everyone learned the destructiveness of pride, the world that we live in would be a better place.

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