The Themes of Tension and Despair in Sophocles' Antigone

Antigone is convinced that she will be obeying the law of the gods by burying her brother, Polyneices, in honor, although against the command of King Creon. Antigone decides to disobey the King’s decree of leaving her brother’s body to rot, after he is killed by his own brother, Eteocles. Antigone argues that doing so would be dishonoring the gods. On the other hand, King Creon is irresolute as to whether he should follow the law and kill his son’s fiancée due to the disobedience, or overlook her disobedience and grant her the wish to bury her brother. The king and Antigone understand the consequences of disobedience to law, but neither of them is willing to dishonor what they consider as rightful. There are two laws that are at play in this ode – the king’s decrees and God’s laws. Subordination or lack thereof to laws, causes tension between personal action and destiny, and also has the potential to bring forth anarchy and tragedy. Antigone is a story about doing the right thing is more important than obeying unjust laws.

Antigone decides that she will give her brother a decent burial, irrespective of the King’s decree to let Polyneices’ body rot in the fields as punishment for his insubordination. The tragedy Antigone, follows other Sophocles’ tragedies whereby Antigone’s father, Oedipus, killed his own father and married his own mother, in his quest to flee from his foretold destiny. Creon takes over the throne after Oedipus’ death and the death of his two sons, Polyneices and Eteocles, who die fighting each other for the throne (Griffith 5). These previous tragedies are seen as the consequences of insubordination to the laws. Prince Polyneices and Eteocles had agreed to share in the leadership of the throne, one prince at a time. However, when Polyneices returns to assume his place as the King as outlined in the law, Eteocles refuses to step down, hence instigating the war between the two brothers. Insubordination to the laid out laws on how to inherit the throne instigated the tragedy between the two princes.

As king, Creon decrees that one brother shall be buried with honor, while the other one should be left to rot in the fields for his insubordination. However, Antigone, one of the sisters to the princes, makes a decision to dishonor the king’s decree and buries her brother. Antigone mentions her intentions to her sister Ismene, who fails to accompany her to give their brother a proper burial. Ismene is afraid of the consequences that the insubordination by Antigone may have on herself and her sister. Ismene is so bedazzled by Antigone’s suggestion that she says, “Antigone, you are mad!” (Dudley & Robert 3). Part of her fear stems from the fact that she and Antigone are “only women”, who may not have a say in matters leadership against the men in the patriarchal society. Ismene also asserts that “the law is strong; we must give in to the law” (Dudley & Robert 3). Ismene argues that she must yield to the authority and beg forgiveness from the dead.

Ismene is aware of the dire consequences that insubordination causes, and although she has the free will to decide whether to bury her brother or not, she is bound by the authority she considers highest. Although she admits the presence of the gods and their requirements to have mortals receive rituals after death, she is adamant and insists that she will ask for forgiveness from the dead. King Creon is another character who is conflicted as a result of the existing laws of the land, against those of the gods. Although the King acknowledges the presence of a higher authority from the god’s he believes that disobedience to the king’s decree is a graver crime.

King Creon justifies his decision to deny Polyneices a proper burial by saying that he was a traitor, unlike his brother Eteocles (Dudley & Robert 16). However, Antigone that Polyneices, just like Eteocles, should be accorded a decent burial, not only for their brotherhood, but also for respect to the gods, as “there are honors due all the dead” (Dudley & Robert 16). Antigone’s insubordination prompted a series of events that would be the hallmark of the tragedy. Antigone takes her own life, instead of waiting to be immured in accordance with the King’s decree. Consequently, her fiancé, Haimon, stabs himself to death, and Eurydice kills herself by cutting her own throat.

The themes of tension and tragedy are evident in Sophocles’ Antigone. Insubordination leads to the death of the two princes and this instigates the primary tragedy in the narrative. Antigone does not obey King Creon’s declaration and inters her brother’s remains. Although her actions arouse conflict between her personal actions and fate, she obeys her personal choice. The King is also conflicted on whether to deny his son a chance at marriage with Antigone. The people of Thebes look up to the king to sustain law and order, and allowing his emotions to be swayed by a single action may arouse questions as to his stability as the king.