Antigoneby Sophocles is a tragedy based on Greek mythology. The new king of Thebes, Creon, decides not to bury Polynices, a warrior who died fighting with his brother over the throne. Meanwhile, Antigone cannot accept the fact that her brother’s funeral is violated and buries him herself. In thisAntigonestudy guide, you can find everything you need to know about this story.
Antigonestudy guide prepared byCustom-Writing.orgexperts gives clues to a better understanding ofAntigonecontext, plot, and symbolism.
Antigone Key Facts
Antigone Articles
Looking forAntigonesummary? Want to quickly learn the key events of the tragedy’s plot? Find the detailed information on theAntigonesummary page.
Who are the characters inAntigone?This page describes the main characters of the tragedy: Antigone, Creon, Ismene, and others.
Want to learn more about themes inAntigone?Sibling rivalry, fate vs. free will, gender roles, and mortality – all the themes are described in this article.
When wasAntigonewritten? What are the key symbols in the tragedy? Here you’ll find all the answers about theAntigone’s symbolism and context.
If you need to write an essay onAntigone, check the collection we’ve prepared. It containsAntigoneessay samples, topics, and prompts.
What isAntigoneabout? How do Eteocles and Polynices die?️ On this page, you’ll find the answers to the most pressing questions about the tragedy.Enjoy!
Historical Context of Antigone
Sophocleswas a famous writer at his time. He won 24 out of 30 regulardramatic competitions held in Athens.Antigoneis one of the three plays in his series concerning the Greek myth about Oedipus and his family.
The play was written and first performed around 441 BC in Athens.It became popular just before Athens entered a campaign against the riot in Samos.
Interestingly, Sophocles was placed as one of the generals in theSamian War. This detail seems of little importance. However, an essential fact aboutAntigoneis that the tragedy highlights the state’s role, citizens’ duties, and civil disobedience as its central themes. Sophocles was chosen to be a general due to the popularity of his play.
Another exciting fact aboutAntigonecontext is thatSophocles wrote it before the other two parts ofthe trilogy.It is unusual because the play’s events indicate that it should be the last one in the series.
Antigonefollows the rules of atraditional Greek tragedy: there is a Chorus and a tragic hero. At first, you may find it hard to decide which character falls under the description of the tragic hero. However, as soon as you read our guide, there will be no doubts!