Character Analysis.

The epic poem “Antigone” by Sophocles is a tragic drama dealing with the struggle of choosing between honoring family values and obedience to the law. The setting is in the town of Thebes, where a young woman by the name of Antigone is filled with determination to stay true to her religion as well as her family. Because Antigone’s brother, Polynices, betrayed his home land, it was ordered by Creon, the newly named king of Thebes, that Polynices “shall be neither buried nor mourned by anyone” but instead “a feast for birds and dogs [and] an outrage to see.” Antigone’s outrage at the dishonoring of her family member leads her to break the set law and bury her brother as planned.

Due to Antigone’s strong willed attitude, she proves to be a non-stereotypical character.  The women of Antigone’s culture had an extremely set role in their society. Unlike in the present day, women were not socially accepted and did not have a say in nearly anything.  Antigone went against the normal standards of a young woman simply to save the honor of a family member. The role of Antigone was also a major character but is neither a protagonist nor an antagonist. She is a morally good character by keeping her beliefs of religion strong, yet she is punished in the end for her stubbornness and inflexibility in her decisions.

Throughout the poem, Antigone remains a static, or unchanging, character. She continues to fight for her longing desire to “go and heap a tomb for [her] dearest brother.” Denying Polynices an honorable burial robs him of his rightful journey into the underworld.  The belief of Antingone’s religion is the strict idea that all must be given the appropriate burial ceremony in order to honor the Gods. Not even a law for which the “penalty is death by public stoning” can waiver Antigone’s course to never “dishonor the gods’ commands.”  Antigone’s actions prove her to be an intensely dedicated religious woman. She will stop at nothing to honor and obey her gods.

Antigone’s fervent love for her brother motivates her to do what she believes is morally right although the results prove her to be somewhat erratic. Her strongest behavioral aspect, which is her dedication to her religion, is also Antigone’s downfall in the fact that she is willing to risk her own life and die for her beliefs. She does not agonize over her decisions, but instead is very single-minded about them. Antigone’s conflicting disposition towards Creon portrays the external conflict of man vs. man. Antigone’s actions are punished by Creon who sentences her to exile “where she must either die or be entombed alive.” She accepts her fate and soon after takes her own life in order to “journey to [her] own people” of the underworld.

Religious aspects and beliefs had an extremely firm grasp on Antigone’s lifestyle. Her enthusiasm of making her own decisions proves Antigone to have non-stereotypical characteristics. She never lets go of her strong hope to “not be found a traitor” to her brother, Polynices. Antigone is also very passionate about her feelings towards the gods and the people of the underworld because she “must please those below a longer time than people here, for [she] shall lie there forever.”