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Antigone: A Detailed Summary of Sophocles’ Famous Play

Set in the ancient Greek city of Thebes, Sophocles’ play tells the story of Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, who defies the law of the king of Thebes, Creon, to bury her brother Polyneices, who was killed in battle against his own city.

The tragedy, written by Sophocles in the 5th century BCE, explores the tension between personal morality and the laws of the state, the nature of justice, the role of fate in human life, and the danger of excessive pride. This exploration produces a thought-provoking play that has been deliberated throughout the centuries. The central figure is Antigone, who displays an unwavering commitment to her familial duty and to the gods, even in the face of opposition from the state. Her character challenges the audience to consider the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of resistance from authority. Creon, on the other hand, blinded to the higher rulings of the gods, exhibits a resolute adherence to the law, maintaining order and stability for the peace of

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Antigone (Sophocles play)

Tragedy by Sophocles

This article is about the play by Sophocles. For the main character in the play, see Antigone.

Antigone (ann-TIG-ə-nee; Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνη) is an Atheniantragedy written by Sophocles in (or before) 441 BC and first performed at the Festival of Dionysus of the same year. It is thought to be the second-oldest surviving play of Sophocles, preceded by Ajax, which was written around the same period. The play is one of a triad of tragedies known as the three Theban plays, following Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus. Even though the events in Antigone occur last in the order of events depicted in the plays, Sophocles wrote Antigone first.^[1] The story expands on the Theban legend that predates it, and it picks up where Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes ends. The play is named after the main protagonist Antigone.

After Oedipus' self-exile, his sons Eteocles and Polynices engaged in a civil war for the Theban throne, which resulted in both brothers dying while fighting each other. Oedipus' brother-in-law an

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SOPHOCLES

ANTIGONE

Translated by Ian Johnston
Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Canada

2005

[Revised slightly and reformatted 2017, 2019]

For a Rich Text Format or PDF version of this translation use the following links: Antigone [RTF]; Antigone [PDF]

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

Students, teachers, performing artists, and members of the general public may download and distribute this text without permission and without charge. They may freely edit or adapt the text to suit their purposes. Drama companies may produce this translation (or a version of it) on the stage without charge, provided they inform the translator of the production details (i.e., dates, name of company, and place). Any commercial publication of the text, however, is not permitted without the consent of Ian Johnston.

The translator would like to acknowledge the valuable help provided by Andrew Brown’s edition of Sophocles’s Antigone (Aris & Philips, 1987), especially by his editorial notes.

Note that in this translation the