Antigone

Antigonē, Greek tragedy by Sophocles, probably written in 441 BC.

Creon, king of Thebes, has forbidden the burial of the body of Polyneices (see above). Antigone resolves to defy his decree, performs funeral rites for her brother, and is caught and brought before the king. She pleads that her act is in accordance with the overriding laws of the gods. Creon is unrelenting and condemns her to be immured alive in a cave. Her sister Ismenē, who has refused to share in Antigone's actions, now claims a share in her guilt and punishment, but the king regards her as demented. Creon's son Haemon, who is betrothed to Antigone, pleads with his father in vain; he leaves with a warning that he will die with her. The seer Teiresias threatens the king with the terrible consequences of his defying the divine laws', and Creon, at last moved, goes to the cave. He finds Haemon clasping the dead body of Antigone, who has hanged herself. Haemon lunges at Creon with his sword, but misses and then kills himself. Creon returns to his palace, to find that his wife Eurydicē, in despair, has taken her own life.