For breaking his law Antigone is punished by her uncle in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Creon issues an edict by which Princess Antigone's brother Eteocles is buried as a Theban loyalist but by which her brother Polyneices's corpse is left above ground and exposed to ravaging weather and scrounging wildlife. Antigone has just enough strength to give Polyneices a partial burial. Partial or complete, burial of the enemy dead is a crime punishable by death, and that is exactly how Antigone's uncle punishes her.
She is locked in a tomb
Creon is Antigone's uncle.
King Creon
Yes, Antigone knows that violators of her uncle, Theban King Creon's law are to be punished. The law requires non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. The punishment is death by stoning. Antigone indicates knowledge of both the crime and the punishment in the beginning of the play. For she discusses both subjects with her sister Ismene, whom she asks to be an accessory.
Allegiance to the dead is Antigone's prime duty in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone says that she will spend more of her existence in the Underworld of the afterlife than in this world of the here and now. Disrespect to dead family members and Thebans may not be punished in this short lifetime if so sanctioned by the illegal edict of her uncle, King Creon. But it is punishable for all time in the next world because below-ground burials and funeral rites are guaranteed by the gods.
She is locked in a tomb
Creon is Antigone's uncle.
King Creon
Antigone buries her brother Polynices, even though her uncle, Creon, forbid it.
Antigone
Yes, Antigone knows that violators of her uncle, Theban King Creon's law are to be punished. The law requires non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. The punishment is death by stoning. Antigone indicates knowledge of both the crime and the punishment in the beginning of the play. For she discusses both subjects with her sister Ismene, whom she asks to be an accessory.
Allegiance to the dead is Antigone's prime duty in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone says that she will spend more of her existence in the Underworld of the afterlife than in this world of the here and now. Disrespect to dead family members and Thebans may not be punished in this short lifetime if so sanctioned by the illegal edict of her uncle, King Creon. But it is punishable for all time in the next world because below-ground burials and funeral rites are guaranteed by the gods.
That taking one's own life is a form of accepting responsibility and punishment may be what motivates Antigone and Haemon to act as they do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, suicide is not a serious offense in ancient Greece. Instead, it may be considered a form of taking responsibility for one's life and accepting punishment for commissions and omissions. For example, Theban Princess Antigone takes her life because she has no reason to continue living and because she needs to be punished for disrespecting Creon, who is her guardian, king and uncle. Prince Haemon likewise takes his life because he has no reason to live without his betrothed and because he needs to be punished for trying to kill Creon, who is his father and his sovereign.
Except for Teiresias the blind prophet, all of the main characters in 'Antigone' are related to Theban King Creon. Antigone and Ismene are both the nieces and the great nieces of their uncle and great uncle, Creon. Antigone also is Creon's future daughter-in-law through her engagement to Haemon. Antigone's and Ismene's twin brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, are both the nephews and the great nephews of their uncle and great uncle, Creon. Haemon is Creon's only surviving child and heir apparent. He also is Antigone's cousin and fiance. Theban Queen Eurydice is Creon's wife.
Niece to uncle is Antigone's relationship to Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone is the eldest daughter of disgraced Theban monarchs Oedipus and Jocasta. Queen Jocasta is Creon's sister. Antigone therefore is Creon's niece.
her uncle ordered that she must be killed Her uncle, Creon, king of Thebes, order her to be killed. She was to be killed by being trapped in a a stone chamber with no food and starve to death.
It is by breaking one of his laws that Antigone defies her uncle in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Creon issues a royal edict by which god-given rights of below-ground burials and proper funeral rites are honored for Theban loyalists and denied to Thebes' perceived enemies. Because of that edict, Princess Antigone's brother Eteocles is buried whereas her brother Polyneices' body is left above ground to be consumed by birds and dogs. Antigone decides to break her uncle's law of non-burial and give Polyneices his due.