Antigone

That he will kill Antigone in front of him is the punishment that Creon decides for Haemon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon plans to execute Princess Antigone, his niece and intended daughter-in-law, for breaking his recent law of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. He is angered to find that Prince Haemon, his only surviving child and heir, is in disagreement over how to rule a city and what to do about Antigone. He therefore calls for Antigone to be brought to his presence and put to death right in front of Haemon, her betrothed and her first cousin.

That she understands his pain and that she welcomes reuniting with him and other family members are the feelings that Antigone expresses about her father in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone appreciates her family. She especially loves those who experience drawn out suffering such as her father disgraced King Oedipus and her brother disgraced Prince Polyneices. She recognizes that her father's crime and immorality cause her pain in life but that does not steop her from missing him and looking forward to a lengthy reunion in the Underworld of the afterlife.

Leaving dead Theban bodies unburied is the moral transgression in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a moral trangression describes a failure to do something that needs to be done. The description fits Theban King Creon's refusal to honor divine will and Theban traditions. Creon issues an edict that denies to the disloyal Theban dead the god-given rights of all Thebans to below ground burials.

Death in a duel is what happens to Antigone's two brothers in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Eteocles and Polyneices are the older, twin brothers of Theban Princesses Antigone and Ismene. They inherit the Theban throne after the disgrace of their father, former King Oedipus. They are supposed to share the royal powers by alternating years of rule. But Eteocles refuses to hand over the crown when his year is up and even exiles Polyneices. Polyneices leads an army of disgruntled Thebans and invading Argives and storms Thebes. The two brothers kill each other in a duel during the final battle of the civil war over the royal succession.

Nothing happens to Theban Prince Haemon in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Haemon's father, Theban King Creon, is among the cast of characters in "Oedipus Rex." But there is no appearance by or reference to Haemon. Creon's son makes his appearance as the first cousin and groom-to-be of the main female character in the play "Antigone" also by Sophocles.

That her father is cursed is the reason why Antigone thinks her family suffers mistakes in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone cares about the dead members of her family. She is realistic because of a promise to her father, disgraced Theban King Oedipus. Oedipus lets Antigone know that their family suffers because of the curses of the gods.

A knife by her own hand is what kills Eurydice in "Antigone" by Sophcles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Eurydice hears the news of the successive suicides of Princess Antigone, her niece and intended daughter-in-law, and of Prince Haemon, her only surviving child. She finds intolerable the thought of spending any more time above ground with a husband whom she blames for the deaths of all of their children. She decides to go inside the royal palace and kill herself with a sharp knife before anyone can stop her.

It is not so much Creon as Antigone who does the contradicting in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon does not believe it just to treat a Theban loyalist and a Theban traitor in the same way. He feels that god-given rights of all Thebans to below ground burials does not discourage future civil war and violent challenges to his rule and that of his successors. He maintains that it insults Eteocles the loyalist to be buried in the same way as his twin brother Polyneices the traitor. Princess Antigone offers her ready contradictions to this and everything else that her uncle Creon tries to say.

The defending Thebans are favored by the chorus when the city is attacked by Polyneices and the army of Argos before the action of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus of Theban elders may be expected to be more supportive towards the reigning King of Thebes and less so towards any contenders. The irony is that Theban rulers Eteocles and Creon rule illegally. By a joint power-sharing arrangement, Eteocles and Polyneices are supposed to alternate years of rule. But supported by Creon, Eteocles refuses to hand over the crown and throne of Thebes and exiles Polyneices. Polyneices raises an army of disgruntled Thebans and invading Argives to assert his rights.

That getting along with family and the gods is more important than getting along with kings who issue illegal edicts is the reason why Antigone feels justified in breaking the law in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone must decide what to do about the dead body of her brother Polyneices. Polyneices' body is being denied its god-given rights to a below-ground burial and proper funeral rights by a recent royal edict that honors those rights only in the case of Theban loyalists. Antigone concludes that obeying the royal edict has consequences in this life and the next whereas obeying the divine law ensures harmonious interactions with the gods and with her family and the other inhabitants of the Underworld in the afterlife.

Teiresias is the blind prophet in the play "Oedipus Rex."

Specifically, Teiresias is called to help Theban King Oedipus find the murderer or murderers of Theban King Laius. Teiresias is reluctant to cooperate in the investigation. The audience soon realizes that the reluctance stems from the fact that Teiresias alone in Thebes knows the identity of the murderer.

Because Oedipus does not see how he can be Laius' killer, because Teiresias' charges to that effect will lead to Oedipus' overthrow or death, and because Creon stands the most to gain, Oedipus refuses to change his mind about Creon in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet says that Oedipus is the mystery killer of previous Theban King Laius. Oedipus, his wife Jocasta and his brother-in-law Creon are joint rulers of Thebes. The charge against Oedipus is punishable by exile or death. Either way, Oedipus loses his job, and Creon therefore adds more responsibilities and power to his. Oedipus therefore assumes that Teiresias is making the charge up so that Creon can have all the royal power and glory for himself.

Being seen as weak is what Creon fears in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon dislikes challenges to his person, his rule and his state. He does not want to share decision making or power holding. In fact, he sees any gathering of opinions or modifying of policy as weakness, which can lead to homelessness, joblessness and powerlessness on his part.

It is the chorus that Creon assembles at the beginning of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus is made up of Theban elders. The elders are Thebes' most accomplished and respected senior citizens. They act to keep the audience entertained, informed about the play's characters and events, and instructed in the play's moral.

Pestilence and pollution of the city's sacred altars are Thebes' latest plague that challenges Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a pestilence arises from the unburied bodies of the disloyal Theban dead. Birds and dogs consume the blood and flesh of the dead. They then eliminate human body parts on the city's altars. They thereby pollute the altars, upon which ritual sacrifices cannot be made and read in order to understand divine will.

That he is the cursed descendant of cursed King Labdacusis the curse of Antigone's father in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the gods are vindictive. They do not let go of their anger once they pick their unfair fights with mortals. They hold their grudges for generations since Theban King Oedipus is King Labdacus' grandson.

The ill will of his cowardly enemies is what Creon believes to be at the root of atrocity against a king in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon issues a controversial, unpopular law that contradicts divine will and Theban traditions. No sooner does he issue his edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban than the body of his disloyal nephew Polyneices is buried not once, but twice. Creon accepts no middle ground between support and opposition and therefore assumes the perpetrator is doing it for bribes from powerful but cowardly opponents of Creon's regime.

The chorus leader convinces Creon to free Antigone in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon receives the warning from Teiresias the blind prophet that the royal household will suffer if Creon does not bury Polyneices and free Antigone. Creon keeps up the insults and threats all the way until Teiresias leaves. But he then asks and acts upon the chorus leader's advice.

The loss of family, home, and job is Creon's reversal in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon has to admit that he is wrong to issue his edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. He also has to admit that he is wrong to refuse to bury his nephew Polyneices' body. He therefore must relinquish power. At that moment, he turns into a friendless, homeless, jobless Theban who is under house arrest pending divine expression of his punishment.

It is possible - but doubtful given her uncle's personality - that Antigone may have fared better if she had treated Creon with respect in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon criticizes Princess Antigone and her brother Polyneices but approves Antigone's docile sister Princess Ismene and ambitious brother Eteocles. In line with his expressed animosity toward women, Creon is on record for calling Antigone foolish for comforting her father and defending her brother's legitimate claim to the Theban throne. He is as unworkable as any stalker who debunks and ruins his prey, particularly by playing family members against each other.

Antigone and Ismene are the first two characters to appear on the stage in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princesses Antigone and Ismene are sisters. They gather outside the main entrance to the Theban royal palace. Their conversation sets the pace for the rest of the play's action.