Antigone

Free will is what causes Antigone's death in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone is aware of divine curses on the Theban royal house of which she is a descendant and current member. But there is no mention of any specific prophecy regarding her fate. Additionally, she chooses to break a royal law for which any violation carries an automatic death sentence.

A royal edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban deadis the law that Antigone breaks in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone's brother Eteocles finds his god-given rights to a below-ground burial and proper funeral rites honored by his uncle King Creon's recent edict. But her brother Polyneices' rights are denied, and his body is left above ground and exposed to weather and wildlife. Antigone accepts that proper procedure is followed regarding Eteocles, but not in regard to Polyneices.

Protection of the state is the reason that Creon gives for passing the new law in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon reminds the chorus of Theban elders of the recent, violent civil war over the Theban royal succession. He speaks of the need to protect the state and secure its people. He states that the new law of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead protects the state and its people from disasters and enemies.

Threats to the guards, fury over the law-breaking, and commitment to punishment and prevention are Creon's reactions to the news of Polyneices' burial in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon threatens the guards with torture and death if they do not give him complete information and arrest the guilty. He then expresses great anger against whomsoever is guilty of breaking his law against burial of the disloyal dead from the recent civil war over royal succession. He finishes with the promise to hunt down all perpetrators, prevent similar disobedience and punish all law-breakers with death.

Alienated, angry and embittered is how Haemon and Eurydice feel about Theban King Creon at the moment of death in the play "Antigone" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon is angry that his first cousin and bride-to-be Antigone hangs herself rather than die in the walled-up cave to which Creon, her uncle and Haemon's father, sentences. Theban Queen Eurydice blames her husband, Creon, for the suicides of her son and of her intended daughter-in-law. Not one of them - Antigone, Eurydice, Haemon - feels connected any longer to a Thebes so dominated and ravaged by Creon as the city's foremost leader and as the royal household's dominant and dominating member.

That they commit suicide because of family opposition to their love is a comparison of the tragedies of Antigone and Haemon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) and of "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare (Baptized April 26, 1564 - April 23, 1616).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone and Prince Haemon respectively commit suicide for unspecified reasons and in loving despair. Antigone does not get to marry her first cousin Haemon because she is sentenced to death by her uncle, King Creon, who dislikes her. In contrast, Romeo kills himself because he believes Juliet dead, and then Juliet commits suicide because she finds Romeo really dead. The couple is married even though their families object.

Yes, the seer wants Creon to bury Polyneices in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the birds that he uses in ritual sacrifices and dogs are eating the flesh of the unburied dead. The non-burial is offensive to the gods, who guarantee funeral services and below-ground burial to all Thebans. Additionally, interpreting divine will through ritual sacrifices cannot be done because the birds are contaminated by eating the flesh of dead bodies. This also is offensive to the gods, so the dead bodies need to be buried in the way the gods want them to be to Teiresias' way of thinking.

It is more with honor than with glory that Antigone is concerned in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone cares about the honor of her family, gods and traditions. She is committed to Polyneices' honorable entry with an intact body into the Underworld of the afterlife. She likewise is dedicated to her own welcome reunion with all her dead family members in death.

That the non-burial causes the conflict and the pestilence are reasons why Creon buries Polyneices, not Eteocles who already is buried, before rescuing Antigone in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the play opens with the conflict of whether or not to bury exposed body of disgraced Theban Prince Polyneices. A royal edict prevents it being done even though divine will guarantees below ground burials for all Thebans, disloyal and loyal. A pestilence settles in because of the pollution from the bodies, which must be buried to end the conflict, the offense against the gods and the pestilential punishment.

Just outside the city is the place where the battle takes place in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the battle is the final phase in the first civil war over the Theban royal succession. The war is fought around the city's seven gates. It is lost by the attackers when the twin brothers Eteocles and Polyneices, respective leaders of Thebes' defenders and invaders, kill each on the last day of the final battle.

That it is a play that is written during the classical age of ancient Greek literature is the reason why "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) is a classical Greek drama.

Specifically, the term classical Greek describes the great age of literary output during the fifth century B.C.E. in ancient Greece. The term drama describes plays, such as comedies and tragedies, that are presented on the stage before a live audience. The story of "Antigone" indeed is told in the format of a play whose writing tends to be dated to around 440 B.C.E., or the mid-fifth century B.C.E.

That kings do what they must is the way in which the chorus leader reacts to Creon's decree in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus leader is one of Thebes' most accomplished, respected and senior citizens. He therefore starts from a position of support for Theban King Creon. So he validates what Creon says and does ... in the beginning.

The responsibilities as King Creon's wife and Haemon's mother, and then a suicidal act, are what Theban Queen Eurydice does in the play 'Antigone'. Eurydice takes her responsibilities seriously, despite her husband's difficult and unappreciative personality. But she ends up fatally stabbing herself upon learning of Haemon's suicide. He's the last of her four children, and like the others dies violently.

Without children and with the prospects of grandchildren now ended, Eurydice can't bear to spend another minute above ground despite all the benefits of being royal.

Addition:

It should be pointed out that Queen Euridice is not the same character as Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus.