Antigone by Sophocles | Summary & Analysis

Professor Bradley Greenburg of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, symbols, themes, and motifs in Sophocles's play Antigone.

Antigone is the first of three tragic plays from 442–441 BCE written by Greek dramatist Sophocles related to the tragic hero Oedipus. Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus directly feature the aforementioned figure, while Antigone deals with the unfortunate events that plague the lives of his descendants.

Main character Antigone stands up for her beliefs and for the truth when she refuses to heed the decree of her boorish uncle King Creon. He forbids the rite of burial to Antigone's brother Polyneices.

Antigone is a proto-feminist hero, unwilling to back down from her convictions in the face of male opposition, even at the expense of her life.

The play contains many powerful motifs, such as the razor's edge, ships, unconsumed sacrifices, dirt, blindness, and death.

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[maxt]

This man singlehandedly carried my Socratic seminar

[imchygomez]

0:00 plot summary
3:50 characters
6:02 symbols
7:50 themes
11:01 motifs

[thehermit_]

900 page essay due in 5 hours wish me luck boys

[daniellaramos]

Thank you so much for this... years later after I read this in high school and have already forgotten everything that occurred- I have a college professor that decides to give us this reading of 70+ pages and a test over it the same week. This helped a lot thank you again!

[lepienlife]

I think it is important to mention, since it was left out of the video, that Antigone is guilty of repudiating the values she holds to just as Creon does. When she is being led away to death she says: “Never, I tell you, if I had been the mother of children or if my husband died, exposed and rotting - I’d never have taken this ordeal upon myself, never defied our people’s will.” (995-999) In other words, she was willing to give her life, not because of the moral laws of the gods that she defends to Creon, but simply because Polynices was her brother. She wouldn’t have done it for even her own children - of what blood-relationship could be closer than that? She cannot have another brother since her parents are dead. So the idea of “blood relation” is set aside in the end. So she understands, at her impending death, that she too is turning her back on her public values just as Creon has done. They are both guilty of the same crime but at opposite extremes.

[siwar__]

this is the best summary and the clearest one I've ever heard so far thanks to this professor he saved me
the way he's speaking is so calm and clear please do more videos of him analyzing

[eugenefortein]

This is amazing. We're busy with Antigone for drama and we watch your videos everytime we finish an episode and to help us understand the stasimons. You've helped me so much, thank you!!

[RylanGiegerich]

8 paragraph essay due in 6 hours, this video helped me lots. Thank you!

[S.Rosa.]

Creon is Jocasta’s brother, not Oedipus!!

[Meloooody]

Thank you for the summary! i have an exam and this really helps.

[Bishnu]

One of the best things I came across in the internet. Thanks for the knowledge.

[svenlinn]

5:06 Creon is not Oedipus's bro. He is his brother in law.

[icelynchoy]

You saved my literature presentation. 💕💕💕
Thank you 😊 💖

[Jakoidk]

You are a GODSEND, I can't understand anything that they're saying in the play with that old English so this summary is excellent.

[Eyes-Scream]

At least Oedipeus found redemption when he lost everything while Creon lost everything alone.
In the end Oedipeus was still blessed in the end as he found peace despite being blind.

[Jjjuniperjane]

This saved me from failing a test thank you.

[gianagaleno]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!! SAVED ME IN MY FINALS!!

[Kafamıza_Göre_TV]

You just saved me so many hours of reading. Thank you :)

[abdessamad]

In the Jean Anouilh Adaptation, Antigone's action are not motivated by her beliefs or her religion. But rather with her problems with herself her jealousy from her sister and the thought that she will never live a happy live with her fiancé and that she's destined for misery. She decides to challenge her uncle's orders not even from love to her brother who actually bullied her, but quiet frankly her goal was just to die a horrible death. Creon tries his best to talk her out of her decision but she left him no choice he orders her execution he can't appear as weak king in the fragile system. His son (her fiancé) suicides after the execution of Antigone, and then his mother also follows him.

[thetwinsuns]

2 page essay due in 5 hours. Thank you