In Antigone by Sophocles we see the key ingredients in a tragedy; fate and flaw combine to create a vicious fall. The main character Antigone sees her fate of death upon her and she takes action, learning that her fate is unchangeable. She goes on a path of justice so her brother Polynices will be able to go to the afterlife. She buries her brother so he will be able to go to the afterlife, sealing her fate of death. Her uncle Creon, ruler of Thebes condemns her to death for her actions in the burial of Polynices. In Greek mythology all plays have a tragic ending, and for Antigone, this is the case. Antigone takes her life, causing Haemon, Creon's son, to kill himself all leading to his mother to take her own life. Creon being extremely sorrowful, he prays for death. Sophocles exemplifies fate as an unstoppable catalyst that one cannot break free from. In Antigone we see character changes in both Antigone and Creon, showing that Sophocles' characters can change their outlook on their own destinies but cannot control them. .
Knowing ones fate can bring another side to a person. Antigone knowing her fate, follows through with the burial of her brother Polynices in a bold and daring manner. Polynices died along with his other brother Eteocles who was able to buried due to Creon's bias. Knowing it's against Creons law, Antigone buries Polynices even knowing it will seal her fate of death, she exclaims; "I will bury him myself/And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory."(Sophocles 85-86). Antigone tells her sister Ismene that she will do what's necessary for the well-being of Polynices, even if it means the demise of herself, exclaiming that it will be glorious. With a new spark fueling Antigone's boldness she acts in a surprising and shocking manner. Creons wishes were for Antigone was to be buried alive, suffering to death. Knowing this, Antigone faces the choice how to die because of fate she will die any which way, knowing this she took matters into her own hands and acted boldly: "hanged by neck in a fine linen noose, strangled in her veils" (Sophocles 1346-1348).
