We come to know of Antigone's plan to bury her brother in the prologue. She confides to Ismene that she knows of Creon's edict, but that she intends to defy it. At Ismene's protest of not defying the king's orders, Antigone states that there are higher obligations to the dead and the gods. She points out (lines85-91): "I will bury him myself, and even if I die in the act, the death will be glory. I will .
Hall 3.
lie down with the one I love. I have longer to please the dead than please the living here: in the kingdom down below I will lie forever. Do as you like, dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor." Antigone feels it is her duty to bury her brother and is in her duty to bury her brother and is in her view fulfilling a higher law. She believes that she is acting according to her religious duty and that she cannot dishonor the laws the gods have established. Here Antigone appears to be a selfless and compassionate individual, willing to risk her life in order to provide her brother his sacred rights. We feel compassion and sympathy towards her, since she is willing to stand for her religious beliefs and risk her life in the process. .
Their Tragic Fate.
In the second episode, Creon's Sentry captures Antigone at Polynices" graveside. When Antigone is brought before her uncle Creon the king, she proudly admits that the Sentry's recount of the story is true and that she buried her brother. Creon suspects that Ismene, Antigone's sister, Is also involved. However, Antigone contemptuously recounts her sister her sister's earlier refusal to assist him. In this scene, Antigone is shown to be a woman with extreme pride, arrogance, and stubbornness. She states again and again.
Hall 4.
that she is just following the dictates of the gods and is not willing to listen to Creon's logic. When Ismene is brought in, Antigone treats her with contempt and appears very harsh. This shows a very inflexible and hard character.
