Antigone

Antigone and Ismene are disusing what Creon has said; that if someone decides to bury their brother they will be killed. Creon has become the king and Antigone's two brothers have died in battle. One had the proper burial but the other one is supposed to be left for the birds. Creon doesn't believe he deserves the proper burial. Antigone then asks Ismene to help her bury him against Creon's orders. Ismene tells Antigone that even though she will love both her brother and hes sister she can not give up her life for the burial of her brother. Antigone tells her that the pride is more important but Ismene still refuses. Creon enters and tells the people that order has been restored into the Thebes and one of the brothers will be given a hero's burial while the other will go to the birds for he tried to take down Thebes. A guard enters and tells Creon that someone has tried to bury the brother and they have no idea who has disobeyed the king. Creon declares that the guard was paid to and the chorus believes that the Gods did it. Creon believes that the Gods would not be traitors and sentences the guard to death if he cannot find the person who committed the crime. The chorus sings about men and how they are very powerful but they need to follow the lead of the Gods because they are the ones with the real power. Later the guard comes back with Antigone. They call Creon and tell him that Antigone is the person who illegally buried the brother. When they were uncovering the body a dust storm came up and they could not see anymore. When it cleared they saw Antigone trying to bury the body again. The guards seize her at once and when Creon asks her if she denies it she does not. He asks her if she knew of the law forbidding it and she says she did but that was not going to stop her from burring her own brother. Creon brings in Ismene and tells them they will both be put to death. Antigone tells Creon that being put to death to save her brother will give her great joy! Antigone tells Creon that she acted by herself and that she is the only one that should be put death. Creon doesn't believe her and orders them to be ties up and taken away. Once again the chorus sings of the death that has come upon the house of Oedipus and they hope it will be saved this time. Haemon comes in and talks to Creon. He tells him that the town has said Antigone should not die for trying to do a good deed for her brother. Creon is angered that the village is telling him how to rule. Haemon believes that Creon is a stubborn man. Creon becomes mad and Haemon tells Creon that the death of Antigone might cause the death of others. Creon want Antigone to be brought out and killed in front of Haemon. Finally Creon decides not to kill Ismene and put Antigone alive in a cave for her life. The chorus talks about how love will cause a man to be driven insane. When Antigone comes back in the chorus believes that her death will only be because of he pride not because she is noble. She is angered and as the guards are leading her away to her cave she tells Creon that she is only doing this because a sibling cannot be replaced. She cries out that Thebes is ruled by nothing but cowards and she is glad to be gone. Later when Tiresias comes in Creon swears to follow all directions he has. He tells Creon that because he did not bury the brother and is now going to put Antigone to death the Gods are putting a curse on all of Thebes. Creon does not agree with the prophet at first but then decides to let Antigone free but it is too late. She has hung herself and when Haemon sees her dead he stabs himself. When Haemon's mother hears of what has happened she is devastated and leaves to kill herself because of the grief of her son. The messenger tells Creon that his wife cursed him for his own stupidity. Creon asks to be killed and he is taken into the palace. The chorus sings one last time of how if one is too proud the Gods will find a way to bring him down.