ANTIGONE

Oedipus lives in Thebes with his two sons, Polyneices and Eteocles and his two daughters Antigone and Ismene. Oedipus resigned to the throne. Creon, Polyneices and Eteocles uncle took the throne and expelled Oedipus from the Thebes. Antigone went with Oedipus to guide him through his blindness and to care for him. Eteocles was made king and expelled his brother Polyneices from Thebes.

Polyneices stayed in Argos while creating an army to march agains Thebes. Oedipus died and Antigone went back to the city.Eteocles defended while his brother Polyneices attacked. Teiresias told Creon that only if his youngest son Menoesceus died that Thebes would be saved. Menoesceus joined the battle and was killed. Brother against brother would decide what would happen. If Eteocles was victor, argive army would withdraw and if Polyneices won he should be king. Neither of them won, they killed each other and Creon was king again. Creon proclaimed that anyone who fought against Thebes should not be buried due to vengeance. Those souls not buried can not pass the river that encircles the kingdom of death and will wonder in desolation, tired with out rest. Eteocles was buried but Polyneices was not and anyone who tried to bury would be put to death.

Antigone could not live knowing that her brother would not rest in peace.At night Antigone took her chance and buried Polyneices, next to her buried brother. Antigone was condemned to death but Creon didn't want to be held responsible for her death since his son was engaged to her so he ordered that Antigone to be imprisoned in a cave with food and water. Ismene disappeared and the royal family of Thebes was never heard of again.

MAJOR CHARACTERS

• Antigone
• Polyneices
• Eteocles
• Oedipus
• Creon

The purpose of the myth is to entertain and to show how far family loyalty goes. Antigone supported her family from beginning to end, even though Oedipus had done bad before Antigone, her daughter still remained loyal to him. Antigone stayed loyal to her bother Polyneices even though he armed an army against Thebes, she died because she couldn't live with the fact thar her brothers wasn't going to rest in peace so she was heroic and loyal to her brother . Moral of the story is family loyalty, blood doesn't make you a family but respect loyalty an joy does.

Ancient connection: In Ancient Greece women had no right and little say in society/rules. Antigone had to follow Creon's orders or she be punished (punishment was mainly death) but she choose not to and stayed loyal to her family Modern connection: some countries like North Korea have a dictator or a monarchy, and the people do whatever the king says and if they disobey the orders they get punished. Just like in Antigone who lived in Thebes and with a monarchy and she didn't follow the rules and was punished by death.