Antigone Book download in PDF, ePub & Mobi

Antigone is a play written by Sophocles and originally published in 442 BC. It is the third book in The Theban Plays series.

Antigone is the protagonist of the tragedy. She is one of Oedipus' daughters and the story takes place after the stories in Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus , so we recommend reading the two previous plays first to get to know all the characters.

The story centers on Antigona's conflict when her two male siblings die. The ruler Creonte condemns one of them that his corpse is abandoned and can not enjoy burial. Antigona rises up against this despotic and cruel authority, ignores the order and decides to bury her brother, arousing Creonte's fury.

The play offers us an analysis of the individual-society conflict and the concept of loyalty. Challenging authority by doing what we consider right. In addition, it presents a rather strong female character in a social and political context where women had no place in it.

"ANTIGONE: Ismene, sister, mine own dear sister, knowest thou what ill there is, of all bequeathed by Oedipus, that Zeus fulfils not for us twain while we live? Nothing painful is there, nothing fraught with ruin, no shame, no dishonour, that I have not seen in thy woes and mine."

This edition of Sophocles' Antigone is based on the English translation by R. C. Jebb.