📘 Antigone Study Guide

Antigone

Brave, moral, and determined character who believes in divine law over human law.

Creon

The king of Thebes who represents law and order but becomes a tragic hero due to his pride.

Tragic Hero

A character with a fatal flaw (often pride) who suffers downfall due to an error in judgment.

Hubris

Excessive pride or arrogance, especially in defiance of the gods.

Civil Law vs. Divine Law

The theme exploring the conflict between man-made laws and the laws of the gods.

Loyalty and Family

The theme emphasizing the importance of family values over political duty.

Catharsis

Emotional release experienced by the audience through the tragic events.

Fate vs. Free Will

The theme examining the struggle between destiny and individual choices.

The Tomb/Cave

Symbolizes death, isolation, punishment, and a return to nature.

Chorus

Represents the elders of Thebes, providing commentary and reflecting public opinion.

The Burial

Represents respect for the dead and conflict between divine and civil law.

Pride and Hubris

Creon's excessive pride leads to his tragic downfall.

Haemon

Creon’s son, who tries to reason with his father and is engaged to Antigone.

Tiresias

The blind prophet who warns Creon about the consequences of his actions.

Eurydice

Creon’s wife who dies by suicide after hearing about Haemon's death.

Ismene

Antigone’s sister, who is cautious and initially refuses to help with the burial.