Antigone a Rare Heroine in Greek Mythology

An avid reader of mythology would be able to observe that the typical Greek myth will most likely contain at least one person who can be admired for their heroics. In a Greek myth the definition of a hero or heroine would be: "a figure who is representative of the individual who confronts conflicts similar to those audiences could expect to confront (assuming the audience lives in the time in which the myth is taking place) but on a more generalized or magnified scale... It is a desire for divinity in all its irreconcilable splendor, yet restricted to morality" (Mythology, Philosophy, and Antigone 1).

In some instances, mortal women in Greek myth were as capable as men in showing more heroics and personal strength. The tragic story of Antigone is a classic example of this.

Antigone was a mythic play written in 441 B.C. by the philosopher Sophocles. It was the third play in the trilogy telling of the cursed family of Oedipus, the kinds who unknowingly fulfilled the prophesied killing of his father, married his mother, and went on to have four children by her. When he found out what he had done he plucked out his eyes and exiled himself from his own kingdom. The children of Oedipus were destined to live tragic lives and his daughter Antigone was not exempt. The tale named after her also revolves around her.

Two of her brothers, Eteocles and Polynieces, killed each other in a war over their home Kingdom of Thebes. Eteocles fought on the side of Thebes and therefore was given an honored and proper burial. Polynieces was denied this ritual mandated by the Gods because he fought on the side that was against Thebes. Polynieces body was left in the open for wild animals to consume and tear apart and anyone who went against the King and tried to give him a proper burial was to be publicly stoned to death. Antigone when against the orders of the king, who is also the uncle of herself and the two dead boys. She performed burial rights for her mistreated brother. She knows she will die for this but she does not care. If she dies she will be joining the rest of her beloved family in the underworld of Hades where they will never be separated again.

Antigone is caught and when this happens she proclaims that she has done as the Gods have wished and states that it is the king whom is wrong. The king in a rage orders that she be entombed alive in a cave despite the fact Antigone is his own son's fiance. When an old prophet comes to the king he chastises him and tells him that the Gods will make him suffer for not allowing one of their people a proper burial and for entombing an innocent girl in a cave as a death sentence for doing what she knew was righteous to the Gods.

The king immediately orders that Polynieces be given an appropriate ceremonial burial, but it is too late because his body has already been torn apart by animals. He also orders that Antigone be set free but it is to late for this to happen as well. Antigone has killed herself so that she would not have to endure the madness that would eventually overtake her as she spent a long period of time in solitary darkness surrounded by cold stone. "The only thing she truly possesses is her own body and it is the only thing she can sacrifice to obtain glory" (Antigone's Conflicting Roles 1). The king son sees his dead bride and kills himself, holding her body as he dies. When queen learns of her only living son's suicide she too takes her own life, cursing her husband in her last breath. Thus ends the story. The king bears interminable suffering and Antigone's righteousness is validated.

Greek women in Antigone's day were "encouraged to be passive, never seen in public unless at a religious festival, wedding, or funeral" (Antigone's Conflicting Roles 1). Yet this particular myth allows a woman to not only go against a man in her family to do what she knows is right, but also the ruler of her home in Thebes. She does not hide herself away in mourning, nor does she accept the decree without action just because it was given by an authority figure. "Her lack of fear in the face of unjustly superior strength is a remarkably progressive theme for a Greek drama. She proves that a woman may overcome a man's commands and bring great glory by acting... Sophocles places Antigone in a position very unique for a Greek woman. She is a vocal woman who speaks for the silent in Thebes. In a society where is woman's silence is expected, Antigone is forced to speak because the Theban men...are afraid to speak" (Antigone's Conflicting Roles 1)

Antigone is an exemplary heroine for a myth. She was loyal to her family, to her Gods, and to her religion. She was able to stand her ground, even unto death. She was strong enough to defy authority when its ruling was not fair. Even after sentencing she still verbally proclaimed all of the reasons why her act was right and the king was wrong. She did what the men in Thebes knew was the right thing to do but were too cowardly to do themselves. Even the day she died her actions were of a heroic nature. She took control of a bad situation and chose to die by her own hand while she still had a sound mind and strong body. She dies with dignity and not as a wasted and ranting lunatic. Her life and her death made her the epitome of one who has a heroic nature.

Works Cited:
Antigone's Conflicting Roles. Retrieved March 21, 2005 from http://bonefish.rsmas.miami.edu/femar/Members/Farmer/Antigone%20%Conflicting%Roles.htm

Mythology, Philosophy, and Antigone: The Contextual Significance of Fifth Century Athenian Tragedy. Retrieved March 21, 2005 from http://home.nycap.rr.com/foxmob/antigone.com

Sophocles (1987) Antigone (Andrew Brown, Trans.). Aris and Philips. (Original work written in 441 B.C.).