Question

What is so ironic about the death of Antigone's mother and Antigone?

Answer 1

he is the play's tragic heroine:

CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRAGIC HEROINE:
• Occupies a high status & position
• Embodies nobility and virtue as part of their innate character
• He is pre-eminently great, he/she is not perfect. If he/she was perfect, we would not be able to identify with them

The tragic heroine also faces some sort of downfall. The hero's downfall is partially her/his own fall, the result of a free choice they make. The tragedy is triggered by some error of judgment or character flaw that contributes to her lack of perfection. This is known as hamartia.
The punishment received for the crime is not deserved and is much worse.

The fall is not pure loss. There is some sort of increase in awareness and knowledge.


Antigone is contrasted with her sister at the beginning of the play. Ismene is beautiful and docile (submissive) while Antigone is scrawny, withdrawn and sallow (unhealthy yellowish colour). Ismene describes Antigone to be beautiful in a way that 'stops children on the street', 'unsettles' and 'frightens & awes'. Antigone is boyish and curses the fact that she is a female.

The two characters also contrast in terms of personality. As mentioned above, Ismene is docile and obides to hegemony with little if no questions. Antigone refuses to be constrained by limits and boundaries, and will purposely go beyond them. She could be said to be very self-centered as she is very concerned about her personal happiness rather than the happiness of others (contrasting to Creon)

In Jean Anouilh's version of the play, Antigone is a figure for the freedom fighters. The French citizens who stand up against the Nazis and the Nazi sympathizers. She rises up alone against state power.

Antigone's downfall as a tragic heroine is caused by her refusing to not bury her brother, even though it will cost her her life (a fact she is aware of).

Quotes:
"From the moment the curtain went up, she began to feel that inhuman forces were whirling her out of this world."

This statement by the Chorus highlights that we are watching a play, and that Antigone knows she is a character assigned the part of a girl who will have to die. Throughout the play, it is said that Antigone was born to die young; it is her "fate."


"He will do what he has to do, and we will do what we have to do."

Antigone tells her sister Ismene that of course Creon will torture and kill them for burying Polynices; it's his job. He will do his part, and they must do theirs to defy him. She speaks as though it is all predetermined, and all they have to do is go through with their parts, like in a play. Each person's part is scripted by fate or character. It can make no difference to Antigone what another character will do.


"You are always defying the world, but you're only a girl, after all."

Ismene instructs Antigone on her role in society. Men are heroes; women must be obedient. She refers to the place of Greek women to remain in the background, like Queen Eurydice, and obey the men of the family. It is the classic attempt to put someone in a category for the purpose of control. Antigone does not let herself be controlled. She doesn't care whether she is a child, a girl, or a princess. She claims the right of sovereignty over herself.


"Nothing less than a cozy tea party with death and destiny will quench your thirst."

Creon accuses Antigone of being like her father, Oedipus, who was not satisfied until he had brought fate down on himself. The two of them seem to despise happiness and embrace their own death.