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Sophocles, wrote the ancient play Antigone in 441 BC.
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The play begins with Antigone speaking with her sister Ismene.
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Antigone wants help from Ismene to bury their brother, Polyneices.
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Antigone repeats Creon's decree that anyone who attempts to bury Polyneices will be stoned.
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Creon is the new king, so his threats are real.
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But Antigone can't sit idly by while her brother is food for the vultures.
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She feels compelled to bury him.
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Yet, there's no way Ismene is going to help her.
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The thought of being stoned to death petrifies Ismene.
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Ismene reminds Antigone that they have already lost so much of their family due to the curse of Oedipus.
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Ismene doesn't want to lose Antigone as well.
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Unfortunately, Antigone makes it clear that she is not going to budge.
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Antigone is determined to bury Polyneices.
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When Ismene realizes she can't change Antigone's mind, she at least asks Antigone to keep her plans secret.
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In the next scene, the Chorus is praying out loud to the god Apollo.
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In the prayer, the Chorus is giving thanks for their recent victory.
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Yet, the victory came with a steep price.
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The city of 7 gates, Thebes, lost 7 of their generals which they had sent out to defeat the 7 enemy generals.
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All died, including the brothers Eteocles and Polyneices who represented the opposing sides of the battle.
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The brothers ended up killing each other with their bare hands.
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Creon enters and restates his decree.
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They will bury Eteocles with full military honors.
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Meanwhile, they will leave Polyneices' body out to rot.
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No one is to bury or grieve for the traitor Polyneices.
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Then, Creon asks the Chorus to follow his orders.
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But, they ask that younger men carry out the task.
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Creon states that isn't an issue as soldiers are already guarding the body.
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Then, a guard runs into the room.
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He states that someone has performed a burial of Polyneices' body.
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Unfortunately for the guard, he didn't see who did it.
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This upsets Creon and he tells the guard that he had better find out who did, or he will be killed in their place.
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Creon even accuses the guard of taking a bribe and allowing someone to bury Polyneices.
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The guard leaves to find the perpetrator.
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Almost immediately, the guard comes walking back into the throne room to speak with King Creon.
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This time, the guard is hauling Antigone, Creon's niece.
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The guard claims that he arrested Antigone while she was burying Polyneices.
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The guard explains that when he returned to his post he swept the dirt off of Polyneices.
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That's when Antigone came back to bury Polyneices again and got caught in the act.
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The guard is relieved, which contrasts against the obvious pressure Creon must feel at his new predicament.
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Antigone immediately admits to the crime.
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She calls herself guilty, and doesn't try to deny it.
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She continues with an attack on Creon for his immoral decree.
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She states that she would have rather died than have left Polyneices unburied.
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Creon remarks that even the stubborn Antigone will be made to follow the law, even if it takes violence.
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Antigone continues to argue with Creon.
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Her logic is that Polyneices deserved a burial as much as Eteocles.
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She says that Polyneices actions in life should have no bearing on how his remains are treated.
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Meanwhile, Creon argues that by honoring Polyneices, Antigone dishonors Eteocles.
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Ismene comes into the room and is questioned by Creon.
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Creon wants to know if Ismene helped Antigone in her treasonous crime.
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Ismene admits that she did help Antigone.
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But, Antigone won't let Ismene share the blame.
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Antigone tells Creon that Ismene is lying.
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Plus, Antigone is angry at Ismene.
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Antigone remarks that she doesn't need any friends like Ismene who only help her in words, but not in action.
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Antigone is a dead woman walking.
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Creon has no intentions of sparing Antigone, despite them being family.
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Additionally, Antigone makes no attempts to try and save herself.
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Creon imprisons the two women while he finalizes his decision.
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Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiance at first agrees to defer to Creon's decision.
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Yet, Haemon does make a case for Antigone.
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Haemon states that there is a growing sentiment amongst the population that Antigone does not deserve to die.
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Her convictions to bury her brother were noble.
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The Chorus weighs in and advises Creon to heed Haemon's warning.
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Unfortunately, the discussion devolves into a shouting match after Creon questions Haemon's character.
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Creon reasons that Haemon is a fool to defend a traitor.
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Haemon asks what will be the fate of Antigone and Creon explains her punishment.
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Antigone is to be sealed in a cave and starved to death.
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Teiresias the seer comes in and tries to talk some sense into Creon.
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Teiresias claims that Creon is making a huge mistake.
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His biggest mistake is his incapability to admit that he was wrong to not bury Polyneices.
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After the seer leaves the Chorus advises Creon to take Teiresias seriously.
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According to the Chorus, the seer has never been wrong before.
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The Chorus suggests Creon release Antigone and then bury Polyneices.
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Creon finally agrees and leaves to free Antigone.
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Unfortunately, a messenger comes in and informs the Chorus that Antigone and Haemon are both dead.
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Haemon, frustrated at Creon's decision took his own life.
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Eurydice, the queen of Thebes comes in when she overhears the messenger.
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She's stunned and asks the messenger to repeat his message.
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The messenger says that Haemon found his love, Antigone, strangled by a rope.
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Haemon got extremely upset.
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He tried to kill his father but then turned his sword on himself.
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When Creon returns to the palace we learn that Eurydice has also killed herself.
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The messenger tells Creon that before Eurydice committed suicide she cursed Creon for having taken away her only son.
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Creon can't believe what has happened.
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He admits that he is responsible for the death of his son and his wife.
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Creon is so shocked by the events that have transpired that he's not even able to walk away.
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Instead, he has to command his guards to come and carry him away.
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The End.