Antigone

“Antigone” was written by Sophocles and it was performed for the first time in 442 B.C. The center of Sophocles attention is a tragic hero facing his own destiny sent to him by the gods. Antigone’s plot is linked to the story about Oedipus. The prophets told King Laius he shouldn’t have any more children but he didn’t listen to him and had Oedipus. His family was punished for his disobedience. Oedipus, without knowing who Laius was, killed him and then married his mother and Laius widow Jocasta. In the incestuous marriage they had four children: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles and Polyneices. His two sons were on opposite sides. Polyneices was leading the seven heroes and came after Thebes and Eteocles was the Theban ruler and he defended his city. Both of them died in the confrontation and the story of Antigone begins then.