{"id":20136,"date":"2022-01-11T12:17:14","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T12:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/?p=20136"},"modified":"2022-04-13T13:52:48","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T13:52:48","slug":"antigone-tragic-flaw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/antigone-tragic-flaw\/","title":{"rendered":"Antigone&#8217;s Tragic Flaw and the Curse of Her Family"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\">Antigone&#8217;s tragic flaw eventually led her to her own death. But what exactly happened to her, and <strong>why was her life such a tragedy?<\/strong> What was Antigone&#8217;s tragic flaw that eventually led her to her downfall?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">To understand both the text and the character, we must go back to the play&#8217;s prequel: <strong>Oedipus Rex.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">Oedipus Rex<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-17113 alignright\" title=\"Oedipus at colonus by jean baptiste hugues\" src=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Oedipus at colonus by jean baptiste hugues\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-66x66.jpg 66w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Oedipus_at_Colonus_by_Jean-Baptiste_Hugues-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">The tragic life of Oedipus and his family are summarized in the following:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li3\">Queen Jocasta of Thebes gives birth to a son<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">An oracle warns them of a vision where the <a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/when-did-oedipus-kill-his-father\/\">son will eventually kill his father, King Lauis<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">In fear, the king sends for one of his men to injure the infant&#8217;s ankles and then be thrown into the river<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Instead of throwing the infant&#8217;s body into the river, the servant decides to leave him on the mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">A shepherd hailing from Corinth was passing by and discovered the infant<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">He takes it to the king and queen of Corinth, who struggled to have a child of their own<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">King Polybus and Queen Merope adopted the child and named him Oedipus<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Oedipus decides to trek to Delphi, where Apollo&#8217;s temple resides<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">The oracle in the temple reveals his tragic fate: murdering his father<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">In fear of this, he decides never to go back to Corinth and instead settle in Thebes<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">On the journey to Thebes, he encounters an older man with which he gets into an argument<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Blinded by rage, Oedipus kills the older man and his companions, leaving but one to escape<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Upon reaching Thebes, Oedipus defeats the sphinx, regarding him as a hero, and eventually replaces the missing emperor<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">He marries the current Queen, Jocasta, and fathers four children with her: Ismene, Antigone, Eteocles, and Polynices<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Years pass by, and drought arrives in the land of Thebes<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">He sends his wife&#8217;s brother, Creon, to Delphi to investigate<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">The oracle speaks of the death of the previous emperor, asking them to find his murderer before settling the drought<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Taking it upon himself to investigate, Oedipus is led to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/tiresias-antigone\/\">blind man, Tiresias<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Tiresias reveals that Oedipus was the murderer of the previous king<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Upset by this, he goes to look for the witness<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">The witness turned out to be the survivor of the party he murdered. Oedipus,<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">The wife then kills herself upon the realization of her sins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Oedipus thought back to the past: <strong>if it was his fate to kill his father<\/strong>, and his father was the former king of Thebes and the late husband of his wife, then that meant he fathered his mother&#8217;s children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In shame, Oedipus blinds himself and leaves Thebes under the rule of both his sons. <strong>He exiles himself until the day he was struck by lightning and dies.<\/strong> The story continues to its sequel: Antigone.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">How Antigone Was Brought to Death<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Antigone&#8217;s downfall and her fatal flaw is the main theme of this classic literature. But to completely understand how she ended up in her own tragedy, we must first shortly discuss <a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/antigone-family-tree\/\">what happens to her family after Oedipus&#8217; exile<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li3\">Because Oedipus left without a formal heir, the throne was left to both of his sons<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Not knowing what to do and not wanting to fight, both brothers agreed to rule the kingdom in alternating years, in which Eteocles would lead first<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">When it was time for Eteocles to abdicate the throne and give the crown to Polynices, he refused and even went as far as banning his brother from Thebes<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">This brings about war; the two brothers fighting to the end for the crown<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">In the end, both Polynices and Eteocles die, leaving Creon to rule<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/creon-antigone\/\">Creon, their uncle<\/a>, declares Polynices a traitor; refusing him a burial<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Antigone voiced out her plans to bury her brother Polynices against Creon&#8217;s order<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Ismene, scared of death, second-guesses whether or not she should help<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">In the end, <a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/why-did-antigone-bury-her-brother\/\">Antigone buries her brother alone<\/a> and gets caught by a palace guard<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/haemon-antigone\/\">Haemon, Creon&#8217;s son<\/a> and Antigone&#8217;s fianc\u00e9, warns his father that <a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/why-did-antigone-kill-herself\/\">Antigone&#8217;s death<\/a> would cause another death<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Creon orders Antigone to be locked up in a tomb<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">This angered the people, who believed Antigone is a martyr<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Tiresias warns Creon of the consequences of locking up Antigone, who gained favor with the Gods<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Creon rushed to the tomb and found both Antigone and Haemon dead<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Creon cradled his son&#8217;s body and brought him back to the palace<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Upon hearing the news of her son&#8217;s death, <a href=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/creons-wife\/\">Eurydice, Creon&#8217;s wife<\/a>, kills herself<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Creon finally realizes that he has brought all these tragedies upon himself<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">In the chorus, following the Gods and staying humble is essential not only to curry their favor but also to rule wisely<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">What Is Antigone&#8217;s Major Flaw?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Now that we&#8217;ve summarized both plays, discussed the family&#8217;s curse, and <strong>explained the Gods&#8217; favor towards her<\/strong>, we can begin to analyze her character in depth. Like all characters, Antigone has a flaw, and though this may be subjective to some,<strong> we can all agree that this flaw is what unanimously brought her to her demise.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Antigone believes her flaw to be her strength; <strong>although her strength may be seen as a flaw<\/strong>, this is not what brought her to her untimely death. Antigone&#8217;s major flaw was her loyalty, and her commitment was what brought her to the afterlife.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p4\">How Did Antigone&#8217;s Fatal Flaw Lead Her to Her Downfall?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19200 alignleft\" title=\"Antigone\" src=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/antigone.jpg\" alt=\"Antigone\" width=\"261\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/antigone.jpg 261w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/antigone-200x148.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/>It is loyalty to her family, loyalty to the Gods, <strong>loyalty to her convictions that caused hamartia<\/strong>. Let me explain:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\">Loyalty to her family \u2013 Antigone couldn&#8217;t sit idly by as Creon decreed his unjust law towards her brother. She couldn&#8217;t stand that her brother wouldn&#8217;t even be given a proper burial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\">Despite the threat of being executed, <strong>her loyalty to her brother gave her strength in her conviction to carry out a move that could potentially cause her harm.<\/strong> She thought about the consequences of her decision and chose to push through. In the end, it led to her death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\">Loyalty to the Gods \u2013 Despite the threat of death, Antigone pursues her plan to bury her brother. This is due to her devotion to the Gods. <strong>She claims to honor the dead more than the living.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\">This can be interpreted as her loyalty to her family and Gods weighing more than her loyalty to the ruler of her city-state. Without her loyalty to the Gods, Antigone could have lived for her remaining sibling, Ismene, and her lover, Haemon. Again, this loyalty to the Gods is what ends her life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\">Loyalty to her convictions \u2013 Antigone, as seen in the play, is a hard-headed, <strong>single-minded woman who pursues what she believes in<\/strong>. Her loyalty to her beliefs gives her the strength to seek an end goal despite the threats she may face from it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\">For example, her conviction to<strong> her brother&#8217;s right to a proper burial gave her the strength to carry out such a task<\/strong> despite the threat of her life, which did end her life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Her stubborn loyalty gave her strength to carry out her beliefs, and in the end, she met her downfall.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">Antigone: The Tragic Heroine<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Antigone&#8217;s defiance against Creon for his tyranny is seen as an activist fighting for the divine law. <strong>She fought valiantly for her brother&#8217;s right to be buried as per the will of the gods<\/strong>, and despite sacrificing her life, she still won.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">She was able to bury her brother, ending the inner conflict between the citizens of Thebes. She displayed her bravery for all to see and gave hope to those fighting <strong>opposition and freedom of thought.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">The Family&#8217;s Curse<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Although Antigone tried to take hold of her fate, her tragic end still reflects the curse of her father&#8217;s mistakes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Despite the chorus applauding <strong>Antigone for attempting to take the reins of her life<\/strong>, it understands that, like her brothers, she will have to ultimately pay for her father&#8217;s past transgressions as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Regardless of the Gods&#8217; favors, Antigone could not be spared from the curse her family holds. Instead, <strong>it is terminated in her death.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">How Did Antigone Garner Favor with the Gods?<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16610 alignright\" title=\"Kokular painting oedipus and antigone phoenissae\" src=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kokular-Painting-Oedipus-and-Antigone-Phoenissae-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kokular painting oedipus and antigone phoenissae\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kokular-Painting-Oedipus-and-Antigone-Phoenissae-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kokular-Painting-Oedipus-and-Antigone-Phoenissae.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kokular-Painting-Oedipus-and-Antigone-Phoenissae-200x267.jpg 200w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kokular-Painting-Oedipus-and-Antigone-Phoenissae-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kokular-Painting-Oedipus-and-Antigone-Phoenissae-600x800.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Creon, in his decree, failed to uphold the laws of the Gods. <strong>He even went as far as opposing their will<\/strong>. The Gods decreed long ago that all living bodies in death and only death must be buried underground or in a tomb.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Upon leaving Polynices&#8217; body on the surface and refusing to give him a proper burial, <strong>Creon went against the laws the Gods commanded.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Antigone, on the other hand, <strong>went against his rule and even risked death to follow the gods&#8217; decrees<\/strong>; this was a show of devotion to the Gods which garnered their favor.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p2\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Now that we&#8217;ve talked about Antigone, her flaws, her family, and how she met her death, let&#8217;s go through the critical points:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li3\">Antigone starts after the war in Thebes<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Oedipus&#8217; sons fight for the throne, which leads to their deaths<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Creon takes the throne and gave out an unjust law: refusing to bury Polynices killing anyone who would<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Antigone buries Polynices and was sent to the cave to die by the orders of Creon<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Upon Antigone&#8217;s death, her fianc\u00e9 also killed himself<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Eurydice (Creon&#8217;s wife and Haemon&#8217;s mother) kills herself after Haemon&#8217;s death<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Haemon realizes it&#8217;s all his fault and lives his entire life miserably<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Antigone&#8217;s loyalty is a significant flaw that brought her to her death<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Gods&#8217; law and the mortals&#8217; law are seen to clash in the second play<\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\">Her loyalty to the Gods&#8217; law coincided with her devotion to her brother and her loyalty to her convictions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">And there we have it! A whole discussion of Antigone, her flaws, her character, her family, and the origins of her family&#8217;s curse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Antigone&#8217;s tragic flaw eventually led her to her own death. But what exactly happened to her, and why was her life such a tragedy? What was Antigone&#8217;s tragic flaw that eventually led her to her downfall? To understand both the text and the character, we must go back to the play&#8217;s prequel: Oedipus Rex. Oedipus&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2051],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20136"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20136"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21750,"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20136\/revisions\/21750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ancient-literature.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}