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niceisneat's review against another edition
5.0
Summary: Before the play opens, Eteocles and Polyneices, sons of Oedipus, kill each other in a battle for the Theban throne. Their uncle Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, decrees that Polyneices’ body remain unburied where it lies, left to be eaten by carrion. Anyone who attempts to give him a proper burial will be put to death.
The play opens with Antigone and Ismene, E and P’s sisters, having a secret nighttime meeting outside the palace gates. Antigone wants to defy Creon and bury Polyneices, but Ismene fears the punishment and refuses to help her. Antigone performs the funeral rites alone and must face Creon’s wrath and consequences when he learns of her disobedience.
Antigone is my favorite Greek classic, a tale of family and loyalty and standing up against an unfair government. Endlessly quotable, it’s a beautiful work of poetry and storytelling. My personal favorites all come from Antigone and Ismene, who debate about thing like sisterhood and pride and civic duty. If you like stories about sisters (which are my favorite), you’ll like Antigone and Ismene, two sisters with different demeanors who fight with each other but ultimately remain loyal, even under threat from their uncle/king. There is also a love story between Haemon (Creon’s son) and Antigone, but the sister relationship is the best one in my opinion.
My rating: 5 stars
kennedygmiller's review against another edition
4.0
I liked Antigone. The plot was dramatic, of course, but Antigone showed real character depth. I liked how she knew she would die, but still acted on her moral beliefs. Her fiancé, Haemon, was also a character I liked a lot. Overall 4 stars.
critlo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
jonnybrick's review against another edition
4.0
Sad tragedy performed at drama festival 2500 years ago. Still updated whatever conflict is happening.
dlisa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lohrbaem's review against another edition
2.0
Hooray for strong, female protagonists! Lots of kingly challenges and angsty Greek tragedy. I think everyone needs a little Greek tragedy in their literary repertoire but this isn't exactly a text I'd snuggle up to on a rainy day.
sophia_m_w's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
sharveyyy's review against another edition
3.0
“No man has a mind that can be fully known in character or judgement, till he ruled and makes law;
Only then can he be tested in the public eye.”
Read for a political theory class, I thought it was a great example of authority and who has the right to make law (and enforce it).
Only then can he be tested in the public eye.”
Read for a political theory class, I thought it was a great example of authority and who has the right to make law (and enforce it).