Antigone - the role of Death and Love in Antigone

Essay by blamcgHigh School, 10th gradeA, December 2003

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Death and Love in Antigone

Death and love go hand in hand in Greek tragedies. Antigone loves her brother so much that she risks her life to give him the proper burial he deserves. When Haimon discovers his love, Antigone, dead he becomes so overwrought with grief that he plunges his sword into his own side. When the news of Haimon's death reaches his mother, Eurydice, she breaks down and she too kills herself but by stabbing a dagger into her heart. In Antigone, many people will die for someone they love.

At the beginning of the story, Antigone and Ismene are arguing about their brother. Antigone desperately wants to give her brother a proper burial, "But as for me, I will bury the brother I love."

But Ismene is too scared to go along with the plan, "Antigone, I am so afraid for you!" Antigone hatched a plan where she would sneak out to her brother's body under the cover of night to bury him and perform the proper rituals.

After daybreak, the sentries noticed the layer of dust on the body but no tracks of a caravan of some sort, so they report this to Creon whom undoubtedly was furious that someone would defy his law. Antigone was then caught red handed when she went back to finish burying her brother. Creon then tossed her into a tomb with very little food and water so she would slowly die.

Haimon, Antigone's fiancé, begged his father not to do this but Creon's head is as hard as his heart. Haimon then travels to the crypt where Creon sentenced Antigone so he could free his love. At this time, Creon has a revelation with the help of Teiresias, the blind prophet. When Creon reaches the crypt, he...