In Antigone, we learn about a princess who is killed for defying her king. Antigone isn’t a troubled girl who has trouble following orders, but instead is someone who is willingly to die for a cause they believe in. Throughout the play, we learn about the different perspectives of each character and how they weigh their morals and government. The story of Antigone constantly makes the audience question how far they would go for something they believed was right.

Antigone is a princess who puts her family above all. After the death of her brother, Polyneices, Antigone refuses to let him go without a proper burial, even against the king’s wishes. This would lead to them fighting, and eventually to Kreon, the king, killing Antigone for trying to bury her brother behind his back. Antigone is someone who is mostly guided by their moral compass. Antigone’s love for her family was so deep, that she was willingly to die for her brother to just get a burial. Her actions show us how far she is willing to go for her family and stay true to her belief.

Kreon on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He believes that, in order for Thebes to thrive, he believes his rule is absolute. Even when his own son warns him about the gods, Kreon refuses to listen (p.51). Kreon doesn’t let Antigone bury her brother because Polyneices attacked the city of Thebes in a duel with their other brother, leading to both of the men dying. Kreon is scared that people may see him as weak or unfair, since Polyneices technically did commit treason. However, because of his stubbornness, this lead to the death of all his loved ones and eventually to him losing everything he has.

Ismene, sister of Antigone, is the most interesting character to me because she gives perspective on both sides. Ismene refuses to help her sister because she is scared that the King will punish them both (p.23). However, when Antigone was found burying her brother’s body, Ismene begs to bear the same punishment as her. Ismene is a character that shows us how important being sensible can be. She recognizes her position in the city, and that Kreon has full authority to have her and her sister murdered. This doesn’t necessarily make Ismene weak, but someone who understands the consequences of their action. Because of her actions, she is one of the few characters to survive till the end. Ismene is a character that shows us how important it is for us to evaluate the sacrifices we make for our moral decisions.

Ultimately, Antigone does what she believes is right, regardless of the consequences. Kreon believes his rule is absolute and that no one is above it. Ismene is a mix of both, where she initially follows the law, but ends up disobeying it for her sister. Antigone, through the perspectives of the family members, show us how each person weighs their moral and political obligations. I feel like many of us today are like Ismene, where we steer away from our moral obligation wether its due to us being too scared or not wanting to get in trouble. The play shows us that our stubbornness to change can lead to tragedy, and how important it is to make the right choice, even when it isn’t easy.