Question

Antigone’s concern for acting honorably is one of her defining characteristics. Find textual evidence from the play Antigone that demonstrates her focus on honor, including her desire to die an honorable death.

Answer 1

Your response may have included the following examples of Antigone’s focus on honor:

In the opening scene, Antigone is determined to give her brother Polyneices an honorable burial. She tells Ismene that the worst that can happen for doing so is that she will “die an honorable death.” Her strong sense of honor and her loyalty to her brother and family is evident in these words.

In giving her brother an honorable funeral, Antigone is following the eternal laws of heaven instead of the temporal laws of one man (King Creon), so she believes she’s doing the morally right deed.

Throughout the play, it’s clear that Antigone is ready to sacrifice herself for an honorable cause, be it defending her brother’s honor or following the laws of heaven.

Your response may have included the following examples of Antigone’s wish to die honorably:

Antigone tells Ismene that she’d rather “die an honorable death” than deny her brother proper, respectful funeral rites. She chooses loyalty to her family and the gods over loyalty to Creon and his laws.

She’s aware of the consequences of her actions but doesn’t regret them. Antigone does not believe that she has “transgressed” any “ordinance of heaven.” Instead, she’s ready to die honorably to uphold heavenly laws.

She believes that she is going to die a glorious death because she has defended her beloved brother’s honor and followed the will of the gods.

Answer 2

Loyalty and independence define the trait of honor in Antigone. Her uncle Creon, considered her brother to be traitor and decree his body not be buried. Despite this, Antigone goes against the decree of her uncle and displays her loyalty to family and buries his body. She firmly believed that the body rests in peace only when it is buried. Though her sister Ismene was against her, however, Antigone displays the traits of courage and independence knowing that it would bring her death.