Antigone Quotes
"The doom reserved for enemies marches on the ones we love the most."
Work: Antigone (Line 12-13, pg. 59) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Ismene Context: Antigone is in the middle of burying Polynices Significance: Antigone knows that her family's fate is ill-fated (Oedipus, Etocles, Polynices, and Antigone's mother have all met untimely ang gruesome ends)
"Only a fool could be in love with death."
Work: Antigone (Line 246, pg. 69) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Leader Audience: Creon Context: Creon has asked the Leader and the Chorus to not side with anyone who breaks the law (Antigone in this context) Significance: Us vs. Them mentality. Athenians believe that the only outcome of siding with traitors is death, and no one should want that.
"Where does it hurt you, in the ears or in the heart?"
Work: Antigone (Line 359, pg. 74) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Sentry Audience: Creon Context: Creon has told the Sentry that everything he says is offensive to him and to go away, this is the Sentry's response. Significance: The Sentry is confused on whether his voice is offensive or his words are.
"Of course I did."
Work: Antigone (Line 499, pg. 82) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Creon has just asked Antigone if she decided to commit the crime of Polynices in public. Significance: Shows how much Antigone believes in her own form of justice. She thinks the traitor charge is wrong, and she won't back down from it.
"No one will ever convict me for a traitor."
Work: Antigone (Line 57, pg. 61) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Ismene Context: Antigone is explaining why she wants to bury Polynices even though it is illegal. Significance: Concept of enemy or ecthros. Antigone is placing blood relationships over the law in order to do what is right.
"No matter—Death longs for the same rites for all."
Work: Antigone (Line 584, pg. 85) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Creon has been comparing the character's of Etocles and Polynices. Significance: Death is inevitable. It doesn't matter who anyone was while they were alive, because when we die we are all the same - corpses.
"You chose to live, I chose to die."
Work: Antigone (Line 626, pg. 88) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Ismene Context: Ismene and Antigone are arguing about whether or not Ismene should get to be executed with Antigone. Significance: Shows the difference in character between Ismene and Antigone. Ismene is a coward, Antigone is not, so only Antigone should get to die for something she did out of bravery.
"You'd kill your own son's bride?"
Work: Antigone (Line 641, pg. 89) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Ismene Context: Creon has just decreed that Antigone (alone) will be executed Significance: Shows Creon's lack of care about women and Haemon's feelings. As long as Haemon continues Creon's family line, he does not care who his wife is.
"The whole city of Thebes denies it, to a man."
Work: Antigone (Line 820, pg. 97) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: During Creon and Haemon's argument after Creon's speech to him. Creon is accusing Haemon of viewing the admiration of a rebel as an achievement, and Hameon is refuting that Thebes views it that way as well. Significance: Us vs. Them. Creon is trying to pit Haemon and Antigone against all of Thebes, and Haemon is having none of it.
"It's no city at all, owned by one man alone."
Work: Antigone (Line 824, pg. 97) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: During Creon and Haemon's argument after Creon's speech to him. Creon has just stated that he rules the city for the other people, Haemon is not so sure. Significance: Shows Creon's power blindness. He tells himself he is ruling for the good of others, but really he is just ruling by thinking he knows what's best for others (which he doesn't).
"Combating your empty, mindless judgments with a word?"
Work: Antigone (Line 845, pg. 99) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: During Creon and Haemon's argument after Creon's speech to him. Haemon has threatened suicide, and Creon isn't too happy about it. Significance: Haemon is fighting fire with fire. He believes Creon's words are empty, so he's hitting him with a real threat to pull him out of these falsities.
"If you weren't my father, I'd say you were insane."
Work: Antigone (Line 848, pg. 99) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: During Creon and Haemon's argument after Creon's speech to him. Creon has threatened Haemon with suffering for his suicide threat. Significance: Shows the strength of Haemon and Creon's filial relationship. Haemon refrains from calling Creon insane to spare his feelings.
"I go to wed the lord of the dark waters."
Work: Antigone (Line 909, pg. 102) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Chorus Context: Antigone is lamenting about her execution. Significance: This scene is a combination of a wedding and a funeral - Antigone is being married to death rather than to Haemon.
"Reverence asks some reverence in return—"
Work: Antigone (Line 959, pg. 104) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Chorus Audience: Antigone Context: During the scene where Antigone is lamenting about her execution. Creon has just entered. Significance: Respect asks for respect in return. In this situation, equal treatment is not present - no respect is being given in return for Antigone's respect.
"Your own blind will, your passion has destroyed you."
Work: Antigone (Line 962, pg. 104) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Chorus Audience: Antigone Context: During the scene where Antigone is lamenting about her execution Significance: Antigone's downfall is her own character. If she had just fit into the meek Greek woman stereotype and followed the law, none of this would have happened.
"As for myself, my hands are clean."
Work: Antigone (Line 975, pg. 104) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Chorus, Antigone Context: After Antigone's execution lament, Creon is shooing her away. Significance: Shows Creon's blindness due to power. He doesn't think he's at fault for Antigone's execution because Antigone did it to herself.
"I'll set her free myself. I am afraid . . . it's best to keep the established laws to the very day we die."
Work: Antigone (Lines Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Leader, Chorus Context: Tiresias has given his second prophecy about how he needs to fix the mistake of executing Antigone and Creon is buying it a little more this time. Significance: Shows Creon's belief that his word is law. Similar to Cleon's speech in HPW, people should keep the laws as they are even if they're bad.
"Stubbornness brands you for stupidity—pride is a crime."
Work: Antigone (Lines Author: Sophocles Speaker: Tiresias Audience: Creon Context: Tiresias is explaining to Creon how his power will be his downfall. Significance: Shows how Creon's set of laws did not check his own character - the laws of pride being a crime must be divine. Creon's ignorance of godly will and his love of power cause him his suffering.
"Dear god, shout it from the rooftops. I'll hate you all the more for silence—tell the world!"
Work: Antigone (Lines 100-101, pg. 64) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Ismene Context: Ismene has just told Antigone not to tell anyone she is burying Polynices. This is her response to that idea. Significance: Shows the stark contrast between Antigone and Ismene's idea of what laws to follow. Ismene is meant to be the subordinate, law-abiding, duty-fulfilling Greek woman, whereas Antigone is the opposite of that. Antigone believes in divine law, Ismene believes in Athenian law.
"What law of the mighty gods have I transgressed? Why look to the heavens any more, tormented as I am? Whom to call, what comrades now? Just think, my reverence only brands me for irreverence!"
Work: Antigone (Lines 1013-1016, pg. 106) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Chorus, Creon, Leader Context: Antigone is lamenting about how she doesn't believe her execution is just. Significance: Shows how Antigone values godly will over mortal law.
"Still the same rough winds, the wild passion raging through the girl."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1022-1023, pg. 106) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Leader Audience: Chorus, Creon Context: Antigone has finished her lament about her unjust execution. Significance: Shows Antigone's unwavering character - she's passionate and stubborn to the end.
"I alone, see what I suffer now at the hands of what breed of men—all for reverence, my reverence for the gods!"
Work: Antigone (Lines 1032-1034, pg. 107) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon, Leader, Chorus Context: Antigone is about to be sent to her tomb. Significance: Shows Antigone's isolation - she is to die by herself for a crime she insisted she commit by herself, and she is the only one who can see that this course of action is unjust because she had respect for the gods the whole time.
"Then reflect, my son: you are poised, once more, on the razor-edge of fate."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1099-1100, pg. 110) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Tiresias Audience: Creon Context: Tiresias has just arrived at Creon's court, bringing the prophecy about how Antigone needs to let go. Significance: Creon's blindness due to power. If he does not see the light soon, fate will cause him pain (which it does).
"And it is you—your high resolve that sets this plague on Thebes."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1123-1124, pg. 111) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Tiresias Audience: Creon Context: Tiresias is giving Creon the prophecy about how his actions will cause a plague in Thebes. Significance: Shows how Creon's love of power will be his downfall.
"Disasters sent by the gods cut short our follies in a flash."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1127-1128, pg. 117) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Leader Audience: Creon Context: Tiresias has given his second prophecy about how he needs to fix the mistake of executing Antigone and Creon is buying it a little more this time. Significance: Shows how Creon's disregard for the gods is part of the reason all of this suffering befalls him.
"Take these things to heart, my son, I warn you. All men make mistakes, it is only human."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1131-1132, pg. 112) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Tiresias Audience: Creon Context: Tiresias is telling Creon that his mistake of Antigone's execution can be reversed. Significance: "To err is divine." Even men high up in power have the capability to make reversible mistakes.
"It's best to learn from a good adviser when he speaks for your own good: it's pure gain."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1141-1144, pg. 112) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Tiresias Audience: Creon Context: Tiresias is explaining to Creon how his power will be his downfall. Significance: Shows how Creon's stubbornness is part of the reason these bad things Tiresias prophecies about will happen. Creon should have listened to Haemon when he had the chance.
"No, reverend old Tiresias, all men fall, it's only human, but the wisest fall obscenely when they glorify obscene advice with rhetoric—all for their own gain."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1158-1161, pg. 112) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Tiresias Context: Tiresias has finished his first speech about how Creon needs to change, Creon is responding. Significance: Creon is stubborn - even after a prophet tells Creon he needs to change, he still refuses to do so.
"Fortune lifts and Fortune fells the lucky and unlucky every day. No prophet on earth can tell a man his fate"
Work: Antigone (Lines 1276-1278, pg. 119) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Messenger Audience: Chorus Context: Messenger has just entered with the news that Haemon and Antigone are dead. Significance: Fate vs. Free Will. Messenger believes that nothing on earth is controlled by mortals, it is all fated by the gods.
"...if real delight is missing from the lot, I wouldn't give you a wisp of smoke for it, not compared with joy."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1289-1291, pg. 120) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Messenger Audience: Chorus Context: Messenger has just entered with the news that Haemon and Antigone are dead. Significance: Joy is an essential part of life. If it's missing, there's not much to live for. Explains the motive behind Haemon's suicide.
"Tell me the news, again, whatever it is...sorrow and I are hardly strangers."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1311-1312, pg. 121) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Eurydice Audience: Messenger Context: Messenger, Leader, and Chorus have just come to tell Eurydice about Haemon's suicide. Significance: Shows the bleakness of Eurydice's life - this isn't Eurydice's first rodeo with sorrow and suffering.
"Creon shows the world that of all the ills afflicting men the worst is lack of judgment."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1372-1373, pg. 123) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Messenger Audience: Eurycide, Leader, Chorus Context: Messenger has just told Eurydice the story about how Haemon killed himself in front of Creon after finding Antigone hung. Significance: Shows how Creon's failure to see past his own mistakes causes all of this suffering.
"To me, at least, a long heavy silence promises danger, just as much as a lot of empty outcries."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1381-1383, pg. 123) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Leader Audience: Messenger, Chorus Context: Eurydice has just exited the scene, the Messenger and Chorus are thinking about what will happen next. Significance: Foreshadows Eurydice's suicide. The sorrow is not over - there is a foreboding that something else bad will happen.
"Look at us, the killer, the killed, father and son, the same blood—the misery!"
Work: Antigone (Lines 1395-1396, pg. 124) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Chorus, Haemon's bier) Context: Haemon's body has just been brought before Creon. Significance: Grief and Father/Son, Creon saw his son Haemon die before him and understands that he was the cause as he calls himself the killer.
"I did it, yes—if only she consents—I share the guilt, the consequences too."
Work: Antigone (Lines 604-606, pg. 86) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Ismene Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Creon has asked Ismene if she had any part in Polynices' burial. Significance: Shows Ismene's devotion to Antigone. She loves her so much that she is willing to die for something she did not do.
"If a man could wail his own dirge before he dies, he'd never finish."
Work: Antigone (Lines 970-971, pg. 104) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Chorus, Antigone Context: Antigone has just finished her lament about her execution and Creon is responding to the last half of it. Significance: Humor. Creon is cracking a joke about how people in the face of death will do anything to elongate their time on earth.
"What now? What earth-shattering truth are you about to utter?"
Work: Antigone (Line 1164, pg. 113) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Tiresias Context: Tiresias is chastizing Creon for not believing in Tiresias' prophecy Significance: Shows Creon's disregard for the gods and their prophecies.
"You and the whole breed of seers are mad for money!"
Work: Antigone (Line 1171, pg. 113) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Tiresias Context: Tiresias is trying to make Creon understand that his prophecy is true, Creon isn't buying it. Significance: Shows Creon's hatred of people who love money, which is ironic because he lets his love of power control his life.
"Wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy, and reverence toward the gods must be safeguarded. The mighty words of the proud are paid in full with mighty blows of fate, and at long last those blows will teach us wisdom."
Work: Antigone (Lines 1466-1470, pg. 128) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Chorus Audience: N/A (to Audience) Context: Creon has just exited after seeing Eurydice and Haemon's biers, the chorus is giving a summation of the moral. Significance: A summary of what we learned from this. Joy is necessary to live, respect towards the gods is required, and people who disrespect the gods and let power go to their heads will be punished.
"But look, the king of the realm is coming, Creon, the new man for the new day"
Work: Antigone (Lines 173-174, pg. 66) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Chorus Audience: N/A (Readers) Context: End of Choral Ode #1. Creon has just entered the scene, this is his introduction. Significance: The first we hear about Creon's character and the power he holds.
"The gods who rocked her, after a long, merciless pounding in the storm, have righted her once more."
Work: Antigone (Lines 179-181, pg. 67) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Chorus Context: Creon has just entered for the first time, he is giving backstory to the Chorus. Significance: "Her" in this context is Athens, Athens is once again peaceful. This is ironic, because in just a few pages Athens is about to be thrown into chaos due to Antigone.
"Never at my hands will the traitor be honored above the patriot."
Work: Antigone (Lines 232-233, pg. 68) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Chorus Context: Creon is speaking about the deaths of Polynices and Etocles. Significance: Shows Creon's beliefs about justice (people who do not follow his laws are the enemy). The "traitor" in this context is Polynices, the "patriot" is Etocles.
"So here I am, against my will and yours too, well I know—no one wants the man who brings bad news."
Work: Antigone (Lines 312-315, pg. 72) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Sentry Audience: Creon and Chorus Context: Sentry is telling the story of how he saw that Polynices was buried. Significance: "Don't shoot the messenger." The Sentry is doing this because he feels obligated to, and should not be punished just for passing what he saw along.
"Exactly when did you last see the gods celebrating traitors? Inconceivable!"
Work: Antigone (Lines 326-327, pg. 73) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Sentry, Chorus, and Leader Context: Leader has just asked Creon if Polynices' burial could have been the work of the gods. Significance: Shows how Creon believes that his laws are in line with the will of the gods - there is no way the gods would go against Creon's decrees.
"Money! Nothing worse in our lives, so current, rampant, so corrupting. Money—you demolish cities, root men from their homes, you train and twist good minds and set them on to the most atrocious schemes."
Work: Antigone (Lines 335-339, pg. 73) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Sentry, Leader, and Chorus Context: Creon is brainstorming about how he thinks that a guard was bribed to bury Polynices and the ones who are responsible had no hand in it Significance: Shows Creon's hate of money as a persuader. Ironic, considering how Creon's love of power guides his decisions.
"Oh it's terrible when the one who does the judging judges things all wrong."
Work: Antigone (Lines 366-367, pg. 75) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Sentry Audience: Creon Context: Creon has told the Sentry that he believes the only reason that he is here is for money, and this is his response. Significance: Shows how Creon's hatred of money blinds him from seeing how a person could be motivated by pursuit of justice.
"Man the master, ingenious past all measure past all dreams, the skills within his grasp—he forges on,"
Work: Antigone (Lines 406-408, pg. 77) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Chorus Audience: N/A (Readers) Context: During Choral Ode #2 (Ode to Man). Chorus is speaking on how death is inevitable. Significance: Shows how man never stops gaining knowledge.
"I tell you, it made me ache and laugh in the same breath. It's pure joy to escape the worst yourself, it hurts a man to bring down his friends. But all that, I'm afraid, means less to me than my own skin. That's the way I'm made."
Work: Antigone (Lines 484-489, pg. 81) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Sentry Audience: Creon Context: Sentry is talking about how he found out that Antigone was the one who buried Polynices Significance: Shows the conflict between heart and head. Sentry knows he wants to do the right thing, but he also wants to follow the law.
"You with your eyes fixed to the ground—speak up. Do you deny you did this, yes or no?"
Work: Antigone (Lines 489-491, pg. 81) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Antigone Context: During Antigone's conviction. Creon is asking Antigone to confess to the burial of Polynices Significance: Creon is poking at Antigone to see if she will actually confess to her charges. What happens after shows that Antigone does not fit into the meek Greek woman archetype.
"Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions."
Work: Antigone (Lines 503-505, pg. 82) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Antigone is explaining why she buried Polynices. Significance: Shows how Creon thinks his power is equal to that of the gods because he can ignore the basis of the traidition of burial rites.
"And if my present actions strike you as foolish, let's just say I've been accused of folly by a fool."
Work: Antigone (Lines 522-524, pg. 82) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Antigone is explaining why she buried Polynices. Significance: Shows the conflict between Creon and Antigone's belief systems. They both think the other is wrong.
"They see it just that way but defer to you and keep their tongues in leash."
Work: Antigone (Lines 569-570, pg. 84) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Creon has just told Antigone that she is the only one who thinks the way she does. Significance: Us vs. Them. Antigone believes that anyone who believes things similar to Creon is just trying to stay in his good graces.
"Not ashamed for a moment, not to honor my brother, my own flesh and blood."
Work: Antigone (Lines 573-573, pg. 84) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Creon Context: During Antigone's conviction. Creon just called Antigone disloyal for burying Polynices, this is her repsonse to that Significance: Shows how Antigone values filial relationships and honor over the law.
"They're both mad, I tell you, the two of them. One's just shown it, the other's been that way since she was born."
Work: Antigone (Lines 632-635, pg. 88) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Chorus (Antigone and Ismene are in the room too) Context: Creon is making a comment about Ismene and Antigone's argument about whether or not Ismene should die with Antigone Significance: Shows the obviousness of character difference between Antigone and Ismene. Ismene is trying to be something she is not in a time of trouble, yet Antigone is just acting like herself.
"...commit cruelty on a person long enough and the mind begins to go."
Work: Antigone (Lines 636-637, pg. 89) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Ismene Audience: Creon Context: Ismene is responding to Creon's comment about how Ismene's character has changed Significance: Foreshadowing. Haemon and Eurydice will die because of cruelty committed against them, and their minds will go as well.
"No marriage could ever mean more to me than you, whatever good direction you may offer."
Work: Antigone (Lines 711-712, pg. 93) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: Creon is asking Haemon if he hates him now that Antigone is to be executed because of him Significance: Shows the strength of Haemon's filial relationship with Creon. No woman could come between their bond (which turns out to be false, but whatever).
"Oh Haemon, never lose your sense of judgment over a woman."
Work: Antigone (Lines 723-724, pg. 93) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Haemon Context: Creon is explaining to Haemon why women are bad, specifically Antigone Significance: Theme of Sexism. Creon doesn't think that any woman is worth staking your life on.
"Show me the man who rules his household well: I'll show you someone fit to rule the state."
Work: Antigone (Lines 739-740, pg. 94) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Haemon Context: Creon is explaining to Haemon why women are bad, specifically Antigone Significance: Combines controlling one's family with an indication of leadership skills - a man who runs his house well can also run a country
"Remember we are women, we're not born to contend with men."
Work: Antigone (Lines 74-75, pg. 62) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Ismene Audience: Antigone Context: Ismene is trying to convince Antigone not to bury Polynices Significance: Theme of sexism. Shows Ismene's law-abiding and cowardly character - she accepts her role as a woman in Greek society.
"But that man the city places in authority, his orders must be obeyed, large and small, right and wrong."
Work: Antigone (Lines 748-751, pg. 94) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Haemon Context: Creon is explaining to Haemon why traitors are bad and law-followers are good Significance: Shows Creon's love of power. He believes that anyone in power can make anyone follow whatever rules he sets.
"Therefore we must defend the men who live by law, never let some woman triumph over us. Better to fall from power, if fall we must, at the hands of a man—never be rated inferior to a woman, never."
Work: Antigone (Lines 756-761, pg. 94) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Creon Audience: Haemon Context: Creon is explaining to Haemon why women are bad Significance: Theme of Sexism. Creon equates women with traitors - both bad for men.
"But it's for me to catch the murmurs in the dark, the way the city mourns for this young girl. 'No woman,' they say, 'ever deserved death less, and such a brutal death for such a glorious action.'"
Work: Antigone (Lines 775-778, pg. 95) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: Haemon is responding to Creon's speech about why women and traitors are bad Significance: Us vs. Them. Refutes the claim that Creon made earlier about no one thinking like Antigone does.
"Now don't, please, be quite so single-minded, self-involved, or assume the world is wrong and you are right."
Work: Antigone (Lines 788-790, pg. 95) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: Haemon is responding to Creon's speech about why women and traitors are bad Significance: Shows Creon's isolation of thought and how he lets his own beliefs trump those of other subjects.
"What a splendid king you'd make of a desert island—you and you alone."
Work: Antigone (Lines 826-827, pg. 97) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: During Creon and Haemon's argument after Creon's speech to him. Haemon is furthering his point about Creon ruling Thebes for himself. Significance: Furthering the idea that Creon rules for himself and not for his subjects - he doesn't need them there.
"Protect your rights? When you trample down the honors of the gods?"
Work: Antigone (Lines 834-835, pg. 98) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Haemon Audience: Creon Context: During Creon and Haemon's argument after Creon's speech to him. Creon has made a point about protecting his royal rights. Significance: Shows Creon's disregard for the gods.
"Do as you like, dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor."
Work: Antigone (Lines 91-92, pg. 63) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Ismene Context: Antigone is telling Ismene how she will still bury Polynices without Ismene's help. Significance: Shows the strength of Antigone's character and the weakness of Ismene's. Antigone believes that the "laws" in this context are that loved ones deserve proper burial rites, and Ismene's ignorance of that shows how she is submissive to Athenian law but not divine law.
"I wonder . . . do you pay for your father's terrible ordeal?"
Work: Antigone (Lines 945-946, pg. 103) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Chorus Audience: Antigone Context: During the scene where Antigone is lamenting about her execution Significance: A callback to an earlier line about how Antigone saw doom for her family members - the chorus members are wondering if Oedipus' death had anything to do with Antigone's.
"There—at last you've touched it, the worst pain the worst anguish!"
Work: Antigone (Lines 947-948, pg. 103) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Chorus Context: During the scene where Antigone is lamenting about her execution Significance: Antigone's anguish partly stems from the fact that she is following in her family's footsteps of ill-timed and gruesome deaths.
"I am agony! No tears for the destiny that's mine, no loved one mourns my death."
Work: Antigone (Lines 967-969, pg. 104) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Chorus Context: During the scene where Antigone is lamenting about her execution Significance: Shows how Antigone feels isolated as she has lost everyone that is important to her by being a passionate, stubborn woman.
"Eteocles—When you died I washed you with my hands, I dressed you all, I poured the sacred cups across your tombs. But now, Polynices, because I laid your body out as well, this, this is my reward. Nevertheless I honored you—the decent will admit it—well and wisely too."
Work: Antigone (Lines 988-994, pg. 105) Author: Sophocles Speaker: Antigone Audience: Eteocles, Polynices, Chorus Context: Antigone is calling out to her family in the underworld before she dies. Significance: Shows how Antigone believes she's in the right. She is not sure why burying both of her brothers is the thing that is causing her death.
