Antigone: An Interpretive Analysis on Conflicting
Authority
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: Antigone: An Interpretive Analysis on Conflicting Authority
Pages: 11
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Antigone: An interpretive analysis on conflicting authority
Unlike poetic forms of literature, which do not require a conflict or a resolution in order to work, drama requires
both elements in order to be successful. In Sophocles’ famous play, Antigone, it was conflict that drove the story
along and it was the resounding resolution that left audiences with a gratifying feeling that hasn’t faltered for
centuries. While the roles of both elements are indisputably important to the success of any play, however, there is
still much disagreement among literary critics concerning the central conflict of Antigone. Some critics, such as
Robin Fox, speculate that the main conflict is the struggle between family loyalty and “kinship rights of burial”
(Allbaugh para. 5). Still others believe that the central conflict is the will of the individual verses the will of the State
(DeWitt 1). While there is considerable merit to what these critics say, however, the ultimate conflict in Antigone is
arguably the struggle between the will of the mortals, the will of the State, and the will of the gods.
Collectively, these points of conflict stem chiefly from three characters: Antigone, Ismene and Creon. The key here
is to realize that the characters are literary symbols. Antigone—who is generally considered the protagonist of the
play—primarily represents the true will of the gods expressed through well established tradition. While it is made
clear that every fiber of Antigone’s humanity believes her brother (Polyneices) should be buried, her extreme
reaction to Creon’s edict, coupled with a troubling scene in which Antigone claims “she would not make the same
sacrifice for a husband or children” (Allbaugh para. 4), strongly hints that she is fa...
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