In the play Antigone, Sophocles uses many important literary elements, but of the most important is
irony. Three types of irony he uses are dramatic, attitudinal, and verbal irony. Sophocles' use of
irony in Antigone has a great impact on the play. If Sophocles did not use irony in his play, the
events in the scenes would have been very different from what they are now. Irony is also used to a
dd suspense, making the reader wonder what was going to happen next? Sophocles successfully accompl
ished his goal, as will be shown in the following paragraphs. Dramatic irony is when characters stat
e something they believe is true, but the audience knows it is actually not the case. An example of
dramatic irony would be one of the king Creon's statements. The Sentry comes to reveal that Creon'
s law had been broken, and Polyneices had been buried. Creon then asks, "And the man who dare do th
is?"(Scene 1, 88). Creon assumes the perpetrator was a man when, in fact, the audience knows that A
ntigone had committed the crime. This reveals Creon's thinking that no one but a man would commit a
crime like that. This hints further conflict in the play. Another example of dramatic irony is wh
en the Chorus states, "But now in the beautiful morning of victory let Thebes of the many chariots s
ing for joy! With hearts for dancing we'll take leave of war: our temples shall be sweet with hymns
of praise, and the long night shall echo with our chorus" (Parodos, Antistrophe 2). Here, the Chor
us states that Thebes can now go back to living in peace and the great nation of Thebes would be res
tored. The reader knows, in fact, that this is not true. In the previous scene, Antigone reveals t
hat she plans to bury her brother. This will obviously cause not peace and harmony, but far from th
at. Instead, this would cause problems and chaos. The suspense now builds. Also adding suspense is
the use of attitudinal irony. Attitudinal irony is when an individual thinks reality is one way wh
en, in fact, it is a very different way. The Sentry is a perfect example of this. When the Sentry
came to Creon to inform him of Polyneices' buried body, he is very naïve about how to handle the sit
uation. He says, "I'll not say that I'm out of breath from running, King, because every time I stop
ped to think about what I have to tell you, I feel like going back..." (Scene 3, 66-112). The Sentr
y continues to drag out his story, thinking he is helping himself. Instead all he is doing is anger
ing Creon more. This part of the play shows how short Creon's temper is. This hints to the audienc
e that his temper will have an impact on the conclusion of the play. Another example is Creon's sta
tement to Antigone after she gives her reason for defying his law. He says, "She has much to learn.
The inflexible heart breaks first, the toughest iron cracks first, and the wildest horses bend the
ir necks at the pull of the smallest curb" (Scene 1, 76-79). Creon is telling Antigone to be reason
able and flexible when he is being just as stubborn and unreasonable about showing any mercy towards
Antigone. This shows how truly blind Creon is to the truth. He wants Antigone to be one way when
he is acting the total opposite way. He states this, not realizing he is being a total hypocrite. V
erbal irony is similar to attitudinal irony, except there is a minor difference. Verbal irony is wh
en a person says the opposite of what they mean. Creon does not realize the irony of his statement,
but when Antigone tries to convince her sister to help her bury Polyneices, she knows the irony of
it. This is because, although Ismene refuses and yet promises to keep Antigone's plan a secret, Ant
igone says, "Oh tell it! Tell everyone!"(Prologue, 69). Antigone is being sarcastic to Ismene. Th
is proves the sisters are very close and trust each other, and also reveals Antigone's somewhat dire
ct and confrontational manner. The same verbal irony is used by Haimon later on in the play. When
Haimon speaks to his father, Creon, he pretends to support Creon completely. On the contrary, Haimo
n is not at all happy with his father's decision, and intends to convince Creon to have mercy on the
love of his life. He states, "I am your son, Father. You are my guide. You make things clear for
me, and I obey you. No marriage means more to me than your continuing wisdom" (Scene 3, 8-10). Af
ter a long speech by Creon, Haimon attempts to persuade his father by telling him of what the people
have been saying. "...And I have heard them muttering and whispering in the dark about this girl.
They say no woman has ever, so unreasonably, died so shameful a death for a generous act" (Scene 3,
61-64). Haimon shows Creon that his punishment for Antigone is going to be criticized. This is a
turning point in the play because it gives the audience some hope that Antigone would not be put to
death. The suspense grows, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat, anticipating the end of th
e play. The many examples of irony in Antigone contributed to the violent and very tragic outcome of
the play. Creon's blindness to the truth caused him to lose not just one, but three family members
. Dramatic, attitudinal, and verbal irony: all different types of irony, but have many of the same
impacts. Sophocles' use of irony is what makes up this classic tragedy, making it suspenseful and a
ddictive. Without irony, there would be no Antigone.
play antigone sophocles uses many important l
iterary elements most important irony three types irony uses dramatic attitudinal verbal irony sopho
cles antigone great impact play sophocles play events scenes would have been very different from wha
t they also used suspense making reader wonder what going happen next successfully accomplished goal
will shown following paragraphs dramatic when characters state something they believe true audience
knows actually case example dramatic would king creon statements sentry comes reveal that creon bee
n broken polyneices been buried creon then asks dare this scene assumes perpetrator when fact audien
ce knows that antigone committed crime this reveals thinking that would commit crime like this hints
further conflict another example when chorus states beautiful morning victory thebes many chariots
sing with hearts dancing take leave temples shall sweet with hymns praise long night shall echo with
chorus parodos antistrophe here chorus states thebes back living peace great nation thebes restored
reader knows fact true previous scene reveals plans bury brother will obviously cause peace harmony
from instead cause problems chaos suspense builds also adding suspense attitudinal attitudinal indi
vidual thinks reality fact very different sentry perfect example sentry came inform polyneices burie
d body very about handle situation says breath from running king because every time stopped think ab
out what have tell feel like going back scene continues drag story thinking helping himself instead
doing angering more part shows short temper hints audience temper will have impact conclusion anothe
r statement after gives reason defying says much learn inflexible heart breaks first toughest iron c
racks first wildest horses bend their necks pull smallest curb telling reasonable flexible being jus
t stubborn unreasonable about showing mercy towards shows truly blind truth wants acting total oppos
ite states realizing being total hypocrite verbal similar except there minor difference verbal perso
n says opposite they mean does realize statement tries convince sister help bury polyneices because
although ismene refuses promises keep plan secret tell tell everyone prologue being sarcastic ismene
proves sisters close trust each other also reveals somewhat direct confrontational manner same used
haimon later haimon speaks father pretends support completely contrary haimon happy father decision
intends convince mercy love life your father guide make things clear obey marriage means more than
your continuing wisdom after long speech attempts persuade telling people saying heard them mutterin
g whispering dark girl woman ever unreasonably died shameful death generous shows punishment going c
riticized turning point because gives some hope death grows leaving reader edge their seat anticipat
ing many examples contributed violent tragic outcome blindness truth caused lose just three family m
embers different types same impacts makes classic tragedy making suspenseful addictive without there
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