Familial relationships in ancient Greek society : an analytical study of Sophocles' Antigone

Abstract EN

This paper differs from the research of scholars who read Sophocles‘ Antigone as a conflict between Antigone and the male dominant structure, represented through Creon, while at the same time, overlook the importance of familial relationships in Greek society as presented in the play.

Antigone sacrifices her life for her brother, Polyneices, whom Creon denies funeral rites and pronounces a traitor.

While Creon stands for the civil law, through attempting to preserve his authority by the use of force, Antigone stands for the religious law and the cultural traditions of her people, through performing burial rites for her dead brother.

This implies that Antigone refuses to appear as weak and cowardly through obeying the decree of Creon, and prefers to keep her religious and ethical duties for her family.