Sophocles

Sophocles

Sophocles was born in 495 B.C. about a mile northwest of Athens. Sophocles was the son of a wealthy merchant. Sophocles studied all the arts and by the age of sixteen he was chosen to lead a choir of boys at a celebration of the victory of Salamis. After Sophocles completed his studies he went to compete in the City Dionysa where new plays were presented and he won first place. Sophocles even performed in many of his own plays. Sophocles also served for many years as an ordained priest. Sophocles wrote 120 plays but only 7 survived. Oedipus the King is considered his greatest work. Other well known plays he wrote were Antigone and The Women of Trachis. Shortly after the production of Oedipus in 405 Sophocles passed away.

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Antigone

In the play Antigone the main problem is the clash between state and personal beliefs. Antigone loves her family and of course she will not sit back and let her brother lay and rot before everyone's eyes. Anyone that respects and loves their family I am sure would do the same thing. Antigone believes what she is doing is the right thing regardless of the consequences and the laws she is breaking. Creon being the king is for the laws of the state. He begs Antigone to rethink and don't act irrationally but Antigone stands for what she believes. Antigone is a brave woman who will sacrifice her own life for the love of her family. She gave up everything so that her brother could have a proper burial.