"One mistake does not define a person."

Sophocles’ play “Antigone” is unique.  It has many different conflicts and themes seen repeatedly throughout the story.  One major point about this piece of work is that Sophocles incorporated a strong lead female character.  Antigone goes against the civil law, speaks her mind, and is fearless when faced with the consequences of her actions.

            At one point in the play Ismene states that if Antigone must go against Creon and bury their brother that it should be done quietly.  Antigone replies with “Oh, oh, no! Shout it out.  I will hate you still worse for silence—should you not proclaim it, to everyone” (Sophocles 99-101).  Antigone believes that she must let her actions be known because she has no fear of the consequences.  She is doing what she knows is right by the gods, which she believes is greater than word of man.  Not only does she want to follow the wishes of the gods, but also respect and grieve for her brother.  If she chose to bury Polyneices in secret, he wouldn’t be receiving the proper recognition he deserves.  Those close to him have the right to mourn for the loss of his life.  “The time in which I must please those that are dead is longer than I must please those of this world.  For there I shall lie forever” (Antigone 86-88).  Antigone clearly states that time she has to keep the people on earth happy is limited compared to being with those who have gone before her.  She will be with them forever after her life here.  Her actions weren’t just to respect her brother, and the gods but for herself.  So that once it is her time to depart she can once again be with those she loves and who love her.  She was honorable and courageous in her life and will be rewarded in the afterlife for it.  From this we can say that she didn’t let the opinions of others affect her values.  Polyneices wasn’t just her brother, but a human being.  Despite what he did in life, he still had dignity and should be respected even in death.  “If I shall die before my time, I count that a profit.  How can such as I, that live among such troubles, not find a profit in death? So for such as me, to face such a fate as this is pain that does not count.  But if I dared to leave the dead man, my mother’s son, dead and unburied, that would have been real pain.  The other is not” (Antigone 506-512).  This quote exemplifies Antigone’s world views and values.  Considering her family history Antigone embraces death as a part of her journey.  She doesn’t see it as a misfortune, but a “profit.”  She would profit in death because she lived a good life.  The real hardship, in her mind, would be to leave her dead brother unburied.  She would be disrespecting both her brother and her mother.  Death wouldn’t compare to the hurt she would feel if her dead brother was left in the street to rot.

Antigone was aware of the consequences of her actions, but stood up for what she believed in.   We can conclude that the most important aspect of her life is her family, no matter what.  One mistake does not define a person.  Antigone also points out that one man does not have power alone over a group of people; he should coincide with moral law.