Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price
The first great 'resistance' drama – and perhaps the definitive Greek tragedy.
Creon, the King of Thebes, has forbidden the burial of Antigone's brother because he was put to death as a traitor to the crown. Despite being engaged to Creon's son Haemon, Antigone disobeys the King and buries her brother. Enraged, Creon condemns Antigone to death and buries her alive in a cave. The prophet Teiresias warns Creon against such rash actions, and eventually Creon relents – but when he goes to release Antigone it is too late: she has already hanged herself.
This version of Sophocles' Antigone is translated and introduced by Marianne Mc Donald.
About the author
Sophocles (c.496–405 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian. Of his more than 120 plays, only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, Women of Trachis, Oedipus Rex, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus.