Antigone

Antigone is a play by the Greek playwright Sophocles. It is the story of one of Oedipus' daughters, Antigone, set after Oedipus has left Thebes in disgrace and his two sons have killed each other, leaving his brother-in-law, Creon, as king. The two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, had fought each in a war for the throne, and, in the end, both killed each other. Because Eteocles had been appointed king and Polynices was invading Thebes to claim the title, Creon decreed that none should bury Polynices. Unfortunately for Creon, this decree went directly against the gods' law the demanded respect for the dead. As a result, Antigone, Polynices' sister, buried him anyway and was sentenced to death for her crime. Although Creon eventually relented, by then it was too late, Antigone had committed suicide, and Creon's son and wife soon did the same. This play showed what happened to those who disobeyed the gods.