doing what is accused to Antigone. Although Ismene is her sister and that she willingly wants to share the punishment together, Antigone refused her
clearly. The act of burying Polyneices is done by herself alone, so she does not want anyone else to be punished. She does not want Ismene to be in
such a miserable condition because of her because Ismene deserve to be in a better situation.
2. Brave
The first characterization of Antigone, which is a persistent woman, has been clearly explained by the writer previously. The explanation
includes evidences from the text showing that Antigone is a persistent woman who would not easily change her mind under any circumstances.
Aside of the fact that Antigone is a persistent woman as mentioned in the beginning of this chapter; Antigone is also a brave woman. Thus the bravery
of Antigone is one important factor that creates the main conflict of the entire story between Antigone and the king Creon.
The first evidence from the text showing that Antigone is a brave woman is taken from the opening conversation between Antigone and
Ismene. The conversation can be seen in the following quotation. ANTIGONE. Ismene. I am going to bury him. Will you come?
ISMENE. Bury him You have just said the new law forbids it. ANTIGONE. He is my brother. And he is your brother, too.
ISMENE. But think of the danger Think what Creon will do ANTIGONE. Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.
Prologue: 90
From the conversation above, Antigone shows that she is clearly not afraid of Creon although he is the King. By saying “I am going to bury him”
she shows Ismene that she is not afraid of the law that created by Creon. Before Antigone said that, she told Ismene about the law, which will give a
death punishment for anyone who breaks the law, but still she said she want to bury him. Break the law means facing death by her. This is what
Antigone wants to do. Clearly it is the evidence that Antigone is a brave woman.
Still from the previous quotation, when Antigone says “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way” it also shows her bravery. Although
Creon is a King, whom most people are afraid of, Antigone is not afraid of him. Previously Ismene warn her about the danger of breaking the law by
saying “But think of the danger1 Think what Creon will do” This warning does not make Antigone afraid of Creon. Therefore Antigone is a brave
woman. The next quotation taken from the text still shows that Antigone is a
brave woman. This evidence is taken from the closing part of the conversation between Antigone and Ismene at the beginning of the story.
ANTIGONE. Go away Ismene: I shall be hating you soon, and the dead will too, for your words are hateful. Leave me my foolish
plan: I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, it will not be the worst of deaths---death without honor.
Prologue: 91 That is the last sentence said by Antigone in her conversation with
Isme ne. She is tired with Ismene warning of breaking Creon‟s law and how
terrible the punishment would be. Therefore she said that she might hate Ismene later on because of the words she said. Here by saying “I am not
afraid of the danger…” shows that Antigone is a brave woman. She is not afraid even if what she has to face is death and she has to face it alone.
Still talking about Antigone‟s bravery shown in the story, one more of the evidence is found by the writer on the text. The next quotation is taken
from the conversation between Antigone and Creon after she was captured by the guards. She was captured while she is doing the ritual to give a
proper burial to her brother Polyneices. The guards took her to Creon and the conversation between them can be seen in the following quotations:
CREON. Tell me, tell me briefly: Had you heard my proclamation touching this matter?
ANTIGONE. It was public. Could I help hearing it? CREON. And yet you dared defy the law?
ANTIGONE. I dared. It was not God‟s proclamation. That final justice that rules the world below makes no such laws.
Scene 2: 95 At first, Creon asks Antigone whether or not she heard about the law
he has proclaimed in public. She told him that she heard about the law but yet she dared to break it. Antigone clearly said to Creon that although she
has heard the law and also the punishment, she dared to break the law in order to give a proper burial to her brother Polyneices. Therefore it shows
that Antigone is a brave woman. She knows about the law and the punishment for anyone who broke it. She has been captured and being
interrogated by Creon, the man who creates the law, yet she denies nothing in front of Creon. She clearly shows her bravery by telling Creon the thing
she has done and the reason of her doing that. No denial of the crime that she has done in front of Creon.
Evidence showing that Antigone is a brave woman can also be found in the next quotation. It is still in the same conversation between Creon and
Antigone right after she was captured by Guards. Besides Antigone denies nothing on what she has done, she even shows that she is not afraid of death.
This can be seen in the following quotation: ANTIGONE. Creon, what more do you want than my death?
CREON. Nothing. That gives me everything. ANTIGONE. Then I beg you kill me. This talking is a great
weariness: your words are distasteful to me, and I am sure that mine seems to you. And yet they should not seem so: I should
have praise and honor for hat I have done. All these men here would praise me were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you.
bitterly Ah the good fortune of kings, licensed to say and do whatever they please
Scene 2: 95 Through her statement at the quotation above, Antigone tries to tell
Creon that all of the people in Thebes will have the same opinions with her if they are not afraid of Creon and his law. Meanwhile, Antigone is not
afraid of that. Therefore she dared to break the law and even ask for the punishment. This clearly shows that Antigone is a brave woman.
3. Religious
