Eteocles and Polynices are supposed to share the throne of Thebes after the bannishment of their father-brother Oedipus; one brother will rule for a time and then step aside for the other. However, when the time to change arrives, Eteocles does not want to relinquish his power. Polynices thus allies himself with foreign rulers and declares war on his own city. But his plan fails, and the brothers slaughter each other on the field of battle. Creon, who then ascends the Thebian throne, decides that while Eteocles should receive a proper burial, his brother, the aggressor, should be left to rot beyond the city walls. Creon’s sentence drives a wedge between the sisters Antigone and Ismene, despite their mutual love and mourning. Ismene opts to accept Creon’s judgement and end the circle of violence. Antigone, however, aims to bury her outcast brother, thereby inciting conflict against Creon.
Antigone alone is prepared to stand up to Creon’s despotism for the sake of humanity. But to what end? And at what price? Will she not simply prolong the suffering of her family and her people by further provoking the city’s new ruler? Ismene attempts to stop her sister, but the citizens have already joined Antigone’s protest.
