Daughter (and half-sister) of Oedipus, sister of Ismene, niece of Creon, and fiancée of Haemon. When her brother Polynices dies attacking Thebes, Antigone defies Creon's order that no citizen of Thebes can give Polynices's body a proper burial, under penalty of death. She believes the burial rituals are the unwritten rules of the gods, and must be obeyed regardless of a ruler's political whims. She is bold in her defiance, believes firmly that she is right, and at times seems eager to die for the cause of burying her brother.
Antigone Quotes in Antigone
The Antigone quotes below are all either spoken by Antigone or refer to Antigone. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1-416
Quotes
I have longer
to please the dead than please the living here:
in the kingdom down below I'll lie forever.
to please the dead than please the living here:
in the kingdom down below I'll lie forever.
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Explanation and Analysis:
I will suffer
nothing as great as death without glory.
nothing as great as death without glory.
Lines 417-704
Quotes
Like father like daughter,
passionate, wild…
she hasn't learned to bend before adversity.
passionate, wild…
she hasn't learned to bend before adversity.
Lines 705-1090
Quotes
Spit her out,
like a mortal enemy—let the girl go.
Let her find a husband down among the dead.
like a mortal enemy—let the girl go.
Let her find a husband down among the dead.
Love, you mock us for your sport.
I go to wed the lord of the dark waters.
You went too far, the last limits of daring—
smashing against the high throne of Justice!
Your life's in ruins, child—I wonder…
do you pay for your father's terrible ordeal?
smashing against the high throne of Justice!
Your life's in ruins, child—I wonder…
do you pay for your father's terrible ordeal?
But if these men are wrong, let them suffer
nothing worse than they mete out to me—
these masters of injustice!
nothing worse than they mete out to me—
these masters of injustice!
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Explanation and Analysis:
Still the same rough winds, the wild passion
raging through the girl.
raging through the girl.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Antigone LitChart as a printable PDF.
Antigone Quotes in Antigone
The Antigone quotes below are all either spoken by Antigone or refer to Antigone. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1-416
Quotes
I have longer
to please the dead than please the living here:
in the kingdom down below I'll lie forever.
to please the dead than please the living here:
in the kingdom down below I'll lie forever.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I will suffer
nothing as great as death without glory.
nothing as great as death without glory.
Lines 417-704
Quotes
Like father like daughter,
passionate, wild…
she hasn't learned to bend before adversity.
passionate, wild…
she hasn't learned to bend before adversity.
Lines 705-1090
Quotes
Spit her out,
like a mortal enemy—let the girl go.
Let her find a husband down among the dead.
like a mortal enemy—let the girl go.
Let her find a husband down among the dead.
Love, you mock us for your sport.
I go to wed the lord of the dark waters.
You went too far, the last limits of daring—
smashing against the high throne of Justice!
Your life's in ruins, child—I wonder…
do you pay for your father's terrible ordeal?
smashing against the high throne of Justice!
Your life's in ruins, child—I wonder…
do you pay for your father's terrible ordeal?
But if these men are wrong, let them suffer
nothing worse than they mete out to me—
these masters of injustice!
nothing worse than they mete out to me—
these masters of injustice!
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Still the same rough winds, the wild passion
raging through the girl.
raging through the girl.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis: