NovelGuide: Antigone: Novel Summary: Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

Creon carries through with his judgment, instructing the guards to bury Antigone alive. The Chorus takes pity on the young bride-to-be, admitting to the woman, "You tried to do the right thing by your brother. You stepped boldly towards the altar of Justice, but somehow stumbled. I fear you must suffer for your father's sins."

After Antigone is taken away, Teiresias, the blind prophet, is led onto stage by a young boy. In short, he refutes Creon's judgment, citing the fact that the city altar is tainted by Polynices' flesh, carried there by birds. Teiresias goes on to say that Haemon will die as well. Creon initially rejects Teiresias' warning, telling the old man that someone has paid him to say these things.

Soon, however, Creon realizes that indeed he has made a tragic mistake. He instructs his servants to dig Antigone out of her chamber, admitting to himself, "I shouldn't have tried being unorthodox. I'll stick by the established laws in the future."

A few moments later, messengers enter, informing Creon that his son, Haemon, has committed suicide, unable to deal with his father's murder of Antigone, his fianc�. When Eurydice, Creon's wife, learns the news of her son, she leaves the stage immediately. The Chorus is first to sense her future, but soon everyone realizes that she too has committed suicide, stabbing herself in the heart.

Creon now fully realizes the results of his actions, wishing for his own death. The Chorus sums up the entire theme of the play in its final word, concluding, "The greater your arrogance, the heavier God's revenge." It seems that the dreadful punishment of the gods has now been inflicted on the entire family.