_Here is a detailed summary of the play "Antigone" by Sophocles::_
The play begins in Thebes, where King Oedipus's daughters Antigone and Ismene are mourning the deaths of their brothers Eteocles and Polyneices. After a civil war, Eteocles was deemed a hero for defending the city, while Polyneices was labeled a traitor for attempting to overthrow it.
Creon, the new king, decrees that Eteocles will receive a proper burial, but Polyneices' body must remain unburied and unmourned due to his betrayal. Antigone, driven by her devotion to the gods and familial duty, defies the decree and attempts to bury Polyneices herself.
Despite Ismene's pleadings, Antigone insists on going through with her plan. She secretly buries her brother, using dust and earth to cover him. However, her actions are soon discovered, and Creon confronts her, furious at her disobedience.
Antigone stands by her decision and defends her actions, arguing that she was honoring the laws of the gods, which dictate the proper treatment of deceased individuals. She also challenges the authority of the state to overstep the moral obligations.
Creon remains unmoved and sentences Antigone to be entombed alive in a cave. Although his son Haemon, who is engaged to Antigone, pleads for her life, Creon refuses to relent.
As Antigone is taken to the cave, the blind prophet Tiresias arrives and warns Creon that his stubbornness will bring misfortune to Thebes. Creon initially ignores him but eventually agrees to free Antigone and bury Polyneices' body.
However, when Creon arrives at the cave, he finds Antigone has hanged herself. Haemon, upon seeing her dead, falls on his sword. Enraged by his son's death, Creon takes his own life as well, leaving the city in mourning and despair.
The play concludes with the Chorus reflecting on the tragic events and emphasizing the importance of respecting divine laws, as well as maintaining balance and moderation in human actions.
"Antigone" explores universal themes such as the conflict between individual conscience and state authority, the significance of familial duty and religious beliefs, and the consequences of pride and stubbornness. It raises profound questions about justice, morality, and the limits of human power.