- Antigone's defiance of Creon's orders: When Creon publicly declares that anyone who buries Polyneices will be punished by death, Antigone defiantly asserts that she will bury her brother, even though she is aware of the consequences. Her statement is not only an act of defiance but also a form of verbal irony, as she uses words that express the opposite of what she truly intends to do.
- Creon's self-assuredness: Creon is initially portrayed as a confident and powerful ruler. He believes that his laws are just and that he is in complete control of the situation. However, as the play unfolds, events begin to spiral out of control, and Creon's confidence gradually erodes. His repeated insistence that he is in the right and that Antigone is wrong becomes ironic when his actions ultimately lead to his own downfall.
- Teiresias' prophecy: The blind prophet Teiresias visits Creon and warns him that his actions have angered the gods. He predicts that Creon will face severe consequences if he does not change his course. Creon initially dismisses Teiresias' prophecy as nonsense, but the play's events bear out the prophet's words, making Creon's skepticism ironic.
- Creon's final realization: In the closing scenes of the play, Creon finally realizes the consequences of his actions. As he mourns the deaths of his son, Haemon, and his wife, Eurydice, he laments, "Oh, I was a fool, a fool to learn so late what wisdom is!" This moment of self-awareness is a form of verbal irony, as Creon has to admit his own foolishness after stubbornly defending his decisions throughout the play.
Overall, the use of verbal irony in "Antigone" adds depth and complexity to the characters and the plot, highlighting the contrast between their words and their true intentions and underscoring the tragic consequences of human pride and stubbornness.