Why is Antigone so tragic?

Antigone is a tragic figure because she is caught in a conflict between two equally valid moral imperatives. On the one hand, she feels a duty to obey the laws of the gods and bury her brother Polynices, who has been declared a traitor by the state. On the other hand, she knows that if she defies the state's orders, she will be punished severely, possibly even with death.

Antigone's tragedy is that she is ultimately unable to resolve this conflict. She chooses to bury her brother, but in doing so, she seals her own fate. Her death is a waste, because it could have been avoided if she had been able to find a compromise between her two obligations.

Antigone's tragedy is also a reflection of the larger conflict between the individual and the state. In any society, there is a tension between the rights of the individual and the power of the state. Antigone's story shows us how this tension can lead to tragedy.

Antigone is also tragic because she is aware of the consequences of her actions but chooses to act anyway. She knows that Creon will punish her if she defies his order, but she still buries her brother. This shows that Antigone is not simply a victim of fate; she is also an active agent in her own tragedy.

Finally, Antigone is tragic because her death is pointless. She does not achieve anything by defying Creon; in fact, she only makes things worse. Her death is a waste, because it could have been avoided if she had been willing to compromise.