Antigone

When does individual conscience supersede the law of the state, and what is the cost of standing up for what we believe is right? Antigone is one of Sophocles' most powerful and enduring tragedies—a profound exploration of civil disobedience, moral courage, and the conflict between divine law and human authority. Written around 441 BCE, the play has inspired countless movements for justice and individual rights, from the American civil rights movement to resistance against totalitarian regimes. Through the story of a young woman who defies the king's decree to honor her conscience and family duty, Sophocles creates a timeless meditation on the relationship between individual integrity and state power, the nature of justice, and the tragic consequences when two opposing goods come into irreconcilable conflict.

The play opens in the aftermath of civil war in Thebes, where Antigone faces an impossible choice between obeying the king's law and honoring what she believes to be a higher moral duty. King Creon has decreed that one of her brothers, declared a traitor, must remain unburied—a terrible fate in Greek culture that condemns the soul to wander eternally. Antigone must decide whether to obey the state or follow her conscience and the unwritten laws of the gods. As the conflict unfolds between Antigone's unwavering moral conviction and Creon's equally firm belief in the necessity of law and order, Sophocles reveals the tragedy that occurs when two principled people refuse to compromise. This acclaimed translation by Richard Emil Braun presents both characters with nuance and complexity, showing Antigone's heroism alongside her harshness, and Creon's principles alongside his stubbornness.

For contemplative readers, Antigone offers profound meditation on conscience, duty, and the nature of justice. The work asks: When is it right to disobey the law? What is the relationship between human law and divine or moral law? How do we balance individual conscience with social order? What is the cost of standing up for our principles, and when does principle become destructive pride? How do we navigate conflicts between competing goods—family duty and civic duty, individual rights and collective security? What makes someone truly heroic, and what is the difference between courage and stubbornness? The play becomes a timeless exploration of moral courage, the limits of authority, and the human capacity to choose integrity even at the cost of life itself.

What You'll Discover

• One of the most influential Greek tragedies on civil disobedience and moral courage
• The story of a woman who defies the king to honor her conscience and family duty
• Profound exploration of individual rights vs. state authority, divine law vs. human law
• Balanced portrayal of two principled characters in tragic conflict
• Themes of justice, integrity, family duty, and the cost of standing up for beliefs
• Richard Emil Braun's acclaimed translation with scholarly insight
• Part of the Greek Tragedy in New Translations series
• A timeless inspiration for movements for justice and human rights

Sophocles (c. 497–406 BCE) wrote Antigone around 441 BCE as part of the Theban plays, though it was written first chronologically. The play has had an extraordinary influence on Western thought about justice, individual rights, and civil disobedience. From Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" to resistance movements against tyranny throughout history, Antigone has served as a symbol of moral courage and the individual's duty to conscience over unjust law. This translation by Richard Emil Braun, part of the acclaimed Greek Tragedy in New Translations series, offers a nuanced interpretation that reveals the complexity of both Antigone and Creon, presenting not a simple conflict between good and evil but a tragic collision of two opposing principles, both with legitimate claims.

Perfect for: Students of Greek tragedy and classical literature, readers who loved Oedipus Rex and other Sophocles plays, those interested in civil disobedience and moral philosophy, contemplative readers exploring conscience, duty, and justice, anyone drawn to stories of moral courage and standing up for principles, scholars of political philosophy and human rights, readers seeking inspiration for living with integrity in the face of unjust authority.

Paperback edition. Sophocles' powerful tragedy—offering contemplative wisdom on moral courage, civil disobedience, and the conflict between individual conscience and state authority through one of the most inspiring and philosophically rich plays in world literature.