Antigone

Ismene is the sister of Antigone and fellow daughter of Oedipus. Though she is a respectful young woman, her behavior in the instance of Polyneikes’ death is less honorable than Antigone’s. This contrast is shown in Scene 1, when Antigone asks her to help bury Polyneikes, and Ismene refuses due to fear of breaking her uncle’s law. Ismene is a foil of Antigone, a mirrored character who helps to reveal Antigone’s nature. 

Kreon is king of Thebes, brother to Oedipus’ wife, Jocasta, and brother-in-law to Oedipus. Like Antigone, Kreon is determined and headstrong; however, the law he is determined to serve is not divine law but his own law as king. Kreon views obedience to the law as the most important quality of any person but fails to recognize that he himself is acting in disobedience to laws that trump his own. This (willful) ignorance of divine law is his tragic flaw, leading to the death not only of his niece but also of his son and wife. To an Athenian audience, Kreon would represent the foolishness and fallibility of despotism. 

The purpose of the Greek Chorus is to comment and provide context on the action of the play for the audience, as well as to connect the story to other myths. In Antigone, the Chorus is a group of elderly Theban men who are by default deferential to the will of the king, though this perspective seems to flip back and forth over the course of the play. Notably, the Chorus finally persuades Kreon to save Antigone.

Haimon is the son of Kreon, future king of Thebes and future husband of Antigone. Like Antigone, Haimon represents a strongly principled youth who contrasts the fickler principles of the elderly Kreon and his Chorus. In his argument with his father, Haimon attempts to hold Kreon to a higher moral standard and exemplifies strong reason, showing his kingly qualities. The death of Haimon, which constitutes the end of Kreon’s line, adds to the tragedy of Antigone.