Antigone, written by Sophocles, is one of the three dramatic plays with a tragic ending. There are many themes in this play, however in order to understand this play in depth, there are three major themes the reader must identify. These themes are hubris, or better known as pride, Antigone's gender, and Individual versus State; Conscience versus Law; Moral or Divine Law versus Human Law. These three themes are not only interrelated, but also fit in, throughout the course of the play.
             Pride and its effects are a central part of Antigone. It is a trait despised by the gods, who bring suffering to the proud, but to the Greek mind pride is also an inextricable part of greatness. Both Antigone and Creon are incredibly proud, making it impossible for either one of them to back down once they have taken a stand. Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. Since most women in those days would not have the courage to stand up for what is right, pride makes Antigone "stand out from the crowd." Creon is also very proud of who he is, which is why this conflict seems to follow wherever he is present. Pride is what causes Creon, as well as Antigone and Oedipus to fall. Creon becomes a tragic hero at the end of the play because of his hubris; he looses his son, wife, and what would have been future daughter-in-law. Pride is a complex and a concept in Greek tragedy; it is discussed in greater depth in Oedipus Rex
             The next theme is three conflicts that seem very closely related they are: Individual versus State; Conscience versus Law; Moral or Divine Law versus Human Law. These basic sets of pairings help to untangle some of the central issues of the play. Antigone follows her moral law, which is to bury her brother in order to respect him, which is the right thing to do in Antigone's eyes. Creon follows human law, which is to punish Antigone for defying the king's orders and burying Polyneices anyway. The conflict between the in...