Siblings in Sophocles' Antigone

This thesis explores the sibling relationship in Sophocles' Antigone. In the first chapter, I provide a philological analysis of the words different characters use to discuss siblings in the tragedy. Here, I identify how Antigone and Ismene emphasize their status as overly-connected siblings by means of the sibling vocabulary they use. In the second chapter, I analyze how both sisters (not Antigone alone) demonstrate their sibling affection. I propose that Ismene displays an equally strong loyalty to Antigone as Antigone does to Polynices. In the final chapter, I offer a new interpretation of the third stasimon, the ode to Eros. Here, I suggest that Eros refers to the powerful force of love which can operate both erotically and non-erotically. This (non-erotic) force is what drives both Antigone and Ismene to act on behalf of their siblings, despite the danger which accompanies these actions. Through this thesis, I attempt to show how the sibling-connection is essential to Antigone, as is evident from the first line of the tragedy.