Antigone's Wise Decision

Every day, every person on earth has to make decisions. Whether they are good or bad depends on the consequences. In the Greek play Antigone by Sophocles, the character Antigone makes the best decision in the play when she decides to burry her brother. Antigone is unselfish, respectful, and virtuous, therefore, she makes the finest decision in the play.

Also, Antigone's decision is wise because it shows her unselfishness through her action. Although her deed is wrong in the eyes of the law, it is true in her heart. On page 188, Antigone says, "But I will bury him; and if I must die...I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as him to me." She shows she is prepared to sacrifice herself for her brother, which is very unselfish.

Soon afterward, Antigone finds that she is alone in her belief that her brother deserves a proper burial. For her, it is more important to respect her brother than to ignore his decomposing body. On page 205 Antigone says, "There is no guilt in reverence for the dead." She realizes the importance of her actions and is willing to stand up for them, which shows how respectful she is.

Finally, Antigone stands up for what she thinks is correct even when everyone else thinks she is immoral. Antigone asks her sister to help her. Her sister refuses because she is afraid of what will happen to her. So Antigone acts alone. Even when Antigone is persecuted, she stands up for what she thinks is the right thing to do. On page 203 Antigone says, "...think me a fool if you like; but it may well be that a fool convicts me of folly." Antigone is being persecuted my highest authority, Creon, and she faces him coolly and self-assuredly, being conscious that what she is doing is virtuous.

Therefore, in view of the fact that Antigone is unselfish, respectful, and virtuous, she makes the wisest decision in the play. At the end of the play, Antigone dies, but Creon's son and wife kill themselves. Creon is stuck with massive guilt and 3 important people dead.