Athens

Sophocles’s Antigone, the last stage in a series of works, was not directly catered to the situation of Athens during that time (estimated to be either 443 or 441BC). There was a great sense of nationality being that Athens prior had signed a peace treaty with Persia, named the Peace of Callias, in 450/449 BC. The country had also waged war against Sparta in 449-448 BC, known as the Second Sacred War, furthering their need to come together as a nation. Though not in direct correlation with its time and events, Antigone has elements that Athenians would agree with in a political stance. The tyranny of Creon is the main objection Antigone faces through this last segment, in this, the Athenians who hold strong democratic views would find themselves against such actions.

These strong principles in the theme of the play are further amplified through Antigone, who is a female/women who defies that which is wrong. Aristotle had the view that “It is not appropriate in a female character to be manly and clever.” Sophocles created a play with contradicting views of the popular Athenian philosopher (an uncommon perspective which conflicted with Athenian values), also creating a tyrant in which Athenians would naturally disagree with (and find themselves on the side of Antigone and the people of Thebes). It’s assumed that because of such strong democratic and nationalistic themes in Antigone, Sophocles was appointed in Athens as one the ten generals in leading a military expedition against Samos (Greek City-State).