Antigone was also the one that said “no” to almost everything. Antigone was a very strong headed girl and she was very focused and determined to bury her own brother Polynices. One of the most significant event was that when Antigone said no to the king and insisted on burying Polynices. She didn’t follow the secular law, the law that the king uphold and followed. This brings out her character and also it helps in the plot development. This showed that Antigone believed that what she was doing was right. She had all the reasons to bury Polynices and she was not scared to face her own death. Antigone can’t hate but love, this was one of the most important reason why she tried to bury Polynices. Although she knew that she was going to be killed but she believed “that she owed it to him” to give him a good burial. This was the reason in which Antigone was finally killed. “I didn't say yes. I can say no to anything I say vile, and I don't have to count the cost. But because you said yes, all that you can do, for all your crown and your trappings, and your guards—all that your can do is to have me killed”, this whole line shows that Antigone said no to all that was vile, King Creon didn’t actually want to execute Antigone but he had to as it was his own rule that anyone that tries to bury the body of Polynices will be put to death.
Another event which is significant is when Antigone said no to her nurse. Her nurse was like a mother to Antigone. She had been taking care of Antigone the whole time. She serves as a comfort for Antigone, “I can hold your calloused hand, your hand that is so prompt to ward off evil”, this line shows that Antigone needed her nurse and that she helps her to ward off all the evils. But then the nurse accused her of going out at night to meet a lover and Antigone didn’t tell her the truth. Antigone was repeatedly asked what was wrong with her, but she never told her nurse the truth. “Where is your pain”, the nurse asked Antigone but she didn’t reply and just replied “nowhere”. Antigone constantly said “no” to her nurse and didn’t tell her what she had done. Then Antigone told her nurse to promise to take care of her dog. This event shows that Antigone knew that she was going to be killed, but then she was not afraid. She was very sure that whatever she has done was the right thing to do and she did not regret and was not sorry for whatever she has done.
King Creon was also very persistent believed and couldn’t say no to the law he has made. His tragic flaw was that he was self- righteous and he believed that the divine law can be replaced by the human law and he believed that every women like Antigone should be killed or put to death so there will be natural balance and that no woman can ever best a man. One of the most important conversation in the play was when Antigone said “no to you, and die”, then Creon replied by saying that “it is very easy to say no”(pg 51). This whole conversation shows the state of confusion that Creon and Antigone Is in and it also shows the grudge Antigone had.
Saying “no” in the play Antigone is very significant in giving or revealing the character of each of the character and also it helps in the plot development. It also gives us an account of each of the character attitude towards life.
