Challenges & Opportunities of Teaching Antigone

Antigone is one of those pieces of literature which everybody just has to read. This play is guaranteed to never go out of style, as its themes and conflicts will most likely always remain topical. The play touches on such ideas of Church vs. State, Humans vs. Nature, Man vs. Woman, civil disobedience, and many more thematic conflicts that your students will immediately understand.

The play’s characters are also very easy to understand from a modern standpoint. It’s not hard for students to root for the upstart Antigone as she struggles to do what she thinks is right no matter the cost. Of course, it’s equally easy to understand Ismene, who just wants to avoid trouble. Even Creon is relatable as he desperately tries to maintain order in his war-torn city.