Antigone and Ismene meet outside the palace gates. Antigone explains Creon’s edict that honours Eteocles with a proper burial while condemning Polyneices to lie unburied, and urges Ismene to help her bury their brother. Ismene refuses, arguing that women should obey the state and fearing the law’s wrath. Antigone declares she will act alone and vows to bury Polyneices herself.

A chorus sings of the recent war, the fall of the Argive invaders, and the double fratricide of Oedipus’s sons. Creon then addresses the elders, proclaiming his edict: Polyneices must not receive burial rites, and anyone who disobeys will be put to death. He orders guards to watch the corpse.

A guard arrives, reporting that Antigone was caught in the act of burying Polyneices, describing how she seized a brazen urn and poured libations before the guards seized her. Creon interrogates Antigone; she openly admits the burial, claiming higher divine law over human decree and accepting the penalty. Creon sentences her to be immured alive in a rock‑cave.

Ismene, hearing the verdict, steps forward and claims she shared Antigone’s crime, hoping to split the punishment, but Antigone rebukes her, insisting she acted alone. Ismene retreats, accepting her sister’s fate.

Haemon, Creon’s son and Antigone’s betrothed, enters and pleads with his father, arguing that the people sympathise with Antigone and that stubborn authority will bring disaster. He cites the counsel of the commons and warns Creon that the gods favour mercy. Creon rebuffs Haemon, insisting the law must stand.

The blind prophet Teiresias is summoned. He warns Creon that the gods are angered by the denial of burial rites for Polyneices and curses Creon, predicting plague and ruin if he does not free Antigone. Creon dismisses the seer as a profiteer.

After prolonged debate, Creon remains unmoved and orders the execution of his edict: Antigone is to be sealed alive in the cave. He commands his guards to enforce the sentence.

A messenger then reports the aftermath: Antigone’s defiant burial and Haemon’s protest have led to tragedy. Eurydice, Creon’s wife, arrives at the palace, learns of the events, faints, and later, in grief over her son’s death and the ruin of the house, takes her own life.

The chorus reflects on the ruin brought by stubborn authority, the inevitability of divine justice, and the sorrow that has befallen Thebes.