Sophocles' 'Antigone' Told Through GIFs From 'Parks and Rec'

If you've been assigned to read Antigone for a class, you may be looking for an easy way to understand it. The following is a (very simplified) explanation. Of course, I encourage you to read the play itself, but this may help you out with the general plot so you can spend more time on analysis.

Antigone has two dead brothers. One brother, Polyneices, will not be buried, because he was seen as a traitor.

In short... Polyneices is dead. RIP.

Antigone decides she wants to bury Polyneices, despite it being illegal to do so.

She feels burying her brother is her right as a woman, as well as the wish of the gods.

Antigone asks her sister, Ismene, for help.

Ismene thinks burying Polyneices is a horrible idea. She doesn't want to break the law; she fears for Antigone's safety if she goes forward with the burial. Antigone tells Ismene she is unafraid, and she values honor, love, and the requests of the gods more than her own life. Ismene ultimately refuses to help bury their brother.

Antigone, being the stubborn rebel that she is, sprinkles dirt on the body of Polyneices, then gets arrested.

Creon isn't very pleased with her actions. It's worth pointing out here that Creon is also the uncle of Antigone. You may think he would try and show some lenience to family, but he can't risk losing his power as a new ruler and has to stand his ground. The law is law.

Antigone admits her guilt to Creon. She doesn't understand Creaon's laws.

Antigone tells Creon it is in her nature to show her traitorous brother forgiveness and to honor him despite the events that occurred just before his death.

Creon replies by telling her he won't have a woman tell him what to do.

Creon knows he has a glorious female warrior on his hands.

Ismene finally shows up and attempts to share the blame for Antigone's actions.

Antigone really isn't too impressed with this. She's actually proud of breaking the law and wants to take responsibility. She gets sentenced to death in a tomb.

Haemon, son of Creon (and cousin/ex-fiancé of Antigone), tries to convince his father to be a little forgiving of Antigone.

He thinks Creon doesn't really know what he's doing. Creon doesn't listen, and tells him to leave.

Tiresias, the prophet, attempts to talk some sense into Creon.

He warns Creon that Antigone isn't forgiven and if Polyneices is left unburied, he and Thebes will be punished by the gods. Creon doesn't give a f**k about what this prophet has to say. But the chorus is terrified of this prophecy.

Because of the chorus, Creon goes to free Antigone... But it's already too late.

Antigone doen't want to die a a slow and miserable death, so she hangs herself. RIP Antigone.

Devastated by Antigone's death, Haemon stabs himself and dies.

RIP Haemon.

Devastated by Haemon's death, his mother (and Creon's wife), Eurydice, stabs herself and dies.

Creon is told that before Eurydice dies, she was cursing the misery his pride brought on their family. RIP Eurydice.

It's a bad, bad day for Creon.

Sorry dude, but you sort of had it coming. He finishes by crying a bit and the chorus sing their final ode.

Antigone is pretty much the ultimate badass. Because she is so unafraid and determined, it's no surprise the play is titled after her instead of Creon.

Good luck with your studies—if this helped you out, be sure to share it with your classmates. Have a wonderfully waffle-filled day!