Sophocles' Antigone explores the characters of Antigone and Haemon as rebels. They both rebel against Kreon, who is a greater power, but in distinctly different ways. Antigone stays steadfast to her beliefs as she defies the king of Thebes, while Haemon challenges his own father's inflexibility and stubbornness. Furthermore, Kreon's views on rebellion enable a greater understanding of how Antigone and Haemon can be considered rebels and though both characters defend their positions admirably, they are inevitably punished for their rebellious conduct. Antigone and Haemon find the strength to rebel against an unwavering powerful figure of authority, and though their deaths are tragic, they serve to teach Kreon the pitfalls of rigidity and arrogance. .
Antigone and Haemon can be considered rebels as they rebel against a greater power, in this case, Kreon. Antigone rebels against her uncle, the king of Thebes, when she fights to allow a proper burial of her brother, Polynices. Kreon has created a law which states that no one is allowed to mourn the death of Polynices and that he must rot instead of having a proper burial. Even with these restrictions, Antigone proclaims that Polynices is her brother and that: "[She] will not be caught betraying him" (Antigone, line 46). She represents a strong woman in a very male dominated society, who not only rebels against a man, but, more impressively, against the king of Thebes. Antigone's rebellion indicates how much she values her beliefs and how she will let no one stop her from doing what she considers morally correct. In addition, Haemon also rebels against a greater power, who is his father, Kreon. Haemon believes his father is too rigid: "And when a man in power keeps taut/his ship's rigging and yields not a bit,/he overturns the ship and navigates upside down."(lines 715-717). The symbolism of the ship is effective in emphasizing how misguided power can lead to disaster.
