Summary

A Messenger arrives and speaks of how Creon once was envied for his power and sense of justice, but now is to be pitied, revealing to the Chorus that Haemon has committed suicide. As the Chorus realizes the truth of Teresias’ prophecy, Eurydice (Creon’s wife and Haemon’s mother) enters from the palace, saying she heard what the Messenger said as she was coming out to make her morning prayers and asking him to say exactly what happened. The Messenger says that after he accompanied Creon to where Polyneices’ body had been left, they discovered that it had been savaged by wild animals. As they were finishing burying it appropriately, they heard cries of grief coming from Antigone’s cave. Creon, the Messenger says, recognized the voice as Haemon’s and rushed to the cave, where he (Creon) discovered that Antigony had hung...