Page "Antigone (Sophocles)" Paragraph 15

The German poet Friedrich Hölderlin, whose translation of the play had strong impact on Heidegger's reading, brings out a more subtle reading of the play: he focuses on Antigone's legal and political status within the palace, her privilege to be the hearth ( according to the legal instrument of the epiklerate ) and thus protected by Zeus.

According to the legal practice of classical Athens, Creon is obliged to marry his closest relative ( Haemon ) to the late king's daughter in an inverted marriage rite, which would oblige Haemon to produce a son and heir for his dead father in law.

Creon would be deprived of grandchildren and heirs to his lineage-a fact which provides a strong realistic motif for his hatred against Antigone.

This modern and realistic perspective has remained submerged for a long time.

The play collection named " The Oedipus Cycle " which was translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald also includes the play " Antigone ", accurately written in English.