Antigone is the conclusion to Sophocles' pseudo-trilogy that scholars sometimes refer to as "the Theban plays." It chronicles Antigone's decision to ignore Creon's earthly edict in order to obey a higher law - the law of nature, the law of the gods - in burying her brother Polynices. In so doing, the play deals with several societal issues - the importance of civil versus natural law, the nature of citizenship (and how it can be lost, as by Polynices in rebellion), the meaning of family, and so forth.
The true tragic nature of Antigone is not that many of the characters die. Antigone dies, but only after she fulfills her duty to her brother; Haimon dies, but only because he would rather die than live without Antigone. Creon, in fact, survives the play outright, but suffers horribly from the results of his decree.
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