The climax is always the
most emotional moment of the story, but also the moment
that points towards the resolution. While the resolution
does not yet take place, the audience/reader can definitely see an unwinding in the
story line begin to take shape.
While the moment that Antigone is led
to the tomb is certainly very emotional, the action of the play continues from that
point, so the climax occurs further into the play. The climax actually occurs after
Tiresias has relayed his prophecy of doom and Creon has finally
relented and asked the chorus for advice on what to do. After they advise
him to release Antigone, he finally yields and says:
Alas, it is hard, but I give up what my heart
wished to do
...
I bound her and I will go and release
her,
for I fear that it is best to keep
the established laws as
long as one lives. (1114-15,
1120-23).
When Creon says
"the established laws" he is referring to the laws of the gods and finally
yielding to Antigone's belief that he should not have passed a decree
that attempted to overthrow the gods' authority. However, we soon learn that Creon has
changed his mind too late. Soon after this, we learn that Haemon, Antigone, and Creon's
wife have all committed suicide, leading us to Creon's devastation and the tragic
resolution of the play.
Therefore, the
climax of the play is the moment when Creon
finally relents and changes his mind, but all too
late.
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