Sophocles brilliantly expresses numerous themes throughout his story Antigone. The themes are all typical themes in Greek drama and literature. The three most prominent themes expressed by Sophocles in Antigone are determinism, human happiness and its price, and social status. These themes are the backbone of Antigone's plot.

Determinism, as in most Greek drama, is one of the most important themes displayed in Sophocles' Antigone. Antigone is fated to follow in the footsteps of her doomed father Oedipus. Oedipus curses the life of Antigone by accident and Antigone is never the same after that. "I think of the bitter life in days to come which men will make you live." (P.113) Antigone is fated to follow the divine law. By burying Polynices, Antigone follows the laws of the gods, but disobeys the instructions of Creon. These actions lead to her death by suicide. Antigone is fated to die...