The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles' Antigone Book

Antigone is one of my favorite heroines. From the first time I read it when I was 13 years-old I felt an affinity. A young women determined to fulfill her duty and therefore entitled to honor, what more is needed to rile the spirit. Tack on sacrifice and the pledge of undying love--PERFECT! *young adolescent self swoons*

My trouble lies with too much familiarity. This version is an excellent updating of the translation with more modern language. I confess that I was a little off-put by some of the exchanges, especially between Creon and the Guard. So, I compared versions.

Heaney's Antigone is feistier and more resolute than Storr's 1912 version. I have no idea which version I read at 13, but it was neither of these. See differences below.

Heaney's version:
ANTIGONE: You can't just pluck your honour off a bush you didn't plant. You forfeited your right.

Storr's version:
ANTIGONE: Claim not a work in which thou hadst no hand;
One death sufficeth. Wherefore should'st thou die?

Now the guard exchange is the one where Heaney felt a bit off to me, like the guard was too informal in his speech during what is an official exchange.

Heaney's version:
CREON: And what I'm telling you is this; unless you expose the guilty party to me,
You'll rue the day you bought into this plot.
Exit CREON

GUARD: O, yes, of course, expose him! Bring him in
But be that as may be, this much is sure:
Yours truly won't be back her in a hurry.

Me that was done for!
Ye gods! Ye gods!
I'm off.

Storr's version:
CREON: Go, quibble with thy reason. If thou fail'st
To find these malefactors, thou shalt own
The wages of ill-gotten gains is death.
Exit CREON

GUARD: I pray he may be found. But caught or not
(And fortune must determine that) thou never
Shalt see me here returning; that is sure.
For past all hope or thought I have escaped,
And for my safety owe the gods much thanks.

I'm probably overthinking this. I still love Antigone and I actually like that Heaney made her even more determined and less mealy-mouthed. It just felt odd. Not bad, but like putting on a pair a shoes you haven't worn in a while only to find they aren't quite like you remember.

I recommend this for readers who'd like a more approachable version, less stilted and less honorifics in speech.