Creon warns against those who defy the state: "Such the spirit of my dealing; and never, by deed of mine, shall the wicked stand in honour before the just; but whoso hath good will to Thebes, he shall be honoured of me, in his life and in his death."
Heamon warns Creon that he will kill himself if Antigone is put to death: "Then she must die, and in death destroy another."
Of madness, the Chorus sings: "And bonds tamed the son of Dryas, swift to wrath, that king of the Edonians; so paid he for his frenzied taunts, when, by the will of Dionysus, he was pent in a rocky prison. There the fierce exuberance of his madness slowly passed away."
Later, the Chorus speaks of it again: "Lo, yonder the king himself draws near, bearing that which tells too clear a tale,-the work of no stranger's madness,-if we may say it,-but of his own misdeeds."
And the Chorus again: "Love, unconquered in the fight, Love, who makest havoc of wealth, who keepest thy vigil on the soft cheek of a maiden; thou roamest over the sea, and among the homes of dwellers in the wilds; no immortal can escape thee, nor any among men whose life is for a day; and he to whom thou hast come is mad."
"Death" is mentioned no less than 28 times in the play. Antigone certainly has a death wish. Death is equated with honor throughout the play. So says Creon: "Such the spirit of my dealing; and never, by deed of mine, shall the wicked stand in honour before the just; but whoso hath good will to Thebes, he shall be honoured of me, in his life and in his death."
It is ironic that Creon does not die at the end, as I think he feels most guilty for the deaths of his entire family.
The Leader of the Chorus says this: "No man is so foolish that he is enamoured of death."
Ironically, it is a woman who is enamoured with it.
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