DRAMA

Antigone

—Prof. Mara Luna

—Introduction to Literature II

—Samuel Urrutia

—Javier Noriega

—Playwright

—Sophocles (497/6 BC – winter 406/5 BC) is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides. According to the Suda, a 10th century encyclopedia, Sophocles wrote 123 plays during the course of his life, but only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus.

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—About the play

—It is a tragedy.

—Written in or before 441 BC.

—Antigone was written at a time of national fervor. In 441 BC, shortly after the play was released, Sophocles was appointed as one of the ten generals to lead a military expedition against Samos.

—It is important to read it because “it makes your life seem a lot more cheerful.” –Wade Bradford

—Setting

—Is set in that disaster-prone city-state known as Thebes.

—In the fifth century B.C.

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—Plot

—Oedipus was banished from Thebes, when the prophecy of patricide and incest was proven true. Oedipus left Thebes a blind and broken man. Creon took over the throne because Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, were too young to become rulers. As time passed, and the two sons aged, Eteocles claimed the throne for himself, exiling his older brother Polyneices. Polyneices then gathered a giant army and attacked Eteocles for the throne. Neither of the two sons won because they both ended up killing each other in battle.

—Creon then resumes power and declares that Eteocles will have a proper burial; however, Polyneices’ body will be left for the dogs and vultures to eat, as a punishment for his disgrace. Antigone, Polyneices’ sister, then learns of such news and decides that she must give her brother a proper burial. Her sister, Ismene, warns her against the dangers and consequences and states that she will not have any part in helping her sister with her scheme. Antigone then goes to her brothers’ guarded body and pours dirt and sand over him, performing the proper burial rights.

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—As guards brush the dirt off the body, she reveals herself willingly. Creon is enraged and imprisons both Antigone and Ismene, who he believes to be an accomplice. Creon’s son, Haemon, pleads with his father to release Antigone, his bride-to-be. Creon ridicules Haemon for his ridiculous thoughts of freeing Antigone. Haemon then runs off, crushed that his father would treat his so badly. Creon then states that Ismene’s innocence is clear and that only Antigone should be punished, so he takes Antigone to a cave outside the city and buries her alive. Teiresias, the blind prophet then warns Creon that the gods are unhappy for the lack of proper burial and that his son’s death shall be the punishment.

—Creon mocks Teiresias, but the chorus reminds Creon that the prophet has never been wrong. Now worried for his son’s life, Creon performs the proper burial rituals for Polyneices’ body. Creon then rushes to free Antigone, but it is too late, she is dead, and Haemon has killed himself for her. A broken man, Creon returns to the kingdom only to learn that his wife, Eurydice, has killed herself after learning about her son’s death. Creon is then lead away by the chorus, lamenting in his own self misery.

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—Characters

—Antigone(Protagonist)- She is the oldest daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.

—Ismene- She is the youngest daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.

—Creon(Antagonist)- He is Jocasta’s brother and the ruler of Thebes. He is also Haemon’s father.

—Haemon- He is Creon’s son.

—Polyneices- He is the eldest son of Oedipus and Jocasta.

—Eteocles- He is the younger son of Oedipus and Jocasta, and is the younger brother to Polyneices.

—Eurydice- Creon's wife and Haemon's mother.

—Teiresias or Tiresias- A blind prophet who warns Creon that the gods do not approve of his treatment of Polyneices' body or the punishment of Antigone.

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—Conflict

—Internal conflict- The internal conflict of “Antigone” is that she disregard Creons law and act according to divine law. Antigone respected the living and the dead. She was against Creons law that the disloyal Theban dead are to be left above ground and exposed to the elements, dogs, and birds, etc.

—External Conflict- The external conflict is between Antigone and Creon in whether or not to bury Polyneices. Creon has declared that the body of Polynices may not be given a proper burial because he led the forces that invaded Thebes, but Antigone wishes to give her brother a proper burial.

—Complication- The complication is that Antigone buries Polyneices, but is caught and brought to Creon. Antigone challenges Creon’s decision and moral authority to prohibit the burial.

—Plot Structure

—Exposition- Antigone arrives in Thebes and finds that her brothers are dead, and finds out that Polyneices’s body isn’t buried and that there is a royal edict against burying him.

—Rising Action- Antigone decides to bury her brother but gets caught doing it.

—Climax- Creon sentences Antigone to death and locks her away.

—Falling action- Creon decides to release Antigone

—Conclusion- When Creon arrives to release Antigone, he finds that she, Haemon, and his wife have all killed themselves.

—Play Segment

—I didn't say yes. I can say no to anything I say vile, and I don't have to count the cost. But because you said yes, all that you can do, for all your crown and your trappings, and your guards—all that your can do is to have me killed.

—Analysis:

—The political heroism in Antigone's resistance is her refusal of state power. Antigone says no to all she finds vile, and in this sense she is more powerful than the ruler beholden to his throne. Despite all his trappings of power, Creon finds himself helpless, unable to act on his own. He wants not to execute Antigone but cannot help ordering her death. Having said yes to state power, he is circumscribed by his own kingship, by very the throne that makes him the master of the land. He has surrendered himself entirely to the state and knows his circumscription all too well. Unlike Antigone, he has completely ceded his desires to take upon the mantle of governance. Creon is rendered loathsome, terrified of what his office requires of him and yet unable to act otherwise.

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—Movie Version

—Antigone is a 1961 Greek film adaptation of the Ancient Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. Directed by Georges Tzavellas

—Actors:

—Irene Papas - Antigone

—Manos Katrakis - Creon

—Maro Kodou - Ismene

—Nikos Kazis - Haemon

—Ilia Livykou - Eurydice

—Giannis Argyris - A Sentry

—Byron Pallis - A Messenger

—Tzavalas Karousos - Tieresias

—Thodoros Moridis - First Elder of Thebes

—Giorgos Vlahopoulos - Elder of Thebes

—Yorgos Karetas - Elder of Thebes

—Thanasis Kefalopoulos - Elder of Thebes

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—Link of Full movie- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suN2Pq6qoKE

—Personal Opinion

—What did you think about the play?

—It is an entertaining  play but in our personal opinion it is not a play that we would go and see if it’s not a class assignment.

—Did you like it or not?

—We did liked the play because its entertaining but we prefer a comedy.

—Would you recommend it to someone else?

—We would recommend it to someone that enjoys tragic plays.

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