Antigone- Greek Theatre

Antigone

by Sophocles

outdoor theatres

Festival- god of wine Dionysos

play competitions

no curtains for scene changes

chorus sang songs

actors wear masks onstage

no violence or irreverence onstage

although both were central to plots

violence offstage:

through dialogue

FORMAT

Prologue: presents

background to

situate the conflict

Parados:

opening song

First Scene

Chorus' song-

called an ode-

divides scenes

like a modern curtain

Chorus:

interprets the play

Chorus leader- choragos;

talks to the rest of the chorus;

chorus moves around the stage

but do not (often) interact with characters

Greek Theatre

three plays: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone

Antigone is last, but written first

Oedipus background:

Oedipus was abandoned at birth

by his parents- king and queen of Thebes

fortuneteller claimed the infant

would kill the father, marry the mother

trusted a servant

to kill the baby

gave him to a childless couple

who never told him his identity

killed a man in Thebes (his father)

becomes a hero

of Thebes

widowed queen agrees

to marry the champion

happily raised

four children until...

Plague!!!

during an investigation...

Oedipus learns the truth:

he killed his father!

he married his mother!

queen

commits suicide!

Oedipus pokes

his own eyes out!

Creon takes over Kingdom;

Antigone takes her father

to exile and he dies.

civil war between Oedipus'

sons ends with them killing each other.

Eteocles supported Creon

and is buried with honors

Polynieces rebelled against Thebes,

so his corpse is left out to rot

Antigone decides to disobey

Creon's command and bury her brother

set up for another...

The Oedipus Myth

Antigone tells her sister she will defy the King and bury their brother

Ismene begs her not to, claiming they are only women and aren't strong enough to stand against men

Antigone-

"yeah, right"

Creon tries to explain why letting a

royal prince rot in the sun is the

right thing to do; he is "so wise"- he says so himself

and really...

who would defy a King?

the daughter of a different

King, perhaps? Oh, yeah!

of course, this girl is promised

to be married to Creon's son Haimon

Wait, that would make them....

cousins????

GREEK

TRAGEDY!!

MOVING ON!!!

the sentry reports to Creon that the body has been buried against his decree

Who would dare do such a thing?

but why????

"Your edict, King, was strong, but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal laws of God."

makes sense- what do you think, Creon?

"Who is the man here, she or I, if this crime goes unpunished?"

Wait, what? You think obeying God's laws over your own makes you less of a man? No wonder Ismene thought she couldn't stand against the men- they're crazy!

"There is no guilt in reverence for the dead."

Creon tries to defend himself against Antigone, but her logic outmaneuvers him. He gives up and waits to condemn Ismene, too.

ismene tries to follow her sister into death, but Antigone refuses her offer.

Everyone begs Creon to change his mind- to have mercy- to let Antigone live.

Creon makes fun of both girls- misogynous jerk. He puts them under armed guards.

Chorus begs Creon to reconsider.

Creon mocks them as well... game over.

Antigone