Antigone

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Antigone

• Kerry Fiallo, Ashley Reichelmann, Jennifer Seals,
  Robin Shoblock

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Sophocles (496-406 B.C.E.)

• Authored approximately 120 dramas
• Age 16 led the boys chorus over the Persian
  Victory
• Model Greek citizen-served as imperial treasurer
  and state commissioner, elected to the office of
  the general twice Priest of Asclepias
• Sophocles did not act in his own plays

• Contributions to the development of theater
• Introduction of third actor
• Reduction of chorus size which led to greater
  emphasis on the character
• Introduced painted scenery
• Introduced a new style of music to plays
• Created characters that are more realistic,
  not god-like thus reinforcing the lessons of
  the play

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Early Productions

• The chorus is introduced by a trumpet signaling
  the start of the play. They enter in a
  triangular pattern and exit at the end of the
  tragedy in the same manner.
• Some believe the chorus may have actually sung
  and danced to emphasize the important issues of
  the play
• The chorus used conventional hand gestures so
  even the peasants could understand the drama.
• In true Greek spirit the play was performed as
  part of a competition, Agones, in a festival
  called City of Dionyus. (Sophocles came in
  second).

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Myth of Antigone
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Antigone and Poetics

• Character and Tragic Error
• The tragic hero is the sort of person who is not
  outstanding in moral excellence or justice (21).
  
• Creon He can be commended for his loyalty to the
  state, but he can be reviled for his
  stubbornness and pride.
• The bad fortune should befall the tragic hero not
  from a personal flaw but from a hamartia, or an
  undeserved outside source (xxxiii).
• Antigone, or at least her actions against the
  ruling of Creon.
• Antigone is the catalyst for Creons downfall.

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Antigone and Poetics

• Plot
• Entire plot of Antigone is an imitation since it
  is based on previous actions in Oedipus
• Discusses the universal idea of judgment not
  what did happened but what may happen
• Complex plot in which the change is accompanied
  by the recognition and the reversal
• Action dependent on preceeding action, ie.
  Haemons suicide due to Antigones suicide

• Reversal
• Reversal and recognition occur at the same time
  immediately after Tiresias reveals his prophecy
  about what is to come of Creons life.
• Reversal occurs with the change in Creons
  attitude he now asks the leader for advice and
  his opinion
• I and my better judgment / have come round to
  thisI shackled her, / Ill set her free myself.
  I am afraid / its best to keep the established
  laws / to the very day you die (1234 1238).

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The Chorus

• The chorus serves as an intermediary between the
  actors and the audience. They produce imagery
  through their words to create scenery that in
  those days did not exist.

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Important Speeches

• Creon
• Anarchy
• show me a greater crime in all the earth!
• She, she destroys cities, rips up houses,
• breaks the ranks of spearmen into headlong rout.
• But the ones who last it out, the great mass of
  them
• owe their lives to discipline. Therefore
• we must defend the men who live by law,
• never let some woman triumph over us.
• Better to fall from power, if fall we must,
• at the hands of a mannever be rated
• inferior to a woman, never.
• (pg.94, 752-761)

Antigone If this is the pleasure of the gods, /
once I suffer I will know that I was wrong. / But
if there men are wrong, let them suffer / nothing
worse than they mete out to me / these masters
of injustice! (pg.106, 1017 1021).
Creon Believe me, the stiffest stubborn wills
fall the hardestAnd Ive known spirited horses
you can break / with a light bit proud,
rebellious horses. / Theres no room for pride,
not in a slave, / not with the lord and master
standing by. (pg.83, 528-535)
Chorus Love!- / you wrench the minds of the
righteous into outrage, / swerve them into their
ruin you have ignited this, / this kindred
strife, father and son at war / and Love alone
the victor (pg.101, 887-890)
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Images of Antigone
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Questions

• The chorus does not seem to shows pity for
  Antigone and indicates that she is to blame for
  all that has happened. Do you agree with the
  chorus? Why?

Question of ethics- the law of politics and/vs.
the law of humanity. What do you think?
Why does Antigone reject Ismenes attempt to die
with herlove or pride?
Does the identity of the tragic hero change
according to classical times to modern times in
Antigone?
Is there a pattern/relationship between Creon and
Oedipus?