Background Notes on Antigone

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Background Notes on Antigone

• (Pronounced An-tih-go-knee)

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The History of Greek Theater

• Drama grew out of ancient celebrations honoring
  Dionysus, god of wine and fertility.
• Athens, 5th century B.C. The celebrations became
  an annual festival, and a hero would wear masks
  and sing hymns about his character.
• Drama was born when Aeschylus added a second
  character at the performance, creating the
  possibility of conflict.

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The Theater of Dionysos
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Greek Masks

• Exaggerated mouthpieces (like megaphones) to be
  heard from far away
• Familiar Character-types (happy, sad) to be seen
  from far away
• By switching masks, each actor could play several
  roles.

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Who Was Sophocles? (496?-406 B.C.)

• Considered greatest of Greek playwrights
• Of 123 plays, only 7 survive.
• Deeply religious and philosophical, so his plays
  always contain a moral lesson.
• INNOVATIVE
• He introduced elaborate scene-painting
• Added the 3rd actor to the cast, allowing for
  more complicated staging and conflict.

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Antigone

• Antigone is the sequel to Oedipus Rex, which was
  actually written after Antigone.
• After his tragedy, Oedipus (the King of Thebes)
  exiles himself.
• His two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, became the
  rulers.
• They agreed to reign in alternate years, but
  after the first year, Eteocles refused to
  surrender the throne.

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Antigone continued

• To get revenge, Polynices attacks Thebes.
• In a duel, the two brothers kill each other, and
  Creon, their uncle, takes the throne.
• Creon allows Eteocles to be given a heroic
  funeral, but he orders the body of Polynices be
  exposed in the fields for attacking his hometown.
  

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Antigone continued

• The play Antigone is about how Antigone, the
  sister, goes against Creon in this decision,
  believing that her brother deserves a proper
  burial.
• A key element of conflict Antigone is engaged to
  Creons son, Haemon.