AntigoneAntigone

by Sophoclesby Sophocles

Greek Greek DramaDrama

Greek drama was performed at annual Greek drama was performed at annual festivals in honor of festivals in honor of DionysosDionysos – the god of – the god of wine and fertilitywine and fertility

Greek tragedies like Greek tragedies like Antigone Antigone often often revolved around revolved around well-known mythswell-known myths andand heroic legends heroic legends

Greek plays were Greek plays were performed in performed in outdoor outdoor amphitheatersamphitheaters

Actors Actors wore maskswore masks that reflected the that reflected the personalities of their personalities of their characters characters

The The choruschorus was integral in was integral in Greek drama, though its role Greek drama, though its role varied depending on the playvaried depending on the play

In In AntigoneAntigone, the chorus , the chorus represents therepresents the people people of the town of the town where the where the story takes placestory takes place

The chorus often provided The chorus often provided commentary on the action commentary on the action of the play and did so in a of the play and did so in a lyric chantlyric chant

The Author: The Author: SophoclesSophocles Sophocles was one of the Sophocles was one of the

most famous most famous andand respectedrespected and of all Greek and of all Greek playwrightsplaywrights

He wrote He wrote AntigoneAntigone as a as a part of part of a trilogya trilogy of plays of plays that centered around the that centered around the legend of Oedipuslegend of Oedipus

It is believed that It is believed that Sophocles wrote Sophocles wrote Antigone Antigone in approximately in approximately 422 422 B.C.B.C.

The Story of OedipusThe Story of Oedipus The legend of Oedipus The legend of Oedipus

was a famous story with was a famous story with which the which the Greek people Greek people were already familiar were already familiar

The famous psychological The famous psychological term term “Oedipus “Oedipus Complex”Complex” was coined was coined because of this story because of this story

The The settingsetting of this story of this story is the city of is the city of ThebesThebes

How does the How does the OedipusOedipus legend begin?legend begin? It all starts when an It all starts when an oracleoracle (fortune teller) tells (fortune teller) tells King King

LaiusLaius and and Queen JocastaQueen Jocasta of Thebes that their of Thebes that their newborn sonnewborn son will one day will one day kill his father and kill his father and marry his mothermarry his mother

Frightened by this prophecy, Laius Frightened by this prophecy, Laius pierces the pierces the baby’s feetbaby’s feet and and gives him to a shepherdgives him to a shepherd to to abandon in the mountainsabandon in the mountains

A merciful man, the shepherd instead decides to give A merciful man, the shepherd instead decides to give the baby to a friend, but the baby to a friend, but does not reveal his does not reveal his identityidentity

This friend, a servant of the This friend, a servant of the King of CorinthKing of Corinth, in turn , in turn gives the baby to the king and his wifegives the baby to the king and his wife; they name ; they name the boy Oedipus the boy Oedipus (“Swollen Foot”)(“Swollen Foot”) and raise him as and raise him as their sontheir son

As a young man, As a young man, Oedipus begins to Oedipus begins to hear hear rumorsrumors that the King is that the King is not his real father not his real father

So, he consults an So, he consults an oracle and oracle and is told is told about his destinyabout his destiny

Scared of what he is Scared of what he is told, told, Oedipus fleesOedipus flees Corinth in an effort to Corinth in an effort to avoid his fateavoid his fate

Meanwhile, in Thebes…Meanwhile, in Thebes…A monster, A monster, the Sphinx, the Sphinx, is tormenting the is tormenting the

town, and town, and King LaiusKing Laius has left the city to has left the city to find out how to get rid of herfind out how to get rid of her

On his way out of the city, Laius has an ironic On his way out of the city, Laius has an ironic encounter with Oedipusencounter with Oedipus who just so happens who just so happens to to be traveling towards Thebesbe traveling towards Thebes

With each feeling that he has the “right of way” on With each feeling that he has the “right of way” on the road, the road, the men begin to arguethe men begin to argue and a bad case of and a bad case of “chariot rage” ensues“chariot rage” ensues

When Laius strikes Oedipus, When Laius strikes Oedipus, Oedipus Oedipus retaliates by killing him retaliates by killing him – and unknowingly, – and unknowingly, the first part of his terrible prophecy comes the first part of his terrible prophecy comes truetrue

As he continues down the road As he continues down the road after his encounter with Laius, after his encounter with Laius, Oedipus comes upon the Oedipus comes upon the gate of Thebesgate of Thebes

When the When the Sphinx dares Sphinx dares Oedipus to answer her riddle Oedipus to answer her riddle (the only way to rid the city of (the only way to rid the city of her), her), he answers it correctlyhe answers it correctly and she dies and she dies The riddle is: What walks on 4 legs in The riddle is: What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs at noon, and 3 legs in the evening?the morning, 2 legs at noon, and 3 legs in the evening?

The people of Thebes The people of Thebes consequently see Oedipus as a consequently see Oedipus as a hero, and hero, and they offer Oedipus a they offer Oedipus a position as kingposition as king (along with the (along with the hand of their recently widowed hand of their recently widowed queen in marriage)queen in marriage)

The New King and Queen of The New King and Queen of ThebesThebes

When Oedipus marries Jocasta, the final part of the When Oedipus marries Jocasta, the final part of the prophecy comes true, but prophecy comes true, but no one knows the truthno one knows the truth

Oedipus and Jocasta end up having four children Oedipus and Jocasta end up having four children together: together: Eteocles & PolynicesEteocles & Polynices (boys) and (boys) and Antigone & IsmeneAntigone & Ismene (girls) (girls)

However, Oedipus’ world begins to unravel when a However, Oedipus’ world begins to unravel when a terrible plague comes upon the cityterrible plague comes upon the city, and the only , and the only way to get rid of it is the way to get rid of it is the find the killer of the find the killer of the original Kingoriginal King

Desperate to rid his town of Desperate to rid his town of the plague, the plague, Oedipus visits Oedipus visits TeriesiasTeriesias (a blind prophet) (a blind prophet) to find out the truthto find out the truth

When he finds out that the When he finds out that the prophecy about him has prophecy about him has come true, he is so come true, he is so horrified that horrified that he flees he flees andand rips his own eyes rips his own eyes outout JocastaJocasta, in turn, , in turn, hangs hangs herselfherself – and their – and their children are left to pick children are left to pick up the piecesup the pieces

Who Takes Over As King?Who Takes Over As King? Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, decide decide

to share the rule of Thebesto share the rule of Thebes

However, both want to rule on their own, and However, both want to rule on their own, and Eteocles ends up exiling his brotherEteocles ends up exiling his brother so that so that he can take chargehe can take charge

Seeking revenge, Seeking revenge, PolynicesPolynices uses his time in exile uses his time in exile to to gather an army and attack his brothergather an army and attack his brother

Unfortunately, Unfortunately, both sons dieboth sons die in battle, and in battle, and Jocasta’s brother Creon takes control Jocasta’s brother Creon takes control of of ThebesThebes

Antigone and IsmeneAntigone and Ismene are the only of Oedipus’ are the only of Oedipus’ children who children who are leftare left

One of Creon’s first decrees One of Creon’s first decrees as king is to as king is to bury Etecoles bury Etecoles with honors, but not with honors, but not PolynicesPolynices

Due to the spiritual Due to the spiritual ramifications of this action, ramifications of this action, Antigone strongly Antigone strongly opposes the neglect of opposes the neglect of her other brotherher other brother

This is where the story of This is where the story of Antigone Antigone begins – begins – Antigone must decide Antigone must decide whether to follow her whether to follow her uncle’s laws or those of uncle’s laws or those of her hearther heart

What makes Antigone so important?

What to consider while What to consider while reading…reading…

Was Antigone justified in her actions? Was Antigone justified in her actions? What is more important – following What is more important – following the government’s laws, or those of the government’s laws, or those of one’s heart?one’s heart?

Who is the Who is the tragic herotragic hero of this play? A tragic of this play? A tragic hero is a person who, either through choice or hero is a person who, either through choice or circumstance, is circumstance, is caught in a series of caught in a series of events that lead to disasterevents that lead to disaster. . Unfortunately, it is Unfortunately, it is his/her own error in his/her own error in judgment (tragic flaw)judgment (tragic flaw) that leads to his/her that leads to his/her demise.demise.