ANTIGONE

Scene 1

Characters Involved:ANTIGONEISMENECREONGuard #1CHORAGOS w/ Chorus as citizens of Thebes PROLOGUE:

[Enter ANTIGONE and ISMENE]ANTIGONE: Oh cruel fate! Dear sister; we have suffered great hurdles in our life

and I fear there is another one coming at us. Have you heard of our King CREON's new decree?

ISMENE: I fear not sister. I have heard of nothing aside that two sisters have lost two brothers.

ANTIGONE: I thought so. This is why I have asked you to come out here with me.ISMENE: What is it? And why do you speak so strangely?ANTIGONE: I have a plan. And not just any plan, it involves risking our lives.ISMENE: You don’t mean?ANTIGONE: Yes, I intend on burying his body. He is my brother and I love him. This

is the least he deserves.ISMENE: Are you crazy? What if King CREON finds out? Death is likely the wrst

of our fears once he holds sight of this.ANTIGONE: I do not fear death nor punishment. I am dedicated to this. But how

about you? You have been awfully silent.  Prove yourself! Let’s see if you’re a true sister or a traitor to the family.

ISMENE: I do love him, but am not mad. I fear, which you need to do.ANTIGONE: Then so be it. I shall go by myself.ISMENE: O how I fear for you!ANTIGONE: Do not. I need no sympathy from a sister who fears more than she

loves. Farewell.[ANTIGONE Leaves]

ISMENE: Then go! You may be unwise, but at least you’re loyal to those who you love. PARODOSScene 1:CHORAGOS: Be calm, be calm everyone!  Our King is coming. Why has he

summoned us to a conference you ask? I do not know but we shall soon find out.

[Enter CREON]CREON: Gentlemen, I have called upon this conference to inform you of the

recent happenings that have occurred. One is that our Ship of State has docked successfully even in spite of the recent storms.  Another is

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about the recent causalities the took place in the Argive attack. There were two major deaths, one being the death of a great soldier, Eteocles and the other being the death of a traitor, Polyneices.  Of course, Eteocles would be given a proper burial, and Polyneices would be left in the fields, untouched and disrespected whatsoever. Nobody shall give their prayers nor amends. Anyone who will violate this will be punished severely. You understand?

CHORAGOS: I speak for the entirety of your subjects my lord. You are our king. You have the right to impose the laws and we will abide by it.

CREON: Good. I just wanted to make sure that nobody is above my law.[Enter Guard #1]

Guard: Sir , sir I come with news of utter importance. Rambling:[I have come here out of breathe to inform you of a message. Though it is so great, that every time I stop, I think that I should go back thoug sense stopped me from doing so(insert other stuff)]

CREON: ENOUGH!!!!! Come to the point sentry. I have no time for this dilly dally.Guard: (gulps) [With every phrase CREON, the choragus and the chorus

draw nearer] The dead man—Polyneices—out there—someone—put dust—burial—and—has gone.

[Long pause, CREON Speaks with deadly control, yet obvious is angry]CREON : Who dare do this?Guard: Please don’t hurt me! I don’t know anything, I swear. There were no

signs of entry, nothing! Not a single footprint nor track was found. There were no holes of any sort, there was just enough dust on the body for it to pass on to its after life!

CREON: How can that be?!CHORAGOS: Sir, do you think this may be a doing of the gods?CREON: What an insane thought! Why would the gods favour a criminal? Senile

old man! [looks at guard] You, go! Find the doer of this action! Go to the ends of this world for I care. Severe consequences await you if you are unable do this. Dismissed![CREON Exits]

Guard: That is, if im still here. Farewell Thebes, I think this is the last time you’ll hear of me!

[Guard Exits]

ODE 1

Strophe 1Chorus:

The world’s wonders cannot be countedBut none compares to man

What yields to his brows is the sea of storm grayThe huge huge crests bear him high

O Earth holy and exhaustibleYou are graven with shining furror

Where his plows have gone year after year,

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The timeless labor of stallions.

The light banded birds abd beasts that sing to coverThe lithe fish are lightning their reaches of dim

All are taken, tamed in the net of his mind.The lion on the hill, the wild horse windy-mondedResigned to himl and his blunt yoke has broken

The sulthy shoulders of the mountain bull.

Strophe 2Chorus:

The words thought as rapid as airHe fashions to his good use; That’s very clear

And his the skill that deflects the arrows of showThe spears of winter rainl from every wind that blows

He has made himself secure-from all but oneIn the late wind of death he cannot stand.

Antistrophe 2Chorus:

O clear intelligence, you’re immeasurable force!O fate of man, of good and evil source!

When the laws are kept, how proud is this city!When the laws are broken, what then at this city!

Never may the anarchic man find rest at my hearthNever be it said that my thoughts are his thoughts.

Strophe 2And old men tell a half-remembered tale

Of humor done where a dark ledge splits the sea at sailAnd a double surf beats on the gray shores:

How a king’s new woman, sick and soreWith hatred for the queen whom he had imprisoned

Ripped out the eyes of his two poor sons.While grinning, Ares watched the shuttle plunge

Four times: crying for revenge of for blind wounds

Antistrophe 2Crying, tears and blood-mixed. Born piteouslyThose sons whose mother was born heavenly

Her father was the god of northwindAnd gales to her when cradled

And on the glittering hills she raced with young coltsIn the open light, untrammelled she walkedBut in her marriage, fate which is deathless

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To build a tomb like yours for all her happiness.

Scene 2

CHORAGOS: The princess ANTIGONE? But why?

Sentry Because she’s guilty! I saw her burying him!

CREON (enters) What’s the problem? (sees the sentry) And you --- why have you come back so soon?

Sentry My King, I left terribly frightened by your threats but now I come glad as i can be for i have found her! (pushes ANTIGONE toward CREON) Here, she is the one whom you are seeking

CREON But this is my niece. How can this be?!

SENTRY I swear to the gods, i saw him burying him

CREON (eyeing ANTIGONE, then speaks the Sentry) If you are not lying, then tell me what happened.

SENTRY As you have commanded, we kept guard. Nothing happened ---- until the whirlwind came. Eventually it stopped, and when it did, I saw the princess taking her chance. I saw her bury the corpse! And she does not even deny she’s guilty! So now, I have brought her to you, my lord, though it saddens me for I have helped condemn a friend.

CREON ANTIGONE, tell the truth.

ANTIGONE He had spoken of the truth

CREON Are you aware of the law?

ANTIGONE There is no reason that i should not be

CREON Yet you disobeyed.

ANTIGONE Because you are not a god! They who truly rule this world and the heavens do not make such foolish laws. Theirs are immortal and are recognized by all people, but yours? It is nonsense! If i must die, because of this then let it be. The mortal escaped death anyway and besides, death will be sweeter to me than this life that i live. Go on, CREON, punish me. But do not forget that it may be that the fool himself will convict another of folly.

CHORAGOS She has turned it to be like her father --- so stubborn!

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CREON Who are you to disobey the king? (turns to CHORAGOS) I love my sister, but this criminal who is unfortunately her daughter?! I have nothing but abhorrence. This proud girl must die... With her equally traitorous sister. (to the guards) Go! Arrest ISMENE!

ANTIGONE Your words annoy me. Why don’t you just kill me now? So then you shall here these men sing praises to my name.

CREON HA! (smirks) No they wont!

ANTIGONE They wont because you hold their tongue!

CREON They wont because there is no guilt in them!

ANTIGONE So I am guilty of burying the corpse of my brother?

CREON Isnt Eteocles your brother too?

ANTIGONE Yes and I love them equally.

CREON But Polyneices is a traitor!

ANTIGONE the dead deserves to be honoured.

CREON Not if in life he is wicked.

ANTIGONE Are you a god to judge him?

CREON An enemy shall forever be an enemy

ANTIGONE sorry. I would rather love than hate.

CREON (angry) Then go! Bring your love to hell!

CHORAGOS Here comes ISMENE!

CREON Ah! The other snake!

ANTIGONE No! She is not a bit guilty!

ISMENE Yes! I wasn’t. But let me go with you but now I understand.

ANTIGONE Save yourself my dear sister. I belong to death but you do not.

ISMENE Oh please, ANTIGONE! Youre the only one i have left. When you die, what shall happen to me? so let me share this fate. If you go to hell, then i shall follow.

CREON (Amused; to CHORAGOS) Look at these girls! One has lost her mind while the other has never had any at all.

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ISMENE Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver, king.

CREON Because you took sides with the guilty.

ISMENE I cant live without her.

CREON But this girl is evil!

ISMENE How could you call her evil? She’s the bride of your son.

CREON I shall not have such a woman as my daughter-in-law

ISMENE oh, poor Haemon.

CREON What do you know about marriage?

CHORAGOS O King CREON, are you really going to rob your son of the woman he loves?

CREON I wont! Death will. Guards! Take these girls away!

ODE 2Strophe 1:

Fortunate is the one who has never tastedGod’s vengeance which is too full of destruction

When the long darkness under sea roars upAnd burst drumming death upon the sand.

Antistrophe:I witnessed this sorrow way back the past

Loan upon Oedipus’ children and generationAnd takes the rage of this fierce enemy GOD.

So lately this Oedipus flower is lastAnd drank the sunlight

And all its beauty have been covered with dust.

Strophe 2:What mortal arrogance transcends the wrath of Zeus?!

He cannot be put to sleepNor the effortless long months of the timeless gods

But young is he ‘till the end of timeAnd that is and shall be ant all the past is hisNothing on earth can escape heaven’s curse.

AntistropheAll the men’s straying dream

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Ghosts of joy they bringBut as they drowse, the walking embers all

Burn them withinThey walk while their eyes are fixed

But for our time the ancient wisdom speaks.Fate works most for woe.

With the folly’s fairest showMan’s little pressure is the spring of sorrow.

SCENE 3

CHORAGOS Haemon, the youngest of the king’s sons! Has he come for Antigone?

CREON What brings you here my son?

HAEMON (silence)

CREON Ah! I know! You have heard of what has become of Antigone. Are you here to tell me that you hate me?

HAEMON Father, I value your wisdom more than anything else.

CREON (hugs Haemon) That’s it my boy. What am i that the gods gifted me with a son as dutiful as you? Forget her. You shall soon find a woman a thousand times better than her. One who is not a lawbreaker. The important thing is, you understand that i cannot let her free for if i do, then no one shall follow me. and another, this is but a woman. A man may only lose to a man also.

CHORAGOS (agrees)

HAEMON But father, have you forgotten that all men are gifted with reason? Yours is not the only one that matters. I have heard the people say that she’s innocent. She just covered the corpse of her brother. I do not find fault in that. Nor the people in the city.

CHORAGOS Father and son, please listen to each other.

CREON What are you to teach me, an experienced man, of what is right and what is wrong?

HAEMON does age matter?

CREON How dare you! You my son, standing up to a criminal!

HAEMON She is not a criminal! The cuty says so.

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CREON so the city teaches me how to rule? It is only I who knows how.

HAEMON the city that takes orders from just one voice is a desert.

CREON you ahev lost your mind to a woman.

HAEMON if you are a woman, then my concern is only for you.

CREON So? Your “concern”? in a public brawl with your father!

HAEMON How about you, in a public brawl with justice?

CREON With justice, when all that I do is within my rights?

HAEMON You have no right to trample on god’s right!

CREON You foolish boy! Everything that you say is for that woman!

HAEMON And for me. And for you. And for the gods under the earth,.

CREON You’ll never marry her while she lives.

HAEMON Then let her die! But her death will cause another.

CREON Are you threatening me?!

HAEMON How could i threaten a stone?

CREON How could you speak like that to your father? (to servants) Bring Antigone her and let her die before her bride groom’s eyes!

HAEMON She will not die here and you will never see my face again! (leaves)

CHORAGOS He’s gone. O King, we warn you. A young man in rage is dangerous.

CREON Then let him do what he wants. He’ll never save these girls anyway.

CHORAGOS girls? you’ll kill them both?

CREON No! Ismene is innocent. I cannot punish her. But Antigone, she shall pass death soon.

Ode 3

Strophe:Love is unconquerable

Waster of rich men, keeper at warm nightsIn the soft face of a girl;

Sea-wanderer, forest-visitor of might!

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Even the pure immortals cannot escape youAnd mortal man, in his one day’s duskTrembles before your glory’s the task.

Antisrophe:Surely you swerve upon ruin

The just man’s consenting heartAs here you have made the anger brighthen

Between farther and son it strikesAnd none has conquered but Love!

A girls’s dance working heaven’s willHeaven as white and pure as dove.

Pleasure to her who mock us, Merciless Aphrodite!

Scene 4 ANTIGONE: (As ANTIGONE enters, guarded.)

See, my friends… see me move among you for the last time! I look upon the sun whose light will never shine on me again!

CHORUS:(Approaches ANTIGONE to comfort her.)

Yet there is glory in your way to death… Unwasted by disease nor struck down by the sword… You go to the world below as no one went before!

ANTIGONE:(Continues to weep in sorrow.)

Unmourned… unloved… unwed… I take these last steps, never to see another dawn… And with no one near to weep for me, as I part from the living!

CREON: (Appears from the back, rather angry.)Death will not stop for tears! Take her away! Put her into the grave, as I have ordered! To live or die as she sees fit! Our hands are clean, but we are rid of her forever!(ANTIGONE is approached by the guards, she complies hesitantly.)

ANTIGONE:O tomb, my bridal chamber! O home below earth, eternal dwelling… I shall soon be together with my many kinsmen who made the journey before me to Death’s domain! And now, lost in grief, I leave this earth with my life unspent. I look to you for welcome, my father, and you, mother, and you, my brother… For when you died, my hands made you ready for the world below. See how they treat me, Polyneices! For ministering to your dead body, they bury me alive!

(Looks back to the guards, and to CREON.)What sacred law have I broken? What aid can I hope from the gods? To whom shall I pray, when death is the price of piety?

(Guards stop ANTIGONE from trying to attack CREON.)

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the gods should judge me guilty, I shall repent for my act. But if my judges are at fault, then let them suffer the same fate they inflict on me!

CHORAGOS:O untamed and wayward heart!

CREON:They shall regret more delay!

ANTIGONE:Alas, every word he speaks brings death closer!(ANTIGONE is dragged by the guards to the cave. As the guards try to shut

the cave, ANTIGONE speaks.)O gods of Thebes, I am last of your royal line! See who torments me for

honoring your law!(Guards then finally close the cave and guard it.)

 Ode 4

Strophe 1

Chorus:All Panae’s beauty was locked and doomedIn a cell where no sunlight can pass throughAnd what enclosed her is a grave-still room

Although she was a princess tooAnd Zeus in a rain of gold poured upon her

O child, childIn wealth or war there’s no power

Or though blackened snips for the seaCan prevail against pesting!

Antistrophe 1:

And Dyra’s son also, that furious kingBore the god’s anger for which is prisoning

Seated up by Dionysus in deaf stoneHis madness died among echoes alone

So at last he learned what dreadful powerHis tongue had mocked

For the revels he had profanedAnd fired the wrath of nine

Implacable sisters that love the sound of the flute

SCENE 5 -- CHANGE SCENE (FOREST) --(CREON and his men head for Thebes. TEIRESIAS suddenly appears, accompanied by a little boy.)TEIRESIAS: King of Thebes, we are two who see with the eyes of one, for such is

the way of the blind.CREON: What tidings, TEIRESIAS?TEIRESIAS: Hear and follow your prophet's advice!

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CREON: I have never failed to do so!TEIRESIAS: And you have therefore kept our country secure. But now you are

poised on the razor's edge!CREON: What are these fearful words?TEIRESIAS: You shall know what has been revealed to me. I was seated at the

ancient post where the birds of omen gather. Suddenly I heard them burst into strange and savage screams; a babble without measure or meaning. But the whirring of their wings told me clearly... They tore one another with murderous claws! With foreboding, I offered a burnt sacrifice to the gods... But no answering flame flared up. No hopeful augury was the boy's report... For I am guided by his eyes so that I may give guidance to the others. Your edict has brought this blight upon our city! Our altars are being defiled by the birds and beasts that feed on the flesh of the son of Oedipus! And the gods are deaf to our prayers. Give death its own and beware of stabbing the fallen! It is no exploit to kill the dead again!

CREON: I am a target for everyone, even the prophets! Long has your tribe traded on me! Though you pile up all the gold of Sardis, he shall not be buried! No mortal could defile the gods! Old man, the wisest can fall from greatness if they barter wisdom from money! All prophets are gluttons for gold!

TEIRESIAS: All tyrants are gluttons for ill-gotten power! CREON: I am your king!TEIRESIAS: Only because my counsel helped you save Thebes!CREON: Fraud!TEIRESIAS: Then be warned! The sun will not circle the sky before a child of your

flesh dies to pay for the others! You have put one of the living below the earth, sealed in a tomb without mercy! And you will not surrender Polyneices to the gods of death and keep him unpurified and unburied! I aim these arrows at your heart for goading me too far! And be sure you shall not escape their sting!

(TEIRESIAS feels the little boy's head.)Come, my boy. Lead me home. Let him learn how to curb his tongue and to govern himself with more judgement!

(TEIRESIAS and the little boy leave.)-- CHANGE SCENE (PALACE) --(CREON sits on his throne, in deep thought. The elders give advice to him.)CHORAGOS: He leaves us fearful prospects! He was already prophet when my beard was black, and he has never spoken falsely.CREON: Tell me what I must do, and I shall obey.CHORAGOS: Free ANTIGONE from the cave and give her brother to the tomb!CREON: Ah, how hard it is for a mind to be changed by force! But I shall do it because I must!CHORAGOS: Go, and do what only you can do!CREON: Come with me, guards! My hand imprisioned her, so it shall set her free!

(CREON gets up from his throne.)It is best to live with reverence for the law of the gods!

(CREON and his guards head out for the cave in which ANTIGONE was enclosed.)

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Strophe 1Choragos

God of many namesChorus: O Dionysus, son of kadmeian semele

Son of Zeus, guardian of the westRegent of Eleusis plain

O, prince of maenads and the dragon field

Antistrophe 1:Choragos

Gog of many namesChorus: The flame that flares our heels

The nymphs dance at the spring of CastaliaFrom the vile-close mountain,

Evohe, Evohe! Sing though the Theban streets

Strophe 2:Choragos

God of many namesChorus:

Iacchos of Thebes, a child of heavenOf Semele, the thunderer’s bride!The shadow of plague is upon us

Come with healing feetCome down the slopes of Parnassus

Across the lamenting waters

Antistrophe 2:Choragos

Io! Chorister of the throbbing stars!O purest voice of the night!

Blaze for us, thou son of god!

Chorus:

Come with Choric rapture of maenadsWho cry Io Iacche!

God of many names!

EXODOS (The elders wait anxiously for what is to come. Suddenly, a MESSENGER breaks the silence.)MESSENGER: (Comes in the palace running, weary.)

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Members of the house of Cadmus and Amphion! Of Cadmus and Amphion! (Drops down in exhaustion.)Never more shall I scorn or envy any man! Who seemed more fortunate than CREON? Once he sat on the throne, his sons beside him... Now he is lost!

CHORAGOS: What new disaster can this be?MESSENGER: There has been murder!CHORAGOS: Who was murdered? By whom?MESSENGER: Haemon! And by no stranger's hand!CHORAGOS: O prophet! Your words have come to pass!

(Eurydice enters. MESSENGER kneels in front of her.)Eurydice: On my way to Athena's altar, I meet some new sorrow. Keep nothing

hidden, whatever it may be! For grief and I are well acquainted. (All of the CHORAGOS look at the MESSENGER. He stands up.)

MESSENGER: My lady, I saw it happen with my own two eyes. I shall tell you everything. Lies give brief comfort. Since you must know it some time... the truth is best now. I led your husband, the king, to the carcass of Polyneices, gnawed by the jackals. We called on the gods of death to restrain their wrath, and burned the remains in fresh-cut olive branches.

--REENACTMENT MAY OCCUR HERE, WHILE THE MESSENGER IS TELLING THE STORY--Then we hastened to ANTIGONE's tomb. On our way, we heard a sound of wailing, it came from the cave. CREON was told... He came closer and called out in anguish... "I feel I am riding on the road to doom!... That is my son's voice! Be quick! Look inside where the boulder was moved! Unless the gods delude me I hear my son!", he said. We obeyed our king's order... She was hanging, from a veil around her throat. Haemon had clasped her in his arms, mourning for his love... for his ill-fated marriage... and his father's folly. We heard the king say in a shattered voice... "My poor son, has suffering pushed you to madness? Leave this place, I beg you!". Haemon glared back in fury. He spat in his father's face, then he drew his sword! The king sprang aside from the blow; and his son, in bitter remorse, drove the blade into himself!

--END OF REENACTMENT, IF ANY--But before he fell, he embraced his beloved, his blood staining her cheek. And now they lie together, wedded in the halls of Death.(Eurydice goes back to her chamber, nearly fainting along the way.)

CHORAGOS: The Queen has gone without saying a single word.MESSENGER: Strange. But I think she would not stay to show her grief and

withdrew to mourn in private.CHORAGOS: Silence can hold more pain than the loudest cries...MESSENGER: I shall see what is hidden in her silence.(MESSENGER goes in Eurydice's quarter. Then, CREON arrives, carrying Haemon. The CHORAGOS gaze in disbelief.)CREON: O deadly flaws of my dark and wayward mind! Look upon us!

Slayer and slain of the same blood...(Lays Haemon down on an altar.)

O how blind my willfulness! O, my son! Cut down in your springtime! You fell victim not to your folly, but mine! 

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CHORAGOS:You have learned, but alas, too late.CREON: Now, in my agony, I understand. Some god has given me this blow and

led me to this path of destruction, so my joy would perish.(CREON mourns and sobs.)O what sham and mockery are the ways of man!

(Then, MESSENGER appears from Eurydice's quarter.)MESSENGER: My lord, your burden is heavy now; yet you have more to bear.

(CREON looks inside and sees her wife, Eurydice, dead.)CREON: O horror! Can there be another calamity? What more could come after?

I go toward another death! O mother of misery! O child of despair! MESSENGER: Stabbed before the altar. She took her life with laments for her

son, and curses for you, who killed him! I am shivering - I am afraid! Will no one drive a sword into my chest? 

(CREON sobs loudly.)Affliction and I are one.

(Guards carry the body of Haemon. CREON continues to cry.)CREON: Lead me away... where I can be less than nothing!CHORAGOS: A good thought, if there can be good in so much wrong! Pain out of

sight is always less.CREON: Come closer, Death. Come close to me... You are all that I crave now. I

have no wish to see another day!CHORAGOS: Say no more! No man can evade his destiny.CREON: Then send me far away! There is no place for a man who caused

his son to die... And you, my wife. I cannot see you anymore. Whatever touched my hand is cursed. On my head has fallen the hardest blow of a man's fate.

(CREON grabs his crown and drops it. He heads out of the palace. One of the members of the CHORAGOS get the crown. Then, the CHORAGOS speak to the

audience.)CHORAGOS:

All happiness must be crowned with wisdom... and reverence for divine law. The proud words of the great are paid with greater disaster, to teach them prudence; though, too late. 

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