AntigoneAntigone

by Sophoclesby Sophocles

Greek Greek DramaDrama

Greek drama was performed at annual festivals in Greek drama was performed at annual festivals in honor of honor of DionysosDionysos – the god of wine and fertility – the god of wine 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 part of as a part of a trilogya trilogy of plays that of plays that centered around the legend of centered around the legend of OedipusOedipus

It is believed that Sophocles It is believed that Sophocles wrote wrote Antigone Antigone in in approximately approximately 422 B.C.422 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 baby’s feetpierces the baby’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 oracle and So, he consults an oracle and is told about his destinyis told about his destiny

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

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

town, and town, and King Laius has left the city King Laius has left the city to 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 encounter with OedipusOedipus who just so happens to be traveling towards Thebes who just so happens to be traveling towards Thebes

With each feeling that he has the “right of way” on the With each feeling that he has the “right of way” on the road, 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 retaliates Oedipus retaliates by killing him by killing him – and unknowingly, the first part of – and unknowingly, the first part of his terrible prophecy comes truehis terrible prophecy comes true

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

The people of Thebes consequently see The people of Thebes consequently see Oedipus as a hero, and Oedipus as a hero, and they offer they offer Oedipus a position as kingOedipus a position as king (along with (along with the hand of their recently widowed queen the hand of their recently widowed queen in marriage)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 come prophecy about him has come true, he is so horrified that true, he is so horrified that he he flees flees andand rips his own eyes out rips his own eyes out

JocastaJocasta, in turn, , in turn, hangs hangs herselfherself – and their children – and their children are left to pick up the are left to pick up the piecespieces

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 he so that he can take chargecan 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 ramifications Due to the spiritual ramifications of this action, of this action, Antigone Antigone strongly opposes the neglect strongly opposes the neglect of her other brotherof her 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 uncle’s whether to follow her uncle’s laws or those of her heartlaws or those of her heart

What makes Antigone so important?

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

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

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