Antigone By Sophocles

Background Written by Sophocles Text written in 441 B.C. Third in the Theban Plays Trilogy Written before Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus

Sophocles

Sophocles Born 495 BC of wealthy merchant parents – probably in Attica Wrote over 120 plays – only seven have survived Was also a priest, director of the Treasury and served on the Board of Generals Acted in his own plays Sophocles lived to be 90 or 91 years old. He won numerous awards for his plays in Athenian dramatic festivals. Although only seven complete plays remain, fragments of others have survived. He was known also for creating characters with more in-depth personalities than had been seen before, and was so well known that he was invited by foreign rulers to attend their courts. He never accepted. Is considered the first to add a third actor, to create an entire tragedy in one play rather than three, possibly the first to use painted scenery

Themes Sins of the father are the sins of the child Loyalty Religious v. Political duty Tyranny v. Democracy Indifference v. Awareness Conformity v. Individuality Law v. Morality Free will v. Fate Democracy v. Autocracy Feminism v. Male power structure Individual v. State Conscience v. Law

Cast of Characters Antigone Creon Ismene Eurydice Haemon Teiresias Polynices/Eteocles

Antigone and Creon Protagonist and Antagonist

Antigone and Ismene

Creon

After Oedipus learns the truth and leaves Thebes… His two sons Polynices and Eteocles fight with each other for the right to rule Thebes. Eteocles stays in the city while Polynices with the help of foreign kings, tries to conquer Thebes. The two brothers kill each other in battle and now the king is Creon, their uncle.

As the new king Creon… Decides that since Eteocles stayed in Thebes he should be considered the defender of the city and as such be buried as a hero While Polynices, having sought the help of foreigners, should be considered an enemy of the state and as such Creon orders that he not be buried

Antigone’s choice Creon the king and Theban law says that Polynices is a traitor and as such can not be buried Antigone’s conscience and religion tell her that it is against the law of the gods to leave a corpse unburied, and it is her duty as his sister to bury him

Conscience and Responsibility What are Antigone’s responsibilities? What are her options? What is the price to pay?

Greek Theater

The Stage

The Stage Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre: Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out) Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience

The Parts of a Theater The Skene The large backdrop Could be decorated with scenery Where the action actually took place (hidden) Roof was accessible Originally one door in the center, but eventually had three doors

The Skene

The Theaters Theater of Dionysos Athens Main theater for tragedy 4th century remains c. 20,000 seats Located on side of Acropolis

The Theaters Theater of Epidauros The best-preserved Largest surviving theater Located near Argos in the Peloponnesus Sanctuary of Aesclepius Still in use today

Theater of Epidauros

Greek Plays The action takes place within one day No more than three actors on stage (plus chorus) Chorus gives background information No women actors Actors wore masks Question: Why do you think the actors wore masks? (to represent gender, age, emotions – allows the same actor to play different parts. Also, because they were large the far away audience could see the emotions being presented – and the shape of the mask helped amplify the actor’s voice) How do you think writers such as Sophocles managed to tell a story like Oedipus Rex so that the play itself only took place in one day? Why do you think the Greeks limited their plays to three actors/characters on stage at one time (not counting chorus)?

Greek Theater Historically The first recorded theatrical presentation took place in 600 BC They began as festivals honoring gods Greeks were fascinated by the idea of tragedy and comedy and explored it in their plays Theaters were open air on the slopes of hills Some held as many as 14,000 audience members Greek plays still performed today

Greek Masks