Intro to Antigone by Sophocles

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Sophocles Born 495 BC 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 create an entire tragedy in one play rather than three, and possibly the first to use painted scenery

Three Oedipus plays by Sophocles: Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) – the discovery of what Oedipus has done to cause misery in Thebes… Oedipus at Colonus - Oedipus’ death in exile… Antigone – the story of Oedipus’ daughter Although this is the chronological order, Sophocles wrote Antigone first. They were not meant as a “trilogy” and were written for separate competitions over a period of 16 years.

The story of Oedipus Rex King Laius of Thebes and wife Jocasta have a baby. The oracle says to Laius: Your son will be your death!! The baby is sent to be abandoned on the mountain. Oedipus means “swollen foot” – his feet had been pierced and bound together when he was left on the mountainside. A comparison might be made with Snow White. Pre-Oedipus story questions: Question: Is fate pre-ordained? Is it possible to change our own fates? How much choice do we have? A shepherd saves him, calls him Oedipus and gives him to the childless King and Queen of Corinth to raise.

Oedipus grows up… The oracle tells Oedipus: You will kill your father and marry your mother. Oedipus leaves home to avoid this fate. He meets King Laius at a crossroads; they fight and Oedipus kills….. his father

Oedipus and the Sphynx The Sphynx met all travelers on the way to Thebes and asked a riddle – if they failed, they were eaten, if successful, they continued their journey. The riddle: What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night? A man. Crawls as a baby, walks as an adult, uses a cane as an old man. Answer to the riddle: A man. Crawls as a baby, walks as an adult, uses a cane as an old man.

A wedding, children… and misery! Oedipus enters Thebes and, as defeater of the Sphynx, is crowned king. He marries Jocasta, the queen. They have four children: daughters Antigone and Ismene; sons Polynices and Eteocles. Thebes begins to suffer from famine, plagues, other disasters. Question: Based on this story, what do the ancient Greeks seem to believe about fate? Do humans have control over their own destiny?

Discovery and Exile Oedipus sends the question to the oracle: What is going on? How can I help Thebes? The answer is: Get rid of Laius’ killer. Prophet Tiresias says: You are Laius’ killer – and he was your father! Oedipus stabs his eyes out, Jocasta hangs herself, Oedipus leaves. Antigone goes with him.

Creon & Oedipus’ sons Jocasta’s brother, Creon takes over as regent until Eteocles and Polynices grow up. They are then to share being king – one every year. Oedipus dies in Colona and Antigone returns to Thebes Eteocles refuses to give up kingship. Polynices brings army against him. Both are killed The play Antigone begins

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)?

Thematic Questions to Consider Is it possible to change our own fates? How much choice do we have?