1. Antigone
By Sophocles

2. 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

3. Sophocles

4. 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

5. 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

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

8. Antigone and Creon Protagonist and Antagonist

9. Antigone and Ismene

10. Creon

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. Greek Theater

16. The Stage

18. 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

19. 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

20. The Skene

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

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

24. Theater of Epidauros

25. 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)?

26. 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

27. Greek Masks