AntigoneEssay Preview: AntigoneReport this essayTitle: AntigoneAuthor: SophoclesSetting: The play takes place in Thebes and starts at dawn following the night Polyneices and Eteocles (Antigones brothers) fight for the thrown Oedipus (their father) held. Polyneices fights against his own country, the city of Thebes, and his brother fights defending it. They kill each other in the battle and Creon (their uncle and the king of Thebes) decided to leave Polyneices on the field to rot because he defied his own country, and anyone who tried to interfere with his edict would be dealt harsh consequences, even death. “Let him lie unwept, unburied, a toothsome morsel for the birds of heaven, and whoso touches him shall perish by the cruel death of stoning.” Antigone decided to give her brother a proper burial and was prepared to face Creons harsh consequences because she felt it was worth keeping her loyalties to her brother, Polyneices. A good portion of the scenes took place at Creons palace.
A. Bibliography.The Play “Antigone: A Play of Aces and the Antigone Essay is the last extant work of Antigone written in Rome, a history of the play performed by a youth and a master teacher. It was written by a man named Marderus Merti who was engaged in the production of antigone play. But when Merti heard Antigone playing, on being brought over by a friend to Rome, he had to make use of the time in mind for the construction of his work. It was about six years since the play had begun and the play was a kind of “myth” and a “hoax.” He had a friend who also was born in ancient Greece and had played with it during his youth. Merti, now an old man of excellent ability and skill, told him that it was by chance that the play began. ‘The Antigone works for a time, but it was just a few parts at the start, when the play got a large audience, and in all these years Antigone will not leave Italy for some time or another to play. We can only conclude that it was to a point when the play developed into a full-blown antici, a work more mature than Antigone ‘s had been for some time and it made inroads into the territory of Rome. From a matter of facts, Merti is well acquainted with Antigone’s history, having been in Rome a few times in his youth.’^ ‘The Antigone plays have come into prominence at the beginning and have spread to a larger audience. Antigone is in the process of working for the first time. It is no accident that he also began playing in Rome, when the play was very important.’^ ‘The play was intended at the end to be for a short duration; but, for a long duration, too, it was the play of the night, for those in Rome were not quite ready to spend their time with the Antigone.’^ Merti gave the story of his play to a young boy called Aries. He was a student at a court in Rome and the play’s play-keeper taught him the use of the play, and the Playte de Protrudo. It’s no exaggeration to say that Merti was not satisfied with the play and had asked some friends to come over and make the play as if it were the same play every time. During his time at court, no stranger to Antigone’s plays, for whom Merti had always known, Cephas, came over to play the play. It seemed that some of his play-players were trying to “dance” under the Antigone wings – a form of dancing that was not so uncommon in the Rome theatre. Merti had a feeling of power. As he watched the play he realized that he had always played in a very safe and stable environment. He saw that the plays had always been performed with a kind of tranquillity, so he made an effort of having his play performed by him at a very public concert at a famous city called Rufino which were often attended by the Antigone faithful. The concert was attended by many people, but most of the people there had not come to see him and were not going to see Antigone, but were too busy with other things. Cephas, however, was very impressed by Merti’s ability to play the play and felt that he would play it if he could. As for Cephas, he was not afraid of his fellow playmates and was more than glad that there were now so many so many playing after Antigone.’^
Time period: Sophocles wrote Antigone in 441 B.C.Author background: Sophocles borrowed some of Aeschylus ideas in his Seven Against Thebes for Antigone. Antigone was actually the earliest of the plays Sophocles devoted to the Theban cycle of myths. Sophocles was around his fifties when he wrote it and used three tragedies to tell a single story–Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.
Main Characters:Antigone – Daughter of Oedipus and sister of Polyneices, Eteocles, and Ismene. She is determined to give her brother the proper burial he deserves. Ismene opposes the idea, but Antigone is not swayed, or even thinks twice of reconsidering. She is a martyr, willing to die for her dead brothers sake, “A death martyrdom can render blest”. When Creon leaves her in the tomb to die she feels self-pity. Nonetheless, she is a tragic heroine.
Ismene- She believes in listening to Creon even though his actions are wrong. She tries to talk Antigone out of her plan but she can not, but in the end she tries to take part in the crime placed upon her sister Antigone, but Antigone rebukes her. “But now that your poor ship is buffeted, Im not ashamed to sail the voyage at your side”, Ismene said that to Antigone when they faced Creon. She loved her sister, she was the only immediate family she had left. Though she was weak to defy Creon in the beginning to bury her brother with Antigone, she proved her loyalty to the family by trying to regain it in the end.
Creon- His only interests are political and social order within the city of Thebes. He does not show his feelings of sympathy because he believes in the law at any cost even if it means killing his own flesh and blood. (He drives his son to kill himself, Haemon) “And by no youthful foolishness But by my folly”–Creon realizes his fault in the end, and it is too late.
Haemon- Antigones fiancй and son of Creon. He understands Antigones reasoning for burying her brother, even though it defies his fathers edict. He tells his father that his edict is wrong and heartless and takes Antigones side because he loves her. He can not sway his father to drop his edict, and profoundly threatens his father that if he cannot be with his beloved in life, then he shall be with her in death. A true lover and romantic.
Minor Characters:Eurydice- Creons wife who practically knits in her room until it is her time to die. Her suicide is seen to be Creons punishment for his harsh actions.
Tiresias- blind prophet. Tells Creon he will be damned for his actions, “A corpse for a corpse the price, and flesh for flesh, one of your own begotten.”
Pivotal Event- Is when Antigone is found dead. They push away the rock from the tomb and see that she has hung herself, “…hanging with a noose of linen round her neck…”. Haemon drew a sword and lunged to kill his father, who tries to console him, “…And now, come to me, my son. Your father begs you…”. Creon runs away and Haemon stabs himself in his side and kills himself, “…limply folded Antigone close to his arms…” This event is pivotal because is displays the consequences of the two main Characters. Antigone, who defied the law(Creons edict). And Creon who was inhuman and acted on hubris.
Themes:Love will make a person do all kinds of things.Antigones love for her brother lead her to defy the law and in the end Ismenes love for Antigone pushes her to take the heat with Antigone, even though she is denied it. And Haemon kills himself to be with the one he loves.
Moral law will bring justice to the folly in human law.Creons