ENGLISH 3201

Study / Review Notes

Introduction

Author: Sophocles (496 – 406 B.C.) Genre: Drama Setting:Athens, Greece

Greek drama originated from the Greek ritual of honouring the God, Dionysus. Its purpose was to celebrate the power of the Gods and to show the vulnerability of humans who make errors in life.

Introduction (Tragedy)

Keeping in line with Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, most Greek dramas, including Antigone, were tragedies as they contained four necessary tragic elements :

serious issues complete (a beginning, middle and end) magnitude/elistist (about important people) events evoked pity and fear in the audience,

in order to effect a catharsis (emotional release). Tragic hero aroused most pity.

Introduction (Chorus)

Greek tragedies also contained a chorus: a group of actors speaking in unison who :

provided a running commentary/summary

represented the point of view of the common man

established the mood

So what happened before “Antigone”?

Background

Background

The play Oedipus Rex details how Oedipus had unwittingly killed his father (Laius), married his mother (Jocasta), had fathered four children with her (Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, Polynices), refused to listen to the blind prophet, Teiresias, uncovered his true parentage, led his wife to suicide, blinded himself, and was exiled to Thebes. Upon his banishment, Oedipus’ loyal daughter, Antigone, decides to accompany and guide him. Oedipus kept travelling because no land wanted to be polluted by having his body buried in their soil (Oedipus at Colonus).

Background (2)

In Antigone, Oedipus' other daughter, Ismene, arrives with terrible news : Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polynices have quarrelled over who is to rule Thebes. Polynices leaves home to find help for his claim to the throne. He requests Oedipus' blessing - but Oedipus is appalled at his sons’ behaviour and curses them both - a curse that they should kill each other. Old Oedipus then dies. Oedipus' daughters return to Thebes, where Eteocles now rules alone. Polynices eventually reaches Argos where he marries the king’s daughter and is promised the throne of Thebes. Seven armies led by seven heroes (Polynices and his father-in-law) attack the seven gates of Thebes. Thebes, under Eteocles and his uncle Creon, resist - there is a stalemate. To settle the quarrel, it is decided that seven Argive champions should face seven Theban champions in single combat at each of the seven gates. The Thebans are successful, however both Eteocles and Polynices die. Each kill the other in fulfilment of their father's curse.

Background (3)

Creon is now the undisputed king of Thebes, and this is where the play Antigone begins.

The Characters & The Plot

Who is Who in the Zoo?

Antigone

Antigone: Daughter/sister of Oedipus. After her father went into total exile, she and her sister resided in the house of Creon. Her brothers Polynices and Eteocles were casualties in a brutal war for power, each brother dying by the other's hand. Creon has declared a law or edict or proclamation that Eteocles will be honored with burial, while Polynices' body is left to rot.

Antigone will not leave one brother unburied, despite the edict. Defiant and self-righteous, Antigone ranks her conscience, loyalty to her family, and respect for the Gods above the authority of the state (Creon).

Ismene

Ismene: Antigone's last surviving sibling, she is the foil for her stronger sister. Compared to Antigone, she has almost no agency; she is characterized by inaction. She neither helps bury Polynices, nor is she able to die with Antigone.

The Chorus

Chorus of Theban Elders: The Chorus comments on the action and interacts with Creon, actively interceding with advice at a critical moment late in the play. They are Theban elders, important for maintaining order in the city, and Creon summons them to win their loyalty. They watch the unfolding of events with sympathy and a discerning eye, pitying Creon and Antigone, but also commenting critically on their faults.

Creon

Creon: Ruler of Thebes in the wake of war, Creon cherishes order and loyalty above all. He cannot bear to be defied, any more than he can bear to watch the laws of the state defied. He leaves Polynices' body to be defiled, while honouring Eteocles. He feels that he cannot give equal recognition to both brothers when one was a traitor and the other was loyal. He does not recognize that other forms of justice exist. In his pride, he condemns Antigone, defies the gods, and brings ruin upon himself. He is the tragic hero.

Haemon

Haemon: Son of Creon and Eurydice. Haemon is engaged to Antigone. In a dramatic dialogue with his father, Haemon defends the moral grounding of Antigone's actions, while warning his father that the people of Thebes sympathize with the girl. He and his father part in anger. Haemon's devotion to Antigone is clear; at her death, he is so distraught that he tries to kill his father and then kills himself.

Teiresias

Teiresias: The blind prophet. He warns Creon that the Gods do not approve of his treatment of Polynices' body or Antigone. Creon then insults him. Teiresias responds with a prophecy foretelling the death of one of Creon's children, warning that all of Greece will despise the king if he does not relent. The prophet is an important part of Sophocles' vision. Through him, the will of the Gods is conveyed & his existence implies that one must obey and defer to the will of the Gods.

The “Others”

Messenger: The Messenger reports the respective suicides of Antigone and Haemon to the Chorus and Eurydice. He leaves to follow Eurydice when she runs off in grief.

Eurydice: Creon's wife and Haemon's mother. Broken by her son's suicide, she kills herself, calling curses down on Creon for causing the tragedy.

Second Messenger: The Second Messenger reports Eurydice's suicide to the Chorus & Creon. Creon, already broken by Haemon's death, has to confront the suicide of his wife.

Sentry: brings the news that Polynices has been buried. He also captures Antigone.

Conflict in “Antigone”

The Struggles

Conflict (1)

The beginning of the play reveals that Antigone feels that it is her duty to bury her dead brother. Burial rites assumed great importance for the ancient Greeks.

Antigone, therefore, is determined to carry out her promise to her brother But she is also, in her view, fulfilling a higher law –she is acting according to her religious duty.

Her comment to Ismene: ‘I owe a longer allegiance to the dead than to the living’ implies that she cannot dishonor the laws which the Gods have established. (Divine Law)

Conflict (2)

The basic theme of Antigone is developed by conflict - conflict caused by divided loyalties: between Antigone and Ismene, Antigone and Creon, Creon and the Gods, Creon and Teiresias, Creon and the Sentry, Creon and himself, and Haemon and Creon based primarily on the idea of Divine Law (it is sacred to bury the dead) versus Creon’s edict (Civil Law).

Themes in “Antigone”

The Main Message

Pride Can Result in Man’s Downfall. Pride can result in man’s downfall. (Both Antigone and

Creon suffer from pride that is coupled with arrogance. Neither of them is willing to heed wise advice. In literature, excess pride is referred to as hubris. Antigone’s pride makes her a heroine, a noble figure who would die for her family’s honour. However, Creon’s pride cripples him, rendering him the tragic hero.

Creon creates a law that he believes is equivalent to divine law, yet no mortal has such power. When Teiresias informs Creon that he has overstepped his bounds, Creon only relents for self-preservation. He simply wants to save his own life. He still does not realize that he has deeply offended the Gods. For his lack of understanding, the Gods exact revenge with the deaths of Haemon and Eurydice.

“The blight upon us is your doing. . .Only a fool is governed by self-will. . .It is no glory to kill and kill again.” (Teiresias, p.153, text)

Morals and Laws Differ.

Morals and laws differ. (Antigone’s conscience, loyalty, devotion to the Gods, and love and respect for her family propels her to break Creon’s edict and bury her brother. She then proudly admits her role in the crime. She understands that she is breaking the law, but feels she had little choice. She has to do the right thing. To do otherwise – to let her brother’s corpse rot – is immoral. She is so dedicated to her convictions that she is willing to die for them.)

  ‘I will bury my brother; And if I die for it, what

happiness!’ (Antigonep.128, text)

The state Versus The Individual.  The state is more powerful than the

individual. (Creon banishes Antigone to a cave and sentences her to death when she challenges his rule.)

‘Away with her at once, and close her up in her rock vaulted tomb. Leave her and let her die, if die she must, or live within her dungeon.’ (Creon, p.150, text)

Divine Law Versus Man-Made Law. Divine Law supercedes man-made law. (Despite

the fact that Creon was King of Thebes, his failure to heed the will of the Gods - divine law – resulted in his downfall. Creon makes the mistake of condemning Antigone to death for burying her brother contrary to his edict. The Gods, in turn, condemn Creon as he does not condemn Antigone in order to protect his state; he does so to protect his reputation as both a king and a man).

“That order did not come from God. Justice, that dwells with the Gods below, knows no such law. I did not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man.” (Antigone, p.138)

Women should not challenge men. Women should not challenge men.

(Particularly so in Greek society, women were subservient to men. We witness this weakness with Ismene who dares not challenge the edict of her uncle. Antigone ignores her gender and upsets the status quo by openly and proudly challenging her Uncle’s law. She is both defiant and rebellious, two “unladylike” traits for the era. And even when Creon realizes he may be wrong, his pride will not let him admit defeat to a mere woman.

‘Take them and keep them within – the proper place for women.” (p.142, text)

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

(Tyranny reigns when a leader rules without concern for his subjects. Creon’s intentions are initially noble as he wants to do what is best for Thebes, but he becomes prey to human weakness and poor judgment.)

“The people of Thebes! Since when do I take my orders from the people of Thebes?” (Creon, p.146, text)

Where have we seen this theme in other novels?

Inaction Stems From Fear. Inaction stems from fear. (Ismene is reluctant to

challenge Creon, men in general, or the law. She refuses to help Antigone bury their brother. Her “lack of agency” or inaction is based both in her fear of consequences and her uncertainty about her role as a woman in Greek society. At the end of the play however, she catches some of Antigone’s strength and begs unsuccessfully to die with her sister.)

“O think Antigone; we are women; it is not for us to fight against men; our rulers are stronger than we, and we must obey in this, or in worse than this. May the dead forgive me, I can do no other but as I am commanded; to do more is madness.” (Ismene, p.128)

Other Themes

Follow the will of the Gods. (In Greek society, the Gods were revered and worshipped. One did not challenge the Gods. To disrespect the Gods in this manner was a heinous violation of societal norms. To do so would invite the wrath of the Gods.)

One cannot escape fate. (Oedipus cursed his sons to death if they could not reconcile.)

Wisdom is gained through suffering and experience. (Creon)

“Of happiness the crown and chiefest part is wisdom, and to hold the Gods in awe. This is the law that, seeing the stricken heart of pride brought down, we learn when we are old.” (Chorus, p.162, text)

Creon as the Tragic Hero

Isn’t it Tragic!

Definition of a Tragic Hero

Aristotle defined a ‘tragic hero’ as one who is :

a person of noble birth has some good in him, but is not

overwhelmingly virtuous or just has a flaw in his character which brings about an error in his judgement and he moves from happiness to misery

What Makes Creon a Tragic Hero? Creon is King of Thebes, hence from noble

origins. He wants to be a strong leader for Thebes, hence he is basically good.

  ‘As God above is my witness, who sees

all, when I see any danger threatening my people, whatever it may be, I shall declare it. No man who is this country’s enemy shall call himself my friend. Of this I am sure – our country is our life’ (Creon, p. 131, text)

Creon’s Flaw

His fatal flaw is his pride mingled with arrogance - he refuses to listen to Antigone’s rationale for breaking his law. Refuses to listen to Haemon.

“So, father, pause and put aside your anger. I think, for what my young opinion’s worth, that, good as it is to have infallible wisdom, since this is rarely found, the next best thing is to listen to wise advice.” (p.145, text)

Creon’s Pride

His pride brings about an error in his judgement as he refuses to accept that he has overridden the Gods and he refuses to listen to Teiresias.

  ‘You take me for your target, reverend

sir, like all the rest. I know your art of old, and how you make me your commodity to trade and traffic in for your advancement.’ (Creon, p. 153, text)

Creon’s Downfall

He loses his family as a result of his flaw, reflecting a move from happiness to misery. He eventually acquires understanding of his flaw through the sorrow he feels at the deaths of Haemon and Eurydice.

“The sin, the sin… O the curse of my stubborn will” (p.160, text)

Summary (Creon as a Tragic Hero)

‘The central character of the play is Creon, a distinctly tragic figure who acts from sincere, patriotic, and selfless motives, but who is too inflexible and narrow in outlook to heed criticism or admit error until it is too late. At the close of the play Creon recognizes and accepts his guilt, but the consequences of his acts can no longer be changed. Creon’s tragedy is his inability to recognize that anyone else can be right and his failure to acknowledge a higher good than that of the state. In part, the characterization of Creon is Sophocles commentary on the corrupting influence that absolute power has even on a good man, and is typical of the democratic Athenian attitude.’

These will be used for review / study purposes only.

Review Questions

Let’s Review

  What news does Antigone break to Ismene? What does she ask

Ismene to do? Why does Ismene refuse? How does Ismene try to dissuade Antigone from taking action and with what success?

What is Creon’s view of kingship and the state? Why does he decide to treat the dead brothers unequally? What is your initial reaction to Creon?

When Creon asks Antigone why she has defied his order (edict), how does she answer? How does Creon respond? What vow does Creon make? Why does Antigone refuse to allow Ismene to share the blame? 

What major points does Creon make in his speech to Haemon? In response, what argument does Haemon make? When does Haemon lose control? Why? How does the chorus react when Haemon leaves?

Review (2)

How does Creon decide to punish Antigone? Why?

What are Antigone’s feelings before she is led away to die?

Who is Teiresias? What advice does he give Creon? Why? How does Creon receive the advice? What punishment does the blind prophet say is in store for Creon because of his stubbornness? At this point Creon experiences internal conflict. Explain.

What news does the messenger bring? What comparison does he make between Creon’s circumstances before and presently?

Review (3)

Comment on Creon’s situation as the play concludes. What does he ask for?

The chorus states a major theme at the conclusion of the play. What is it?

******Major issues to consider: character traits of major characters; Creon’s character change as the play progresses; conflicts, including motivations and resolution; theme(s) and how it is developed; climax; atmosphere; irony.

THAT’S A WRAP!

“Antigone” – The Theban Plays