Sophocles 496BC - 406BC

About the Author

The Greek playwright Sophocles was born in 496 BC at Colonus, near Athens. Unlike his younger contemporary, the often-misunderstood Euripides, Sophocles had the fortune of being revered for his genius during his own lifetime. He lived to the age of ninety, and his life coincided with the great golden age of the city-state of Athens. Sophocles came from a stable, well-to-do family, and from the beginning, it seemed that he was blessed in every way. Handsome, wealthy, and well-educated, Sophocles lived and died as one of Athens' most beloved citizens.

About the AuthorSophocles was an innovator in his art: he improved stage scenery, reduced the importance of the chorus, and, most significantly, added a third speaking actor to the traditional two. He made some of the best use of this last convention, writing scenes that capitalized on the dramatic potential of three on-stage actors. He is most famous for the Theban Plays, also known as the Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.

According to legend, Oedipus was a mythical king of Thebes. His fate had been foretold by a fortune teller and is important to know if we are to understand the context in which the play was set. The fortune teller predicted that he would kill his father and have children by his mother. This, according to the myth, did happen, when he accidentally killed his father and married his mother, Jocasta. They had four children, Polyneices, Eteocles, Ismene, and Antigone. This makes Oedipus both Antigone’s brother and father and Jocasta both her mother and grandmother.

Thebes, setting for Antigone

Colonus, birthplace of Sophocles

When Oedipus learns of his true heritage, he blinds himself and goes into exile. Eteocles and Polynices come of age and agree to rule Thebes in alternate years. Eteocles, at the end of his first year of rule, reneged on the agreement and refused to step down. Polynices then raised an army of traditional enemies of Thebes and led them against his city. The battle ends with the defeat of the invading army, but Eteocles and Polynices are both dead, killed by each other's hand. Their uncle, Creon, becomes king. Creon decrees that Polynices is a traitor and that he is not to have a proper burial. This decree by Creon sets up the context for the play, “Antigone.”

Themes and Subplots

•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

•families torn apart by political differences

•gender bias

•the death penalty

•suicide

Additional Ideas

What is a tragic hero?According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, a tragic hero possesses a defect, or tragic flaw, that brings about or contributes to his or her downfall. This flaw may be poor judgment, pride, weakness, or an excess of an admirable quality. The tragic hero recognizes his or her flaw and its consequences, but only after it is too late to change the course of events.

•BORN INTO NOBILITY

•RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATE

•ENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAW

•DOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT

EVENTUALLY BECOMING TRAGIC HEROES

•FALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEM

•REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE

•FACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONOR

•MEET A TRAGIC DEATH

FOR ALL TRAGIC HEROES

•THE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEAR (catharsis)

Tragic Heroes are:

emotional purification through Greek tragedy: according to Aristotle, a purifying of the emotions that is brought about in the audience of a tragic drama through the evocation of intense fear and pity

What is Catharsis?

Quotes by Sophocles

• Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.

• The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.

• The greatest grief are those we cause ourselves. • Men of ill judgment oft ignore the good

That lies within their hands, till they have lost it.

King Creon

“I intend to give my brother burial. I’ll be glad to die in the attempt,-- if it’s a crime, then it’s a crime that God commands.”