AntigoneAntigone

By SophoclesBy Sophocles

BackgroundBackground

Written by SophoclesWritten by SophoclesText written in 441 B.C.Text written in 441 B.C.Third in the Theban Plays Trilogy Third in the Theban Plays Trilogy Written before Oedipus the King and Written before Oedipus the King and

Oedipus at ColonusOedipus at Colonus

SophoclesSophocles

ThemesThemes Sins of the father are the sins of the childSins of the father are the sins of the child

LoyaltyLoyalty Religious v. Political dutyReligious v. Political duty

Tyranny v. DemocracyTyranny v. Democracy Indifference v. AwarenessIndifference v. Awareness Conformity v. IndividualityConformity v. Individuality

Law v. MoralityLaw v. Morality Free will v. FateFree will v. Fate

Democracy v. AutocracyDemocracy v. Autocracy Feminism v. Male power structureFeminism v. Male power structure

Individual v. StateIndividual v. State Conscience v. LawConscience v. Law

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

AntigoneAntigone CreonCreon IsmeneIsmene EurydiceEurydice HaemonHaemon TeiresiasTeiresias Polynices/EteoclesPolynices/Eteocles

Antigone and CreonAntigone and CreonProtagonist and AntagonistProtagonist and Antagonist

Antigone and IsmeneAntigone and Ismene

CreonCreon

After Oedipus learns the truth After Oedipus learns the truth and leaves Thebes…and leaves Thebes…

His two sons Polynices and Eteocles His two sons Polynices and Eteocles fight with each other for the right to fight with each other for the right to rule Thebes.rule Thebes.

Eteocles stays in the city while Eteocles stays in the city while Polynices with the help of foreign Polynices with the help of foreign kings, tries to conquer Thebes.kings, tries to conquer Thebes.

The two brothers kill each other in The two brothers kill each other in battle and now the king is Creon, battle and now the king is Creon, their uncle.their uncle.

As the new king Creon…As the new king Creon…

Decides that since Eteocles stayed in Decides that since Eteocles stayed in Thebes he should be considered the Thebes he should be considered the defender of the city and as such be defender of the city and as such be buried as a heroburied as a hero

While Polynices, having sought the While Polynices, having sought the help of foreigners, should be help of foreigners, should be considered an enemy of the state considered an enemy of the state and as such Creon orders that he not and as such Creon orders that he not be buriedbe buried

AntigoneAntigone’’s choices choice

Creon the king and Theban law says Creon the king and Theban law says that Polynices is a traitor and as such that Polynices is a traitor and as such can not be buriedcan not be buried

AntigoneAntigone’’s conscience and religion s conscience and religion tell her that it is against the law of tell her that it is against the law of the gods to leave a corpse unburied, the gods to leave a corpse unburied, and it is her duty as his sister to bury and it is her duty as his sister to bury himhim

Conscience and Conscience and ResponsibilityResponsibility

What are AntigoneWhat are Antigone’’s responsibilities?s responsibilities?What are her options?What are her options?What is the price to pay?What is the price to pay?

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

The StageThe Stage

The StageThe StageThree 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

The Parts of a TheaterThe Parts of a Theater

The SkeneThe SkeneThe large backdropThe large backdropCould be decorated with sceneryCould be decorated with sceneryWhere the action actually took place Where the action actually took place

(hidden)(hidden)Roof was accessibleRoof was accessibleOriginally one door in the center, but Originally one door in the center, but

eventually had three doorseventually had three doors

The SkeneThe Skene

The TheatersThe Theaters

Theater of Theater of DionysosDionysos AthensAthens Main theater for Main theater for

tragedytragedy 44thth century remains century remains c. 20,000 seatsc. 20,000 seats Located on side of Located on side of

AcropolisAcropolis

The TheatersThe Theaters

Theater of Theater of EpidaurosEpidauros The best-preservedThe best-preserved Largest surviving Largest surviving

theatertheater Located near Argos Located near Argos

in the in the PeloponnesusPeloponnesus

Sanctuary of Sanctuary of AesclepiusAesclepius

Still in use todayStill in use today

Theater of EpidaurosTheater of Epidauros

Greek MasksGreek Masks