ANTIGONE BY SOPHOCLES

Class Notes

EPISODE ONE

ISMENE AND ANTIGONE SLIP AWAY TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT SITUATION

Exposition establishes two things:!

current situation in Thebes!

defines characters/roles of the two sisters!

Antigone is the younger sister, and most daring. She informs her sister of Creon’s edict!

Ismene is quieter and more docile - ideal Greek woman!

What will become of them? Will they have the same fate, or different?

ANTIGONE AND ISMENE

Antigone tells Ismene about Creon’s edict and asks for her help in burying Polynices!

Ismene is shocked by Antigone’s rebellion against authority, and lays out all the reasons why Polynices is getting what he deserves, and that they should be good girls!

Antigone is disgusted by Ismene’s cowardice, and says that death is the best possible reward for doing what is right!

Ismene promises to keep the secret, but refuses to do more, pointing out that Antigone can’t possibly be successful

CHORUS

Yay! The war is over and the danger is gone! That was really scary and ugly, but the gods were on our side and Polynices got what he deserved. Thanks Zeus and Nike! Let’s honor Dionysus with some festivities!!

Hey! Here comes King Creon! Wonder why he called us all here…

CREON

My countrymen, the ship of state is safe. The gods who rocked her, after a long, merciless pounding in the storm, have righted her once more."

Creon recaps how he came to be king, and explains his views on kingship:!

You cannot know a man until he is in a position of power!

A king cannot be afraid to seek advice!

Loyalty to country is far greater than that to a friend!

I will put my country before any personal feelings, and not call friend any who threatens my country!

As proof, he explains why Eteocles gets the hero’s burial, and Polynices will be left out to rot, a symbol of the ugliness of a traitor

SENTRY

I debated whether or not I should even come, but you have to know, so please don’t be mad at me, but someone sprinkled dust over Polynice’s body, and did burial rites!

None of the sentries saw anything, and there is no clue as to who might have done it: no footprint, no mark of shovel, no animal tracks!

It’s a mystery! And just my luck to tell it!

REACTION

Chorus thinks it’s an act of the gods!

Creon says there’s no way the gods would help a piece of trash like Polynices; it must have been some malcontent who bribed someone to do it *side-eye at the sentry*!

Sassy Sentry is Sassy, but denies any involvement

CHORUS

Of all the wonders on Earth, none is more wonderful than man!

Man subjugates the Earth and its beasts with his strength and skill!

Man has language and thought and can defeat all but death!

How wondrous it is that Man knows of Good and Evil! Much honor to he who obeys the laws! Prideful sinners will never find friendship in me!!

OH NO! THEY ARE BRINGING ANTIGONE! IS SHE THE LAWBREAKER?!

THEMES

Fate vs Free Will!

Family vs State!

Feminine Role in Society!

What is Justice!

What is Happiness

EPISODE TWO

SENTRY

That’ll teach me to swear oaths - I broke mine by coming back, but it’s totally worth it, because I TOLD YOU SO! I WIN! NEENER!!

Explains how he came to find Antigone re-burying the body, after they had un-buried it!

She confessed to him without shame or fear!

Continues to be hilarious

ANTIGONE AND CREON

Antigone admits responsibility and explains her position:!

God’s laws are greater than Man’s!

She is not guilty of breaking the highest law!

She is prepared to die for breaking his law!

She has no regrets

ANTIGONE AND CREON

Creon accuses Antigone of pride & promises to break her!

She will receive the strictest punishment, though she is his niece!

He accuses Ismene of participating, since when he saw her last she looked upset!

The punishment is death - Antigone asks for no delay

WHAT IS HONOR?

Antigone claims that burying her brother was an honorable action, and that most people agree!

Creon says that by honoring Polynices, she insults Eteocles, and that no one agrees with her!

Antigone claims duty to the dead!

Creon says that Polynices became an enemy when he attacked the city, and thus forfeited familial duty!

Antigone says she chooses Love over Hate!

Creon says he won’t be ruled by a woman

THE SISTERS

Ismene tries to claim guilt, but Antigone refuses!

Ismene wants to die with Antigone out of love for both her and Polynices!

Antigone refuses:!

Ismene doesn’t deserve the honor of dying for principle or the punishment for a crime she didn’t commit!

They made different choices, so should have different fates!

There has been enough death

NO MERCY

Ismene makes emotional plea to Creon for mercy!

We learn that Antigone is engaged to Creon’s son - they are in love!

Chorus echoes the sisters - asks if Creon is prepared to hurt so many people, including his son!

Creon doesn’t budge, has the girls taken inside to prevent escape

CHORUS

Curses run many generations, and the House of Labdacus is no exception!

The last of the line shall be ground out by pride and unwise speech!

When man presumes to the gods’ authority, they will fail spectacularly and suffer greatly

HAEMON

Begins with professions of loyalty and filial duty!

Suggests that a wise leader listens to advice, and points out that most Thebans think Antigone is a hero, not a traitor!

Begins to question Creon’s leadership, says Creon is wrong, but is trying to correct him, trying to help!

Threatens to die with Antigone, if the sentence is carried out

CREON

Praises Haemon for filial loyalty!

Long speech about the role of sons and rule of law!

To not punish a traitor would make him a traitor as well!

The law cannot be twisted or bent; it must be obeyed to the letter!

Disobedience leads to chaos, disaster, defeat!

Better to be beaten by a man than let a woman go unpunished!

Says that Antigone will be walled up in a cave with limited food, and left to die alone

CHORUS

Love is the most powerful of the forces!

No one can escape his madness!

Love can make a man do crazy, stupid things!

Love can turn families against each other!

Aphrodite defeats us all!

To whom is the chorus referring here?

EPISODE THREE