SophocleSophocless

496 – 406 496 – 406 BCEBCE

Biographical InformationBiographical Information Born in Athens in the town of Colonus.Born in Athens in the town of Colonus. He grew up during the Persian Wars, and He grew up during the Persian Wars, and

was chosen to participate in the victory was chosen to participate in the victory celebrations for the Greek naval victory at celebrations for the Greek naval victory at Salamis in 480 BCE, an honor that suggests Salamis in 480 BCE, an honor that suggests that the young Sophocles was particularly that the young Sophocles was particularly talented and handsome. talented and handsome.

Sophocles was also a founder of the cult of Sophocles was also a founder of the cult of the god Asclepius (Greek god of healing and the god Asclepius (Greek god of healing and medicine) in 420 BCE, an activity which medicine) in 420 BCE, an activity which may have been connected to the may have been connected to the establishment of a public hospital establishment of a public hospital

Biographical InformationBiographical Information He wrote around one hundred and twenty-three plays He wrote around one hundred and twenty-three plays

for the Athenian theatre, and won twenty-four festivals for the Athenian theatre, and won twenty-four festivals -- he placed second in every festival that did not win. -- he placed second in every festival that did not win.

Only seven of his plays, however, have survived intact. Only seven of his plays, however, have survived intact. They are: They are: AjaxAjax, , AntigoneAntigone , , The Women of TrachisThe Women of Trachis , , Oedipus the KingOedipus the King, , ElectraElectra , , PhiloctetesPhiloctetes , and , and Oedipus Oedipus at Colonusat Colonus. .

He also introduced several key innovations, He also introduced several key innovations, including painted background scenery, including painted background scenery, changing the number of speaking actors from changing the number of speaking actors from two to three, and enlarging the chorus from two to three, and enlarging the chorus from twelve to fifteen men. twelve to fifteen men.

The Greek DramaThe Greek Drama The Greek drama began as a religious observance The Greek drama began as a religious observance

in honor of Dionysus, god of wine, agriculture, and in honor of Dionysus, god of wine, agriculture, and theater.theater.

Originally, the story was told in the form of a song, Originally, the story was told in the form of a song, chanted at first by everyone taking part in the chanted at first by everyone taking part in the festival, and later by a chorus of about fifty festival, and later by a chorus of about fifty performers, and at intervals in the song the leader performers, and at intervals in the song the leader would recite part of the story himself.would recite part of the story himself.

A Greek drama was in many ways much simpler A Greek drama was in many ways much simpler than a modern drama. There were fewer characters, than a modern drama. There were fewer characters, and usually only three speaking actors were allowed and usually only three speaking actors were allowed on the stage at once. There was only one story.on the stage at once. There was only one story.

Greek DramaGreek Drama Greek festivals were Greek festivals were

held yearly in the held yearly in the spring and it was spring and it was considered a holiday considered a holiday time for the citizens.time for the citizens.

Performances were Performances were directly related to directly related to Dionysus and were Dionysus and were preceded by a sacrifice.preceded by a sacrifice.

Festivals would last Festivals would last from sun up to sun from sun up to sun down and awards were down and awards were given to the best plays.given to the best plays.

Greek audiences were Greek audiences were very critical, and very critical, and shouts and applause, or shouts and applause, or groans and hisses groans and hisses showed its approval or showed its approval or disapproval of the play disapproval of the play

The ChorusThe Chorus The Chorus is a group of 12 to 15 actors who The Chorus is a group of 12 to 15 actors who

offered a variety of background and summary offered a variety of background and summary information to help the audience follow the information to help the audience follow the performance. performance.

The chorus expressed to the audience what the The chorus expressed to the audience what the main characters could not say, such as their main characters could not say, such as their fears or secrets. fears or secrets.

The The Greek chorusGreek chorus usually communicated in usually communicated in song form, but sometimes spoke their lines in song form, but sometimes spoke their lines in unison. unison.

As the Greek theaters were so large, the chorus' As the Greek theaters were so large, the chorus' actions had to be exaggerated and their voices actions had to be exaggerated and their voices clear so that everyone could see and hear them. clear so that everyone could see and hear them.

ProloguePrologue Oedipus and his family are the central figures in Oedipus and his family are the central figures in

this Greek mythology story.this Greek mythology story. Two generations before the story of Antigone, Two generations before the story of Antigone,

King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes had a King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes had a newborn son who, according to the oracle of newborn son who, according to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, was destined to kill his father Apollo at Delphi, was destined to kill his father and marry his motherand marry his mother..

They were horrified by this prophecy and they They were horrified by this prophecy and they devised a plan to get rid of their child.devised a plan to get rid of their child.

Laius pierced the baby’s feet with an iron pin to Laius pierced the baby’s feet with an iron pin to prevent him from crawling and gave him to a prevent him from crawling and gave him to a shepard, with orders to abandon the child in the shepard, with orders to abandon the child in the the mountains where he would die from exposure.the mountains where he would die from exposure.

Prologue Cont.Prologue Cont. The shephard took pity on the child and instead, The shephard took pity on the child and instead,

gave him to his employers, King Polybus and gave him to his employers, King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth.Queen Merope of Corinth.

They named him Oedipus, which means “swollen They named him Oedipus, which means “swollen foot”. foot”.

When Oedipus became a young man had heard When Oedipus became a young man had heard rumors that he was adopted so he set out to find rumors that he was adopted so he set out to find out the truth. He asked the oracle who told him out the truth. He asked the oracle who told him the prophecy about killing his father and marrying the prophecy about killing his father and marrying his mother.his mother.

Oedipus was horrified and didn’t want to hurt his Oedipus was horrified and didn’t want to hurt his parents so he left Corinth never to return.parents so he left Corinth never to return.

Prologue Cont.Prologue Cont. Oedipus traveled through Oedipus traveled through

Greece and eventually Greece and eventually arrived near Thebes, which arrived near Thebes, which was, at the time, being was, at the time, being ravaged by a savage ravaged by a savage monster, the Sphinx.monster, the Sphinx.

He came upon a He came upon a crossroads and argued crossroads and argued with another traveler with another traveler about the right-of-way. about the right-of-way. The traveler was King The traveler was King Laius who was on his way Laius who was on his way to try and kill the sphinx.to try and kill the sphinx.

Laius insulted Oedipus and Laius insulted Oedipus and so he took out his sword so he took out his sword and killed Laius.and killed Laius.

Prologue Cont.Prologue Cont. Oedipus continued on his journey and came upon the Oedipus continued on his journey and came upon the

Sphinx. The monster controlled the path and asked Sphinx. The monster controlled the path and asked each traveler a riddle. If they did not get the riddle each traveler a riddle. If they did not get the riddle correct then she would eat them. The riddle was: correct then she would eat them. The riddle was: “What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at “What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?noon, and three legs in the evening?

Oedipus answered correctly and the Sphinx was so Oedipus answered correctly and the Sphinx was so upset she threw herself off a cliff and died.upset she threw herself off a cliff and died.

The city of Thebes was so grateful they named him The city of Thebes was so grateful they named him King and gave him the hand of marriage to the King and gave him the hand of marriage to the recently widowed Queen Jacosta. They had four recently widowed Queen Jacosta. They had four children together, 2 sons Eteocles and Polynices, and children together, 2 sons Eteocles and Polynices, and two girls Antigone and Ismene.two girls Antigone and Ismene.

Oedipus the KingOedipus the King by by SophoclesSophocles

Oedipus the KingOedipus the King – The King discovers that he has – The King discovers that he has killed his father Laius and married his own killed his father Laius and married his own mother. This terrible abomination causes a mother. This terrible abomination causes a plague to sweep the land. The citizens of Thebes plague to sweep the land. The citizens of Thebes beg the King to cleanse the area of its terrible beg the King to cleanse the area of its terrible secret and the King swears to find the root of their secret and the King swears to find the root of their suffering. When the secret is publicly revealed his suffering. When the secret is publicly revealed his wife/mother commits suicide and Oedipus pokes wife/mother commits suicide and Oedipus pokes his eyes out with the brooch from her dress. He his eyes out with the brooch from her dress. He holds his two daughters Antigone and Ismene in holds his two daughters Antigone and Ismene in his arms and then is exiled forever from Thebes.his arms and then is exiled forever from Thebes.

Oedipus at ColonusOedipus at Colonus Oedipus at Colonus - Oedipus at Colonus - Oedipus becomes a wanderer, Oedipus becomes a wanderer,

pursued by Creon and his men. He finally finds pursued by Creon and his men. He finally finds refuge at the holy wilderness right outside of refuge at the holy wilderness right outside of Athens, where it is said that Theseus took care of Athens, where it is said that Theseus took care of him and his daughter, Antigone. Creon him and his daughter, Antigone. Creon eventually catches up to Oedipus. He asks eventually catches up to Oedipus. He asks Oedipus to come back from Colonus to bless his Oedipus to come back from Colonus to bless his son, Eteocles. Angry that his son did not care for son, Eteocles. Angry that his son did not care for him enough to take care of him, he curses both him enough to take care of him, he curses both Eteocles and brother, condemning to sudden Eteocles and brother, condemning to sudden deaths. He died a peaceful death and his grave is deaths. He died a peaceful death and his grave is said to be sacred to the gods. said to be sacred to the gods.

AntigoneAntigone by Sophocles by Sophocles Antigone – When Oedipus stepped down he Antigone – When Oedipus stepped down he

gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, who both agreed to alternate and Polynices, who both agreed to alternate the throne every year. However, they showed the throne every year. However, they showed no concern for their father, who cursed them no concern for their father, who cursed them for their negligence. After the first year, for their negligence. After the first year, Eteocles refused to step down and Polynices Eteocles refused to step down and Polynices attacked Thebes with his supporters. Both attacked Thebes with his supporters. Both brothers died in the battle. King Creon, who brothers died in the battle. King Creon, who ascended to the throne of Thebes, decreed ascended to the throne of Thebes, decreed that Polynices was not to be buried, that he that Polynices was not to be buried, that he was a traitor. Antigone defies his order and was a traitor. Antigone defies his order and buries her brother herself.buries her brother herself.