ANTIGONE

The Story Behind the Story

Nafis Kamal

Reg. No: 13116003

Department of English

University of Asia Pacific

THE MYTH OF OEDIPUS

• Laius (King of Thebes) and Jocasta (Queen) conceive a child.

• Laius consults the Oracle at Delphi for a prediction of the future

• The Oracle predicts that a son born to Laius and Jocasta will kill his father and marry his mother.

If you were the parent of this soon-to-be-born child, what would you do?

OMIGOSH!

• When the son is born, Laius and Jocasta attempt to avert their fates:o They drive a rivet into the child’s ankleso They give the child to a servant and instruct him

to abandon the baby on Mt. Cithaeron. What do you think of these parents’ attempt to avert

fate?

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE INTERVENES

• The servant cannot abandon the child to die, so he gives the child to a shepherd who carries it to Corinth.

• The child is raised by the King and Queen of Corinth, who name the baby Oedipus (means “swollen foot”).

• When Oedipus is a young man, he begins to think “I need a life…”

• He consults the Oracle. What did the Oracle predict for him?

FATE AVERTED AGAIN (OR NOT)

• Oedipus leaves Corinth to avoid his awful fate.

• On the journey, he meets a man who rudely forces him from the road.

• In retaliation, Oedipus pulls the man from his chariot and kills him.

What do you think of Oedipus’ action here?

OEDIPUS TRAVELS TO THEBES…

• Thebes is under seige by the Sphinx.• Oedipus saves the day.• Oedipus receives the throne of Thebes (the Queen is the

bonus).• All goes well for 20 years, until the truth of Oedipus's past is

revealed.• The bulk of Oedipus the King tells how this truth "comes to

light."• Oedipus reacts by blinding himself, and Jocasta kills herself. • What do you think of their reactions?

WHERE ANTIGONE COMES IN…

• Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta

• She has three siblings:o Ismene, sistero Polyneices, brothero Eteocles, brother

• Antigone, Ismene live with their uncle, Creon, King of Thebes

As Princess of Thebes, what kind of life does Antigone enjoy? Think about everything!

PRIOR TO THE STORY OF ANTIGONE (BEFORE THE PLAY OPENS)

• In a fight for control of the throne of Thebes, Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other on the field of battle.

• Because Polyneices raised an army against Thebes, Creon brands him a traitor.

• He accords Eteocles full burial honors; but not Polyneices…

THE CHARACTERS OF THE DRAMA

• Antigone (daughter of Oedipus)• Ismene (her sister)• Creon (their uncle, the brother of Jocasta)• Eurydice (your-id-i-see) wife of Creon• Haimon (son of Creon & Eurydice)• Teiresias (Tie-ree-see-as) a blind prophet

After After Oedipus is exiled, he is exiled, he leaves the ruling rights of leaves the ruling rights of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices who must take it and Polynices who must take it in turns to rule. in turns to rule.

Eteocles rules first but the two Eteocles rules first but the two becomes enemies after Eteocles becomes enemies after Eteocles refues to give up the throne, refues to give up the throne, and Polynieces is exiled. and Polynieces is exiled.

At the beginning of the play, At the beginning of the play, both brothers are dead, both brothers are dead, apparently slain by the other's apparently slain by the other's hand. hand.

The current The current ruler, Creon, has ruler, Creon, has made a decree: made a decree: Since Polynices Since Polynices fought against fought against Thebes, he shall Thebes, he shall not be buried. not be buried. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be Eteocles is to be buried with full buried with full military honors.military honors.

Antigone, the daughter Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the of Oedipus and the sister of the dead sister of the dead brothers, believes this brothers, believes this proclamation to be proclamation to be against the gods' orders. against the gods' orders.

She confides her plan to She confides her plan to bury Polynices herself to bury Polynices herself to her sister Ismene. The her sister Ismene. The more timid of the two, more timid of the two, Ismene refuses to take Ismene refuses to take part out of fear, but part out of fear, but agrees with her motive.agrees with her motive.

Why study Antigone?Why study Antigone?

Ancient Greek Drama is the basis for all modern drama and film

The story gives many important clues to the Ancient Greek culture and character

Tragedies still contain the basic elements that they originated with

Film Versions of Film Versions of AntigoneAntigone

AntigoneAntigone (1964) (1964) Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Sophocles’ play about the daughter of Sophocles’ play about the daughter of King Oedipus caught in a moral King Oedipus caught in a moral dilemma about whether to obey the dilemma about whether to obey the laws of the state or to follow her laws of the state or to follow her conscience is brought to the screen conscience is brought to the screen with Irene Papas performing the title with Irene Papas performing the title role. English subtitles role. English subtitles

AntigoneAntigone (1974) (1974)Directed by Gerald Freedman, this Directed by Gerald Freedman, this screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, and Fritz Weaver.and Fritz Weaver.

AntigoneAntigone (1984) (1984)Don Taylor directed this made for TV Don Taylor directed this made for TV adaptation of Sophocles’ play adaptation of Sophocles’ play