Antigone.

Time, Background and Context.

Antigone is the third play in Sophocles' 'The three Theban plays' series. The other two are Oedipus the king and Oedipus at Colonus which tell the story of a man who desperately runs from his disturbing fate but can never fully escape it. Antigone focuses on `Oedipus' niece, called Antigone.The play is first and foremost a tragedy, although it is short it is incredibly moving. 

The author, Sophocles, was something of a celebrity in ancient Greece for two reasons. First, he wrote excellent plays (mostly tragedies): Antigone, written in 441BC is widely considered his best work. Second, he was an ex military general who fought in the Peloponnesian war. This not only earned him huge respect but also played a key factor in the shaping of his plays which often have militant themes.

Antigone is also a very political play (who said Brecht invented that?!) as it explores the idea of mortal law vs divine law. This was a very relevant question to ask at the time because at the end of the Peloponnesian war (after the coup in 411BC) a new ruling body was placed in Athens which imposed many new laws. The play is set in the city of Thebes which is about 90km away from Athens, so the politics of both cities were closely linked.

Sophocles debated whether these laws (mortal laws) should be held in higher order than those set by Zeus and the gods (divine laws). Other themes in Antigone are family, honour, greed and repentance.

Plot Overview.

There has been an uprising in the city of Thebes. Two brothers have been on either side of the conflict: Polynices led the rebels and Eteocles led the defence of the city. Locked in combat, the two brothers kill each other and the rebel army is ultimately defeated.

"Nothing of loved ones, no joy or pain has come my way not since the two of us were robbed of our brothers." - Ismene opening the play.

As the two sons of the now dead King Oedipus, the next in line to the throne of Thebes is Creon (Antigone's uncle). Upon seizing power, Creon makes his first decree: Eteocles dead body is the be honoured and buried in the proper greek way but the rebel Polynices body is to be left for the carrion birds.

"He's to be left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that can scan the field and feast to their hearts content. - Antigone distraught at her brother's treatment.

All these events happen before the play starts, they are discussed by Antigone and Ismene, the two sisters of the dead brothers, in the first scene. In this secret conversation Antigone tells her sister that she will sneak onto the battlefiled at night and bury Polynices despite king Creons statement. Ismene tries to convince her otherwise, but Antigone is firm.

"And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory. I will lie with the one I love and loved by him - an outrage sacred to the gods!" - Antigone full of righteous anger at her brother's treatment.

Antigone performs the burial rites on her brother in the night and the next morning a sentry (the only comedic character) brings the news of Polynice's burial to Creon, who is furious. He orders a secret guard to be placed on the body so when the defier comes back to complete the rites they can be brought to justice. The sentry does this and find Antigone burying the body, he takes her back to Creon.

"Everyone - the whole crew bribed to commit this crime, they've made one thing sure at least: sooner or later they will pay the price." - Creon raging at being undermined.

Creon doesn't believe his niece Antigone would do such a thing and so he has a furious but very funny rant at the poor sentry. Antigone is proud of her crime however and when Ismene is summoned she falsely claimed she helped Antigone with the deed. Antigone rejects her instantly though.

"I have no love for a friend who loves in words alone" - Antigone talking about Ismene.

At this point, a new character enters - Haemon, he is Antigone's husband and Creon's son. He pleads with his father not to kill Antigone but Antigone's continual refusal to repent her crimes drives Creon into a rage. After a shouting match with Haemon he decrees that Antigone should be locked in a cave and starve to death.

"What a splendid king you'd make of a desert island. You and you alone." - Haemon calls his father Creon selfish.

After Antigone is taken to her cave tomb, a prophet called Tiresias comes to speak with Creon. He forewarns that unless this act of injustice is undone, the wrath of the gods shall rain down on Thebes and all those in it.

"Suddenly I heard it, a strange voice in the wingbeats, unintelligible, barbaric, a mad scream! Talons flashing, ripping, they were killing each other - that much I knew - the murderous fury whirring in those wings made that much clear." - Tiresias talking of his prophecy in which many birds destroy Thebes.

Fearing the god's wrath Creon flees to the mountain caves where he buried Antigone in order to save her (and himself). When the tomb is opened though, they find that Antigone has hung herself. Upon seeing her dead body, Haemon kills himself then and there.

"Its a dreadful thing to yield . . . but resist now? Lay my pride bare to the blows of ruin." - Creon debating whether he should rescue Antigone.

Just as Creon starts mourning his son, a messenger arrives to tell him that his wife has committed suicide after hearing of her son Haemon's death. Filled with overwhelming at the end of the play, Creon collapses into a regretting monologue to the chorus.

"I murdered you, my son, against my will - you too, my wife . . . Wailing wreck of a man, whom to look to? Where to lean for support?" - Creon lamenting his fate whilst holding Haemon's dead body.