Antigone
By Sophocles
Background
Written by Sophocles
 Text written in 441 B.C.
 Third in the Theban Plays Trilogy
 Written before Oedipus the King and
Oedipus at Colonus

Sophocles
Themes

Sins of the father are the sins of the child
 Loyalty
 Religious v. Political duty
 Tyranny v. Democracy
 Indifference v. Awareness
 Conformity v. Individuality
 Law v. Morality
 Free will v. Fate
 Democracy v. Autocracy
 Feminism v. Male power structure
 Individual v. State
 Conscience v. Law
Cast of Characters
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Antigone
Creon
Ismene
Eurydice
Haemon
Teiresias
Polynices/Eteocles
Antigone and Creon
Protagonist and Antagonist
Antigone and Ismene
Creon
After Oedipus learns the truth
and leaves Thebes…
His two sons Polynices and Eteocles fight
with each other for the right to rule
Thebes.
 Eteocles stays in the city while Polynices
with the help of foreign kings, tries to
conquer Thebes.
 The two brothers kill each other in battle
and now the king is Creon, their uncle.

As the new king Creon…
Decides that since Eteocles stayed in
Thebes he should be considered the
defender of the city and as such be buried
as a hero
 While Polynices, having sought the help of
foreigners, should be considered an
enemy of the state and as such Creon
orders that he not be buried

Antigone’s choice
Creon the king and Theban law says that
Polynices is a traitor and as such can not
be buried
 Antigone’s conscience and religion tell her
that it is against the law of the gods to
leave a corpse unburied, and it is her duty
as his sister to bury him

Conscience and Responsibility
What are Antigone’s responsibilities?
 What are her options?
 What is the price to pay?
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Greek Theater
The Stage
The Stage
Three 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 Theater

The Skene
 The
large backdrop
 Could be decorated with scenery
 Where the action actually took place (hidden)
 Roof was accessible
 Originally one door in the center, but
eventually had three doors
The Skene
The Theaters

Theater of Dionysos
Athens
 Main theater for
tragedy
 4th century remains
 c. 20,000 seats
 Located on side of
Acropolis

The Theaters

Theater of Epidauros
The best-preserved
 Largest surviving
theater
 Located near Argos
in the Peloponnesus
 Sanctuary of
Aesclepius
 Still in use today

Theater of Epidauros
Greek Masks