nAntigone
nThe strength of man’s intellect, or moral sense, or affection and the rules which society has sanctioned.
nThemes
nChoice and their consequences
nChoices made for apparently logical reasons can have their terrible unforseen consequences.
nCustoms and traditions
nPolytheists-believe in many gods
nGods and Religion
nBetrayal
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nCharacters
nCreon- Recently made Kings of Thebes, he is the uncle to his sister’s children: Eteocles, Polynieces, Antigone, and Ismene
nEteocles- He and his brother share the throne after his father left Thebes in shame. He and Creon fought against Polyneices and his foreign troops.
nPolynieces- Married into Argos family; seen as a traitor
nAntigone- Niece of Creon and sister to the two boys.
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nIsmene- Sister of Antigone and the two boys
nHaemon- Son of Creon and intended husband of Antigone.
nQueen Eurydice- Haemon’s mother
nChorus Leader- Usualy provides opportunity for dialogue within the chorus
nTiresisas- Blind soothsayer who is able to look into the future
nPrologue and Scene 1
nEteocles and Polyneices fought against each other. (Brothers)
nCreon sees Poly as a traitor and orders that his corpse remain unburied which condemns his spirit to roam the earth for one hundred years.
nAntigone in her grief calls on Ismene to join her in carrying out the burial in spite of the ruling
nSisterly duty?
nIsmene- As a woman they should not question the decisions of men- especially an edict of the king
nEach fail to persuade the other
nScene II
nCelebrating victory over Argos
nCreon reiterates his edict
nChorus seems uncertain and asks that younger men perform the task
nSomeone has sprinkled dust on Poly’s body and this is an attempt at burial
nElder suggests this is an act of God
nCreon tells the guard he will be responsible unless he finds the guilty party
nScene III
nGuard captures Antigone
nAfter dust was removed she was caught trying to bury her brother a 2nd time
nCreon questions her and she admits
nCreon condemns her
nShe asserts she has done a noble deed by honoring her family and following the “unwritten law”
nCreon suspects Ismene
nShe gives a false confession WHY?
nAntigone absolves her sister and Ismene pleads for Antigone’s life and reminds Creon that she is family and also betrothed to his son Haemon
nCreon will not reverse judgement WHY?
nScene IV and V
nAs Antigone and Ismene are led away, Haemon appears.
nHe appeals to Creon’s ego and asks him to free them to show he is a kind and forgiving ruler
nRejects b/c laws will not be questioned by a woman
nWill execute Antigone in Haemon’s presence
nHe leaves
nRuling is to bury Antigone alive with enough food and water
nScene VI
Tiresias-Blind “seer” brought before Creon
Creon is responsible for the sickness of the land
Poly’s unburied body polluted the city and gods will hear no more prayers and surrounding cities are being affected
Lose his son out of tyranny and selfishness
Allows Poly to be buried and Antigone to be set free
Antigone hanged herself
Haemon tries to stab Creon and fails; kills himself
Eurydice takes her own life
Creon is now surrounded by death
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