Is Antigone a good tragic hero?
Antigone is the tragic hero of Antigone; she presents recognition of the gods, exemplifies good virtues, and possess a fatal flaw, or hamartia. A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.
Who are the main characters in ' Antigone '?
Unlock This Study Guide Now
- Antigone. Antigone is the protagonist of the play. ...
- Creon. Creon is the King of Thebes and a recurring character throughout the Oedipus Trilogy. ...
- Ismene. Ismene is Antigone’s prudent and timid sister. ...
- Haemon. Haemon is Creon’s son and Antigone’s betrothed. ...
- Chorus of Theban Elders. ...
- Tiresias. ...
- Polynices and Eteocles. ...
- Eurydice. ...
- The Sentry. ...
- The Messenger. ...
How does Antigone suggest that Creon is a tyrant?
The character of Creon in Sophocles’ play Antigone shares some of the personality flaws and actions described by Plato. If Plato had read Antigone he would have considered Creon a tyrant because of decisions and swift actions against the citizens of his city-state. The image of the tyrant was fully developed in Plato's The Republic.
Why is Antigone the protagonist in 'Antigone'?
Antigone becomes the tragic figure and protagonist in the play because she is the one who seeks justice in a world that is devoid of it. I think that another reason why one can argue that she is ...
Is Antigone a trilogy?
Book details Oedipus is one of the most well known mythological figures of the ancient Greeks, and he was immortalized in Sophocles' trilogy of plays Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus.
Is Antigone a sequel?
Notable features. The Chorus in Antigone departs significantly from the chorus in Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes, the play of which Antigone is a continuation.
What is the prequel to Antigone?
Oedipus RexMuteDaughters of Oedipus (Antigone and Ismene)Date premieredc. 429 BCPlace premieredTheatre of Dionysus, AthensOriginal languageClassical Greek7 more rows
What is the difference between Antigone and Creon?
The main difference between Antigone and Creon is that Antigone is loyal to her family, but Creon is loyal to the state. Antigone and Creon are the two main characters in Sophocles' play Antigone. They also appear in Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus, which depict events that take place before the events of Antigone.
How long does it take to read Antigone?
The average reader will spend 1 hours and 20 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).
Why is Antigone so important?
Antigone came to symbolize democracy and resonated with Greece's war of independence against the Ottoman Empire, as well as America's struggle against communist Soviet Russia during the Cold War.
How long does the play Antigone last?
Run time: Approx. 80 minutes, no intermission All performances have been cancelled.
How old is Antigone in the play?
between 12 and 15 years oldThe onset of puberty and a girl's menstrual cycle determined marriageable age at that time. This means Antigone was likely between 12 and 15 years old, though she was more likely to be 15 than 12 years old during the play.
What is the meaning behind Antigone?
She is a sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene. The meaning of the name is, as in the case of the masculine equivalent Antigonus, "worthy of one's parents" or "in place of one's parents".
Who is more right Antigone or Creon?
Creon has honored the laws of the land but has not acknowledged the laws of the Gods. Antigone on the other hand was more right than wrong. Antigone, even though she was violating the human law made by Creon was only following what she thought was right by giving her brother Polynices a proper burial.
What is the tragic flaw of Antigone?
What tragic flaw does Antigone have? Antigone's tragic flaw is stubborn loyalty. She believes she has a sacred duty to bury her brother, even though she knows she will be killed for doing so. However, she fails to consider how her actions will affect her sister Ismene or her fiance Haemon.
Who is the tragic hero in Antigone?
CreonCreon is often mentioned as the tragic hero in Antigone, the third of the Theban plays.
How is Antigone related to Oedipus?
Antigone, in Greek legend, the daughter born of the unwittingly incestuous union of Oedipus and his mother, Jocasta.
Who is Antigone in Oedipus Rex?
OedipusCreonAntigonaTiresiasJocastaOedipus Rex/Characters
Is Antigone The daughter of Oedipus?
Antigone- She is the oldest daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. Her name in Greek means 'one who is of the opposite opinion' (anti = opposite, gnomi = opinion). She is the braver of Oedipus' two daughters, and believes that her brother, Polyneices, deserves a proper burial, so she sets out to do just that.
Is Oedipus dead in Antigone?
The key detail from Oedipus at Colonus is that Oedipus and his daughter Antigone spend time at Colonus, where Oedipus dies and his sons, Polynices and Eteocles, fight each other. By the end of the play, Oedipus is dead.
What is Antigone's moral ground?
In championing the laws of the gods above the laws of the state, Antigone occupies the ultimate high moral ground, but she is not impervious to doubt. Just before she is led off to her death, Antigone mourns the life she is leaving by her own choice and even seems to regret her decision.
What does Antigone represent in Oedipus the King?
At the conclusion of Oedipus the King, Antigone, with her sister Ismene, represents both the helpless innocence of a child and the undeniable proof of an incestuous union. The audience recognizes her pitiful, two-fold vulnerability, but beyond this she remains silent and unknown.
What is Antigone's devotion to her father?
Antigone's devotion to her father makes her an admirable character on her own, but also raises the audience's opinion of the sometimes cantankerous Oedipus, as a figure able to inspire and keep such love. As the heroine of Antigone, Oedipus' daughter grapples with Fate on her own, not just as a child or a dutiful daughter.
Is Antigone in chronological order?
Although the stories of the three tragedies are connected, Sophocles did not write them in chronological order, nor did he mean for them to be viewed in a particular sequence.
When was Antigone written?
Antigone ( / ænˈtɪɡəni / ann-TIG-ə-nee; Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνη) is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 441 BC. Of the three Theban plays Antigone is the third in order of the events depicted in the plays, but it is the first that was written.
When was Antigone first performed?
Antigone, opera by Arthur Honegger, premiered on December 28, 1927 at Théâtre de la Monnaie in Bruxelles.
Why is Creon devoid of arguments for mercy?
Once Creon has discovered that Antigone buried her brother against his orders, the ensuing discussion of her fate is devoid of arguments for mercy because of youth or sisterly love from the Chorus, Haemon or Antigone herself. Most of the arguments to save her center on a debate over which course adheres best to strict justice.
Why does Antigone want to bury Polynices' body?
In the opening of the play, Antigone brings Ismene outside the palace gates late at night for a secret meeting: Antigone wants to bury Polynices' body, in defiance of Creon's edict. Ismene refuses to help her, not believing that it will actually be possible to bury their brother, who is under guard, but she is unable to stop Antigone from going to bury her brother herself.
Why is the chorus sympathetic to Antigone?
The chorus is sympathetic to Antigone only when she is led off to her death. But when the chorus learns that the Gods are offended by what Creon has done, and that Creon's actions will result in the destruction of their city, then they ask Creon to change course. The city is of primary importance to the chorus.
What does Antigone sing in the chorus?
The chorus sing of the power of love. Antigone is brought in under guard on her way to execution. She sings a lament. The chorus compares her to the goddess Niobe, who was turned into a rock, and say it is a wonderful thing to be compared to a goddess. Antigone accuses them of mocking her.
What is the purpose of the choral odes in Antigone?
"insertions") that separate choral song and dance. The choral odes have two main functions: they offer a reflection on the events unfolding, and they allow time for the three actors to change costumes.
Who is Antigone's sister?
They watch with little concern, for they are not to die tonight. The Chorus then introduces the chatting pair, Haemon, Antigone's dashing fiancé, and Ismene, her radiantly beautiful sister.
How does Antigone unfold?
Antigone unfolds almost entirely in the course of one day, in one space (the palace), and in largely uninterrupted dialogue/action. Though dispensing with act divisions, Antigone thus relies on the dramatic unities as appropriated by the French classicists. The Chorus frames the tragedy with a prologue and epilogue.
What is the chorus about in Antigone?
It begins with Antigone, explaining that she is about to "burst forth as the tense, sallow, willful girl" who will rise up alone against the king and die young.
What is the chorus's prologue?
In the prologue, the Chorus directly addresses the audience and appears self-conscious with regards to the spectacle; we are here tonight to take part in the story of Antigone.
What is the Oedipus Trilogy?
About the Oedipus Trilogy. The Athens Sophocles knew was a small place — a polis, one of the self-governing city-states on the Greek peninsula — but it held within it the emerging life of democracy, philosophy, and theater. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle wrote and taught in Athens, and their ideas gave birth to Western philosophy.
How did Sophocles change the Greek stage?
Later, Sophocles introduced painted scenery, an addition that brought a touch of realism to the bare Greek stage. He also changed the music for the chorus, whose size swelled from twelve to fifteen members. Most important, perhaps, Sophocles increased the number of actors from two to three — a change that greatly increased the possibility for interaction and conflict between characters on stage.
What was the name of the city that Athenians built after the Persians defeated the Persians?
Its army and navy dominated the Aegean after the defeat of the Persians, and the tribute money offered to the conquering Athenians built the Acropolis, site of the Parthenon, as well as the public buildings that housed and glorified Athenian democracy.
When did drama begin?
Drama began, the Greeks say, when the writer and producer Thespis separated one man from the chorus and gave him some lines to speak by himself. In 534 B.C. , records show that this same Thespis produced the first tragedy at the Festival of Dionysus.
What is the name of the play that Antigone is in?from worldhistory.org
Antigone was the third play in the Oedipus trilogy written by the great Greek playwright Sophocles (c. 496 - c. 406 BCE). Produced around 441 BCE and receiving first prize at the Dionysia festival, the tragedy was actually written long before both Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. In the play, Antigone returns to Thebes after the death of her father Oedipus. Her brothers Polynices and Eteocles have both been killed in the war between Argos and Thebes. Creon, Antigone's uncle, has assumed the leadership of Thebes and by decree refuses to grant the traitor Polynices a proper burial. Antigone chooses to disobey Creon and bury her brother herself. Having violated Creon's order, she is imprisoned and left to die, eventually hanging herself. Haemon, her fiancé and Creon's son, joins her, taking his own life. Finally persuaded by a prophet to change his mind, Creon is too late to save either his son or Antigone. His wife Eurydice commits suicide, blaming Creon for the death of her son. In the end, Creon is left alone.
Where is Antigone in the tomb?from worldhistory.org
The opening scene is at the royal palace of Thebes. Antigone and her sister Ismene stand outside the palace doors. They have both just learned of Creon's edict concerning their brothers. Antigone turns to her sister: Creon will give the one of our two brothers honor in the tomb: the other none.
What does Antigone reveal to Ismene?from cliffsnotes.com
Outraged, Antigone reveals to Ismene a plan to bury Polynices in secret, despite Creon's order. When Ismene timidly refuses to defy the king, Antigone angrily rejects her and goes off alone to bury her brother.
What is the difference between Oedipus and Creon?from worldhistory.org
According to Paul Roche in his book The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles, Oedipus and Creon both display the glory and weakness of a self-sufficient man. Creon initially did what he believed to be right; however, his vanity and unwillingness to listen to the advice of those around him eventually brought the downfall of his entire family. He is left standing alone before his palace, praying for the gods to take him.
What does Creon say to Haemon?from worldhistory.org
Before she died, she cursed him as the killer of her children. To the messenger and chorus, Creon says, "I was dead, and you killed me again" (67). Creon prays for death:
What does Creon ask the chorus to do?from worldhistory.org
Creon addresses the chorus and asks for their guidance. The chorus leader agrees with the old seer and advises the king to bury the dead properly and release Antigone. Creon finally submits and exits. A messenger soon enters and addresses the chorus.
Who warns Creon to bury Polynices?from cliffsnotes.com
The blind prophet Tiresias warns Creon that the gods disapprove of his leaving Polynices unburied and will punish the king's impiety with the death of his own son. After rejecting Tiresias angrily, Creon reconsiders and decides to bury Polynices and free Antigone. But Creon's change of heart comes too late.
Overview
Antigone is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles in (or before) 441 BC and it was first performed at the Festival of Dionysus of the same year. It is thought to be the second oldest surviving play of Sophocles, only after Ajax that was written around the same period. The play is one of the three tragedies, known as the three Theban plays, following the stories of Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus. …
Synopsis
Prior to the beginning of the play, the brothers Eteocles and Polynices, leading opposite sides in Thebes' civil war, died fighting each other for the throne. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes and brother of the former Queen Jocasta, has decided that Eteocles will be honored and Polynices will be in public shame. The rebel brother's body will not be sanctified by holy rites and will lie unburied on the battlefield, prey for carrion animals, the harshest punishment at the time. Antigone
Historical context
Antigone was written at a time of national fervor. In 441 BCE, shortly after the play was performed, Sophocles was appointed as one of the ten generals to lead a military expedition against Samos. It is striking that a prominent play in a time of such imperialism contains little political propaganda, no impassioned apostrophe, and—with the exception of the epiklerate (the right of the daughter to continue her dead father's lineage) and arguments against anarchy—makes no contemporary all…
Notable features
The Chorus in Antigone departs significantly from the chorus in Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes, the play of which Antigone is a continuation. The chorus in Seven Against Thebes is largely supportive of Antigone's decision to bury her brother. Here, the chorus is composed of old men who are largely unwilling to see civil disobedience in a positive light. The chorus also represents a typical difference in Sophocles' plays from those of both Aeschylus and Euripides. A chorus of A…
Significance and interpretation
Once Creon has discovered that Antigone buried her brother against his orders, the ensuing discussion of her fate is devoid of arguments for mercy because of youth or sisterly love from the Chorus, Haemon or Antigone herself. Most of the arguments to save her center on a debate over which course adheres best to strict justice.
Both Antigone and Creon claim divine sanction for their actions; but Tiresias the prophet support…
Themes
A well established theme in Antigone is the right of the individual to reject society's infringement on her freedom to perform a personal obligation. Antigone comments to Ismene, regarding Creon's edict, that "He has no right to keep me from my own." Related to this theme is the question of whether Antigone's will to bury her brother is based on rational thought or instinct, a debate whose contributors include Goethe.
Modern adaptations
• Felix Mendelssohn composed a suite of incidental music for Ludwig Tieck's staging of the play in 1841. It includes an overture and seven choruses.
• Walter Hasenclever wrote an adaptation in 1917, inspired by the events of World War I.
• Jean Cocteau created an adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone at Théâtre de l'Atelier in Paris on December 22nd, 1922.
Translations and adaptations
• 1550 – Georgio Rotallero: text in Latin
• 1729 – George Adams, prose: full text
• 1782 – Vittorio Alfieri, in hendecasyllables: text in Italian
• 1839 – Johann Jakob Christian Donner, German verse