Antigone

Polyneices does not do anything in the play "Antigone."

Specifically, by the time the play begins, Polyneices already is dead. So what he does takes place before the action in "Antigone." When his father Theban King Oedipus loses his job, he manages to keep the throne within the family.

In fact, Oedipus' heirs are his twin sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. The twins are supposed to alternate years of rule in a joint power-sharing arrangement. Eteocles takes the throne first, but refuses to give it up once his year is over. He even goes so far as to exile Polyneices from Thebes.

Polyneices promptly moves to Argos. Once there, he marries the king's daughter and then gets the king to raise an army of invading Argives and disgruntled Thebans. But the army loses, and Polyneices and Eteocles kill each other on the battlefield outside Thebes.

Suicide by his own sword is what happens to Theban Prince Haemon in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Haemon is upset over the death sentence meted out by his own father, Theban King Creon, to Antigone, the former's first cousin and bride-to-be. Haemon tries to talk his father out of carrying out the sentence. When Creon refuses, Haemon goes to the cave where Antigone is found dead by self-inflicted hanging. Haemon tries to kill Creon, and turns the sword on himself when he fails.

Momentary disbelief followed by stubborn hostility is the way Creon reacts to Antigone's crime in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon expects to be interrogating and sentencing a hired thug of one of his enemies. He fumbles with words when he sees Princess Antigone, whom he considers a lifelong fool. He takes badly and personally that his niece boasts about breaking his law and makes no attempt for extenuating circumstances, pardon or sympathy.

Theban King Creon does not demand the death of his son Haemon in the play "Antigone" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Creon demands unquestioning obedience in all personal and professional interactions. Antigone, his niece and future daughter-in-law, disobeys Creon by burying the body of her dead brother Polyneices. It is Antigone that Creon wants dead, not Theban Prince Haemon.

The chorus questioning the same sentence forIsmene is what happens when Creon sentences Antigone to death in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus believe Theban Princess Antigone guilty of willfully breaking her uncle King Creon's law of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. The members do not appear to have a problem with the death penalty that Creon enforces. But they object to punishing Antigone's sister, Princess Ismene, whom they consider completely uninvolved from beginning to end with Polyneices' unlawful burial.

The parados is the opening song in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the term parados describes the chorus' first entrance onto the stage. The entrance is accompanied by dancing and singing. So the original meaning is expanded to include the chorus' first song since it is so important for setting themes to be elaborated in the course of the play.

Creon does not prove himself to be the tragic hero in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a hero is the main character who does great deeds and holds great powers. He is tragic when his life ends unfortunately or takes an unfortunate turn. Theban King Creon lacks great powers and does no great deeds. But his life turns tragic because of his flawed character and his own misdeeds.

Outside the city is where the cave is in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Thebes is a gated and walled city in ancient, southwestern Greece. It is located near the Cithaeron mountains. The mountains are riddled with caves, one of which becomes Antigone's grave.

That they will find happiness despite their shameful background and that Creon will act as father and protectorto them is what Oedipus wishes for Ismene and Antigone in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus is concerned about the alternately shunning and in-the-face cruel behavior to which his daughters will be subjected as half-sisters to their own father and children and grandchildren to their own mother. He fears the poor, lonely existence that Antigone and Ismene may lead as unmarried, childless outcasts. The only way out is if Creon, their uncle and Oedipus' brother-in-law, shelters and defends them.

Antigone, her betrothed Haemon, and Haemon's mother Theban Queen Eurydice are the suicides in the play "Antigone."

Specifically, first Antigone hangs herself. Her reasons are not spelled out in the play. But she is sentenced to die alone in a remote, walled-up cave. It is possible that she cannot bear to share her last days on earth with such slimy, sinister, disgusting cave inhabitants as snakes. It also is possible that she decides to get her death over with since she indicates that she values the afterlife far more than the earthly existence.

Then Haemon kills himself with his own sword. His reasons are spelled out. He first tries to kill his father, Theban King Creon. When he fails, he kills himself. He wants to be where Antigone is. He absolutely does not want to be in the same space or on the same time as his father, whom he disrespects and detests.

Finally, Eurydice stabs herself in the heart. Here too, the reasons are spelled out. Haemon is the last of her four children. She blames her husband for the deaths of all four children. She too would rather join her loved ones in the afterlife rather than spend one second more in her husband's obnoxious company.

Yes, Eurydice and Haemon kill themselves in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon finds his first cousin and bride-to-be, Princess Antigone, hanging dead from the halter of her dress. He makes an unsuccessful effort to kill his father King Creon, whom he blames for Antigone's suicide. He succeeds in killing himself and dying alongside his beloved Antigone. Queen Eurydice, Creon's wife and Haemon's mother, takes her life by a self-inflicted stab wound when she hears of Antigone's and Haemon's suicides.

That she is a royal orphan as well as Creon's future daughter-in-law and ward are reasons why Antigone dwells with Creon in his household in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone is the orphaned daughter of disgraced Theban monarchs Oedipus and Jocasta. Creon is Jocasta's brother and therefore becomes Antigone's guardian. Prince Haemon, Creon's son, is Antigone's first cousin and husband-to-be.

It is in the opening scene that Antigone expresses her intention to give her brother burial without fear of dying in the attempt in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the play begins with the meeting of the sister Theban Princesses Antigone and Ismene. Antigone discusses the edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. She makes the decision that she will break the law and bury her brother even though the violation carries the death penalty.

That she tries to share the blame in Antigone's crime is a way in which Ismene is family oriented in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene does not want to break her uncle King Creon's edict of non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. She makes the suggestion that Antigone not bury their disgraced brother Polyneices whose body is left above ground. But she pretends to participate in the crime when she finds out that Antigone is under arrest and headed towards being sentenced to death. Perhaps she thinks that in so doing the punishment will be lightened or even a pardon issued.

It is unknown why Antigone chooses to commit suicide in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone does not discuss her suicidal intents with anyone. She does not leave a suicide note. But suicide is seen in ancient Greece as an acceptance of wrong in some commission or commission regarding the gods. Or it is viewed as a readiness to move from life into death, which are Antigone's consistently expressed sentiments.

The Sphinx is what Oedipus defeats before becoming King of Thebes. The monster forces anyone entering or leaving Thebes to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. No answer or a wrong answer means that she gets to devour the hapless respondent.

Oedipus alone figures out that it's a human being that gets around on fours in the morning [of life], on twos in the afternoon, and on threes in the evening. Specifically, it's a question of a crawling infant, a healthy adult, and an elderly person with a cane.

The Sphinx is so upset that she throws herself to her death. The relieved Thebans see to it that Oedipus meets the city's beautiful, newly-widowed queen, Jocasta. Everyone is happy to encourage the couple's romance and marriage.

Teiresias is the wisest man in Thebes according to "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias is a blind prophet and friend to Cadmus, Thebes' founder and first king. Teiresias outlives his friend and serves as royal advisor to every succeeding king of Thebes. But sometimes he sits on his wisdom since he can share only if requested to do so by the reigning ruler of Thebes.