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Antigone
The play 'Antigone' is at least 2,440 years old. Still timely nevertheless are its main concerns over what to do about a bad law and how far to go for the sake of love or justice. Contributors typically ask and answer questions about the play's author, characters, imagery, literary devices, plot, and relationship to other plays of the same themes or time period.
3,361 Questions
What law does Antigone recognize as the supreme one?
The unwritten law by the Gods. Mortal ruling should never overpower Gods laws. Thus her main concern was to fulfil the requirement of the Gods to stay loyal to our families and provide an honourable burial for her brother in order to bring her own blood peace.
What does Creon remark as the most important act a son can do in 'Antigone'?
Theban King Creon considers obedience the most important act of a son to his father. He says that his friends must be his son Haemon's, his enemies Haemon's, and his choice or rejection of a future daughter-in-law Haemon's. According to the King, sons and subjects both must follow exactly the orders of their fathers and sovereigns. To do so is the greatest good. To do otherwise is the greatest sin.
What is the purpose of the choral ode?
Entertainment and explanation are the purposes of the choral ode.
Specifically, an ode is a poem characterized by complex stanzas and lyrical expression. A choral is sung by a chorus. The chorus in ancient Greek theater functions to entertain the audience and to explain onstage action and offstage events and references.
What is the hamartia or mistake in judgment committed by a tragic hero in 'Antigone'?
Antigone's extreme disrespect to Creon is the hamartia or mistake in judgment committed by a tragic hero in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone is contradictory, demeaning and insulting in her verbal interactions with King Creon. She owes him respect as her guardian, her relative and her sovereign. But she shows him no respect at all and therefore loses any chance at a lighter sentence if not a pardon for breaking his edict against burial of the disloyal Theban dead.
What is the significance of the opening scene in 'Antigone'?
The introduction of the main character and the main problem is the significance of the opening scene in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, the dramatic ideal in ancient Greek literature is the solving of a problem that involves the main character and that is presented in one place within a 24-hour period. The opening scene introduces Theban Princess Antigone as the main character. It also informs the audience of the problem of which law to obey when divine and royal wills conflict and contradict each other.
What limits Creon's power in 'Antigone'?
The gods limit Creon's power in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Creon acts as the earthly representative of the gods in
Thebes. He is the immediate authority figure over his people. He may consult with advisors such as the leader of the chorus of Theban elders and Teiresias the blind prophet. But at all times he must make sure that what he does and says does not contradict or compete with the gods.
King Creon is the sovereign of Thebes. He holds the throne, as the closest eligible relative to the last throne holders. The royal powers previously were held by his nephews Eteocles and Polyneices.
Creon is the sibling of Theban Queen Jocasta and therefore the brother-in-law of Jocasta's husband, Theban King Oedipus. But unbeknownst to the royal couple, Jocasta and Oedipus are mother and son. So Creon also is Oedipus' uncle. He's uncle and great uncle to Oedipus' and Jocasta's daughters Antigone and Ismene and twin sons Eteocles and Polyneices.
He's the husband of Theban Queen Eurydice. Their son Haemon is Antigone's first cousin and fiance. So Creon is Antigone's intended father-in-law.
He's the great great great grandson of Cadmus and Harmonia. Cadmus is the founder and first king of the city of Thebes, in around 2000 B.C.E. But originally, Cadmus is from Phoenicia, where he's the son of King Agenor of Tyre and Queen Telephassa.
In fact, Creon is the great great great great great grandson of Poseidon the sea god. He's the great great great great great great grandson of the world's first children Cronus and Rhea, and Oceanus and Tethys. And he's the descendant of Gaia, the mother of the world's first children.
Why do the priests visit Oedipus?
The priest goes to Oedipus to ask for his help in saving the city of Thebes. A plague has wiped out all the crops as well as the livestock. It has also made all the women sterile so that they can no longer have children.
How does the Sentry feel about delivering Antigone to Creon in 'Antigone'?
Compassion and relief are the sentry's feelings when he delivers Antigone to Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, the sentry demonstrates compassion in describing Theban Princess Antigone's pain at the sight of her brother Polyneices' re-exposed body. He exhibits relief in finding the law breaker. He knows that he will not be tortured or killed just because hot-tempered King Creon cannot find the actual perpetrator.
How does Creon justify his refusal to grant Polynices a proper burial?
That what one does in life carries over into death is the justification that Theban King Creon gives for refusing proper burial procedures to his own nephew Polyneices. Specifically, Creon sees Polyneices as a traitor to Thebes and therefore as no longer Theban or eligible for Theban rights. It's actually a call that Creon doesn't get to make, since a Theban's rights to proper funerals are god-given.
What does Antigone do against Creon's wishes in 'Antigone'?
Bury her brother is what Antigone does against Creon's wishes in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Creon announces that the bodies of all disloyal Theban dead are to be left above ground and exposed to weather and wildlife. Princess Antigone defies the non-burial edict when she buries her brother Polyneices. Creon insists upon the non-burial of his nephew Polyneices, whom he considers a traitor to Thebes.
How does Creon react to Haemon defending Antigone in 'Antigone'?
Angrily, insensitively and insultingly is the way in which Creon reacts to Haemon defending Antigone in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon is first cousin and husband-to-be of Princess Antigone. Haemon's father, King Creon, issues a law that Antigone breaks and for which the sentence is death. Haemon loves Antigone and unsuccessful tries to save her. It is a lost cause since Creon thinks one woman is like any other and therefore completely replaceable.
Who causes the tragedy in 'Antigone'?
Creon is to blame for the tragedy in the play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Creon issues a decree by which the divinely guaranteed rights to proper burials and funerary rites for all Thebans are honored in terms of Antigone's brother Eteocles as his city's loyal defender and withheld in terms of Antigone's brother Polyneices as his city's traitor. Antigone therefore must choose between obeying a human law that conflicts with divine will and respecting Theban traditions that conflict with Creon's will. Either way, she faces tragic punishment: death as the breaker of human laws or consequences in the afterlife as the breaker of divine laws.
How do overcome Oedipus complex and electra complex among their children?
Most children outgrow these complexes before adulthood.
Was it Oedipus' fault that he killed his father and married his mother?
No, i don't think so the oracle said he would and he had no way of knowing that the woman was his mother. As for his father it was an accident.
Why was Antigone a tragic figure?
Antigone was a tragic figure, because of the way her life ended. She was in the unenviable position of having to choose between obedience to her conscience and obedience to her King. She had to make a difficult choice. Would she leave her brother Polyneices' body to be desecrated by the elements, dogs, and birds? Or would she give his corpse the proper burial that her cultural traditions demanded but that her government denied? Either way, she saw punishment. If she denied the corpse proper burial, then she was punishable for having violated the enduring laws by which the gods asked the Thebans to lead their lives and prepare for their deaths. If she buried the corpse, then she was punishable for having violated the manmade law of her uncle and future father-in-law, Theban King Creon. She chose to respect her brother and her gods. So she was sentenced to death behind a walled-up cave in a remote area. She ended up committing suicide by hanging herself with her own halter.
Who in 'Antigone' is condemned to death for burying Polynices?
Antigone is condemned to death for burying the body of Polyneices. She knows when she does the partial, above ground burial that she's breaking the law of mortals. But at the same time, she's obeying the divine law on required burial procedures for dead Thebans, be they loyal or disloyal. She sees her act as a choice between a death sentence on earth and the fulfillment of divine promises in the afterlife of the underworld.
When were girls in Antigones time would have been betrothed and married?
did you teacher give you that worksheet too.
Why does Creon pass the new law in 'Antigone'?
That he needs to discourage future challenges to his authority is the reason why Creon passes the new law in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Creon does not want a repeat performance of the first civil war over the Theban royal succession. He insists that the security of the city and the stability of the state best are served by a strong ruler who rewards supporters and punishes traitors. He things that Thebans will not rebel once they see that god-given rights to below ground burials will be denied them.
Why is Antigone brave in 'Antigone'?
That she breaks a law in order to protect a vulnerable family reason and that she accepts her punishment are reasons why Antigone is brave in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone breaks a royal law that forbids the burial of her brother Polyneices. She knows that Polyneices' cause is just and that he deserves that his Theban burial rights be respected. She manages to bury him even though she is sentenced to death for her civil disobedience.
Oedipus, the mythical king of Thebes, is Antigone's dad.
The irony though, is that since Oedipus married his mother, he is also Antigone's brother. You can read all about this in the Three Theban Plays by Sophocles.
Which accusation does Oedipus make against Creon?
Oedipus accused "Creon" of trying to take over the throne, and conspiracy against him.
Can Oedipus be regarded as responsible for the death and suffering in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Yes, Oedipus can be regarded as responsible for the death and suffering in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is responsible for the death of King Laius and four of Laius' five member escort party. He most likely can enter a successful plea of self-defense since he is outnumbered. In fact, Laius and his charioteer behave badly, hurtfully and offensively. Oedipus subsequently becomes responsible for the suffering of his people because of the pestilence brought on by his neglect of mandatory cleansing rituals in the aftermath of his crimes.
