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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

Why does Creon permit no one to bury Polyneices?

Because Polyneices attacked Thebes in order to retrieve the crown from his brother Eteocles, but in the midst of it the war it caused to be waged wreaked havoc and destruction upon Thebes. Creon who saw this as treason, since Polyneices was originally from Thebes and he waged war upon his own people. In return for such a violation King Creon declares Polyneices a tyrant who does not deserve burial rites since he sunk so low enough to destroy his home nation.

How does creon die?

he doesnt die.. he lives on fearing death and wishing it to come quickly and kindly.

Why does Antigone bury her brother?

Respect for Polyneices as dead, a monarch and her sibling, for Hades and for proper funerary procedures describes why Antigone buries her brother in the namesake play by Sophocles (496 B.C.-406 B.C.). Antigone interprets Polyneices as a human-being deserving protection from desecration by the birds, dogs and elements through the perceived god-given procedures for and traditions of funerary rites and rituals. She opts for respecting Hades, the place to which all human beings, including herself go, for eternity.

When does 'Antigone' take place?

The play 'Antigone' begins not too long after the successful conclusion of the Theban defenses against the Argive invaders and their Theban collaborators. No dates are mentioned in the play, which was written around 443, 441 B.C.E.* But it's possible to guesstimate a date for the action of the play. For Thebes may have been founded around 2000 B.C.E.* by Cadmus, who was the great great grandfather of Theban King Creon, and the great great great grandfather of Antigone. That's five generations Cadmus-Creon, and six Cadmus-Antigone. A generation typically may range 20-40 years. So the play 'Antigone' may have taken place about 120-240 years later, anywhere between 1880 B.C.E. - 1760 B.C.E. *Before the Christian Era.

Who was the antagonist in Antigone?

King Creon regards only the requirement of political expediency. Soon after the civil strife between Eteocles and Polynices ends in their deaths, he announces a decree denying Polynices' burial. He is unrelenting in his stance, as he wants Thebans to know that he is a firm ruler. Thus he sentences his own niece, Antigone, to death for defying his law.

How far is Antigone prepared to go on behalf of her loved one?

In the play 'Antigone', the main character of the same name is prepared to go as far as any mortal can go on behalf of loved ones. A recent decree by her uncle and future father-in-law, Theban King Creon, denies god-given, traditional rights of proper burial to all Thebans who betray their city. The punishment is death. Antigone goes ahead and buries her brother Polyneices. She knows her uncle well, and realizes that capital punishment will be carried out.

Which element of tragedy does the chorus show in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Dramatic irony refers to a character presenting the existing situation as being quite different from what it actually is. It tends to imply that the character doesn't know the entire truth about a particular situation. This is the element of tragedy that the choir shows in 'Oedipus Rex'. The mention of the possibility that Theban King Oedipus might be doomed to banishment by his own decree represents an element of tragedy that also is an example of dramatic irony.

What did Oedipus do for the city of Thebes 20 years before the action of 'Oedipus Rex'?

Deliverance from the monster Sphinx was what King Oedipus did for Thebes long before the action of 'Oedipus Rex'. He headed towards the city in an attempt to escape a dreadful fate and to start life anew. Instead, he found the Sphinx demanding and receiving high taxes. He also found the Sphinx killing the city's residents and visitors.

Oedipus rescued Thebes by solving the life or death riddle that the Sphinx posed to all of the intended victims. The riddle asked what life form got around on four legs in the morning of life, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening. Only Oedipus realized that it was a human who crawled in the morning, stood tall in the afternoon, and used a cane in the evening.

What event makes Antigone so upset?

The issuing of a royal decree that contradicts the will of the gods by not respecting her brother Polyneices' god given rights to below ground burial and funeral services is what upsets Antigone.

What does the Oracle prophesize to Laius about the birth of Oedipus?

That Oedipus will kill Laius is what the Oracle prophesizes to the Theban King about the birth of the future Oedipus. In ancient Greece, it's considered far less heinous to kill a child than to kill one's father and one's sovereign. It particularly is considered as an acceptable response if it stops the child from committing a grave offense against the gods and a serious crime among mortals.

Was Oedipus King of Corinth before he was King of Thebes?

No, he was the adopted son of the king of Corinth, Polybus.

What does Haemon ask Creon to do?

Haemon tells his father Creon to not act with sovereign and to listen to other people's thoughts.

Is Creon Oedipus' uncle?

Yes, Theban King Creon is the uncle of Theban King Oedipus. He's the brother of Theban Queen Jocasta, who is Oedipus' mother and becomes his wife. So Creon also becomes Oedipus' brother-in-law.

What are Antigone and Ismene like?

Passionate is what Antigone is like. In particular, she's passionate about divine will, family, and justice. This orientation tends towards recklessness.

In contrast, obedient is what Antigone's sister Ismene is like. In particular, she's cowed by male authorities and their punitive powers as royalty. This orientation tends towards reluctance to stand out in a crowd.

What does Oedipus do when he learns the truth of his past?

he blinds himself with his dead wife's broach, summons Creon back to the castle to appoint him the new king of Thebes, asks him to take care of his children and then asks Creon to exile him from the city

What is 'Antigone' known for?

The play 'Antigone' is known for clear, straightforward dialogue and elegant odes. It also is known for economy of stage props and setting. And it's known for the mental and physical actions of the main characters. And it also is known for its timeless appeal through its treatment of questions of universal applicability and concern. For example, does one obey only manmade laws? What does one do if manmade laws contradict one's moral or spiritual beliefs or customs? What is the responsibility of the ruler to the ruled, and vice versa?

What is the name of Antigone's father?

Antigone's father has the name of Oedipus. Unknowingly, Oedipus kills his father, Theban King Laius; and marries his mother, Queen Jocasta. By both parents, Oedipus is descended from Cadmus and Harmonia. Cadmus was the founder of Thebes, around 2000 B.C.E.* He came from Phoenicia, where he lived as the son of Telephassa and King Agenor of Tyre. *Before the Christian Era.

Who is Polyneices' brother?

Eteocles is Polyneices' brother. The two are actually twins. They're among the four children of disgraced Theban King Creon and Theban Queen Jocasta. They inherit the throne with their father's blinding and exile, and their mother's suicide. They're supposed to share royal powers by alternating years of rule. But Eteocles refuses to give up his powers when his year is over. He banishes Polyneices, who returns with a vengeance as part of a combined force of invading Argives and discontented Thebans. Polyneices loses the battle, which ends with the brothers killing each other.

What does oedipus want creon to do at the end of the play?

Oedipus asks Creon to look after his daughters because he believes that no man will want them with the parentage they have. His sons, he says, can look after themselves.

Who is Antigone's mother?

Antigone's mother was Jocasta, wife of Oedipus, who was Antigone's father. The play Oedipus Rex, in which Antigone is a non-speaking character, describes the relationship of Jocasta and Oedipus - unbeknownst to them, Jocasta was actually Oedipus' mother in addition to his wife. When they learn this, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.

Did Creon end up in prison?

No, Theban King Creon didn't end up being restrained in any physical prison. That was something that he subjected Antigone, his niece and intended daughter-in-law, to. But he could be said to have ended up in a sort of a emotional and mental prison of his own making. He indeed ended up losing everything that previously had given his life meaning. He lost his family, friends, home, job and possessions. He fell, long and hard, from being king to becoming an unhappy beggar.

What is the resolution of 'Antigone'?

The resolution in Sophocles' Antigone is that Antigone commits suicide with her fiancé, Haemon, because King Creon does not allow her to give a proper burial to Polynices, her brother. After that, King Creon's wife kills herself after finishing sewing a cloth.

King Creon blames himself for these events afterwards.

The denouement is the conclusion. So the denouement of 'Antigone' ends the play. Readers and viewers learn of the suicides of Antigone, Haemon, and Queen Eurydice. They also learn of disgraced Theban King Creon being led away into exile.

In fact, Haemon and Antigone do not commit suicide together. Haemon kills himself with his sword when he discovers the body of Antigone, who has hanged herself.

What is Creon's relationship to Jocasta?

Creon has two main relationships to Theban Queen Jocasta. One is personal, the other professional. First, he's her brother. They're both the children of Theban King Menoeceus. Second, he's her co-ruler. He's involved in a royal power sharing arrangement with her and Theban King Oedipus, her son and second husband. So he too holds the title of royal sovereign, as Theban King.