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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 is the incentive moment of 'Antigone'?
The incentive moment is the exact point at which someone resolves to do something regardless of the possible consequences. In the play 'Antigone', it occurs with Antigone resolving to bury her brother Polyneices. She knows that only those who were loyal to Thebes in the recent struggle against the Argive invaders are to be buried. But she decides to respect the god-given burial traditions, and the corpse of her brother, who is viewed as a traitor by Theban King Creon.
Why is Antigone not considered a tragic hero?
Antigone in the play of the same name is considered a tragic hero. A hero is someone who does great deeds, and who has great power and strength. In its feminine form of heroine, the title and the position description fit Antigone. For example, Antigone does great deeds because she dares to bury her brother Polyneices in accordance with the god-given funerary procedures to which he's eligible. She shows great moral power and strength in so doing, for she is confronting the vaster power of the State as represented by her uncle, Theban King Creon.
What does Jocasta realize in lines 1109-1110 of 'Oedipus Rex'?
The line numbering varies by the particular version of the play 'Oedipus Rex'. According to some versions, the lines 1109-1110 occur around the time that Theban Queen Jocasta receives the news of the death of Corinthian King Polybus. This news reassures her, because her second husband, Theban King Oedipus, previously tells her of the Delphic Oracle's description of him as his father's killer. But Polybus dies a natural death in Corinth while Oedipus rules in Thebes. So Oedipus can't be a father and king killer.
According to other versions, the lines occur later on in the play. The later news upsets Jocasta. The chilling news later on is the survival of an infant whose ankles are pierced. That child is given to a Corinthian shepherd by the very trusted shepherd and servant to whom Jocasta entrusts heer three day old infant. The baby Oedipus is the predicted killer of his father and sovereign, Laius. Jocasta can't bring herself to kill Oedipus to keep him from killing her husband. All this time she thinks that her husband's life is safe, because of the shepherd carrying out her royal orders to kill the infant for her. Jocasta therefore realizes that Oedipus, her beloved second husband and the father of her four children, is none other than her own son.
What new suffering must Antigone and lsmene endure?
Royal sisters Antigone and Ismene endure the humiliating and shameful fates of their parents. Indeed, their father Theban King Oedipus is husband and son to his wife and mother, Theban Queen Jocasta. Their parents commit incest, their father murders his father and his king, their mother kills herself, and their father blinds himself before his miserable exile.
And then the suffering begins anew with Antigone's and Ismene's twin brothers. Eteocles and Polyneices fight over who has the greater and the sole right to rule over Thebes. The fight turns violent, ugly, brutal, and bloody. The brothers end up killing each other on the battlefield.
If that isn't enough, then Eteocles is allowed to be buried in accordance with god given and guaranteed rights of Thebans to proper funerary rites and rituals. But Polyneices is denied that right. And so the suffering begins anew with the burial of Eteocles and the exposure of Polyneices' corpse to the weather, the dogs, and the birds.
What does Tiresius say will happen to Oedipus?
Teiresias the blind prophet identifies Theban King Oedipus as the mystery killer of Theban King Laius. He also casts doubt on the acceptability, holiness and legality of the King's unknowingly incestuous marriageto Laius' grieving widow, Theban Queen Jocasta. He sums up his predictions of a dire future by calling the day of their bitter exchange as one of Oedipus' birth and death.
This odd description of the day is due to Oedipus' ignorance of the true nature of his identity and of that of his parents. Oedipus mistakenly believes himself to be the biological son of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. In fact, he's their adoptive/foster son. His true parents are the man whom he kills and the victim's wife whom he marries.
The heinous crime of father and king killing and the sex offense of mother-son incest are revealed to all of Thebes. One direct consequence is Jocasta's suicide. Another is Oedipus' own blinding and subsequent beggarly, humiliating, miserable exile. In one day, he loses his wife, the respect of an entire citizenry, the meaning of his life, his job, and his identity. So it's all in a day's work that Oedipus is born to his true identity and dies with the public revealing of the shameful crimes by which such an identity is accompanied.
What is the resolution to the conflict between Antigone and Creon?
Resolution refers to the working out of all of the dramatic complications in the play. It reduces a complex situation to a simple one. It occurs after the climax, or turning point, which is where Haemon stands up for first cousin and fiancee Antigone against his father, Theban King Creon.
So the resolution begins with Haemon's walking out on his father. It ends before the conclusion, which is where Creon grieves over his wife Theban Queen Eurydice's suicide and ends up being exiled. So the resolution ends with the suicides of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice.
How are women portrayed in 'Antigone'?
There are three main characters who are women in the play 'Antigone'. The three represent different models of female behavior. One model is represented by the main character of the same name. She's presented as a rebel among women in her passionate outbursts and her unconventional behavior. For example, Antigone believes that convictions can be had, feelings can be experienced, and work can be done by women as well as by men. She doesn't believe that she needs a man to tell her what to say, feel, or do. She knows on her own what's right and wrong, what's comfortable and uncomfortable, and what to do about them.
Another model of female behavior is represented by Theban Queen Eurydice, who is Creon's wife, Haemon's mother, and Antigone's future mother-in-law. Eurydice only appears towards the end of the play. Her main contribution is her suicide. She seems to have lived in her husband's shadow, and been content to follow his orders. But with the loss of both her sons, she's in a difficult position. Does she continue to respect Creon and live life as the obedient, subservient female? Or does she dare to question an authority that costs her the lives of both her children? She's anguished enough to not want to continue living on Creon's terms. But at the same time, she feels so much anguish that she can't make the effort to rebel. Besides, she knows the price that Antigone pays for rebellion.
Still another model is represented by Antigone's sister, Ismene. Ismene is actually a transition between Antigone's rebellious extreme and Eurydice's traditional extreme. She initially seems to be what may be called today a pre-suffragist supporter of the status quo. She believes in being respectful to earthly authorities and obedient to men. She operates from a gender basis, in that certain activities and responsibilities are for men alone and others for women alone. But she subsequently shows promise of change in her brave, sensible attempts to defend Antigone against Creon's wrath.
Why does Creon let Antigone bury her brother?
He doesn't let Antigone bury her brother. When he found out that she disobeyed him, Creon had Antigone killed.
What is an argus in greek mythology?
There was only one Argus in greek mythology. Argus was a monster with eyes all over his body. He was the special servant Hera, who was queen of the Gods. He was sent to guard a cow named Io. This cow was previously a lover of Zeus, Hera's husband. When Zeus heard Hera coming, he transformed Io into a cow. Hera, knowing of Zeus' trickery asked him for the cow. It being such a small gift he had to give it to her. Anyways, Argus guarded that cow in the Garden of the Hesperides, Hera's garden. Zeus felt bad for Io though, so he sent his son Hermes to get Io. Hermes started droning on to Argus about this and that until Argus closed all his eyes and Hermes touched each one with his magical death wand. He then cut his head off. It rolled down the hill and Hera caught it. To respect him she placed his eyes on the tail of a peacock.
I give long wikianswer answers! Hope this helped!
Yes, Haemon is Theban King Creon's son. He's the only surviving child of the four children that Creon has with Theban Queen Eurydice. By the end of the play, he dies every bit as much of a tragic death as the royal couple's other three children.
How is the chorus characterized in 'Oedipus Rex'?
The character of the chorus in 'Oedipus Rex' is supposed to be impartial. Both the chorus and the chorus leader are supposed to inform the other characters, as well as the reading and viewing audience, of necessary background to the story. They're supposed to summarize the course of events fairly, without prejudice, but with respect for the will of the gods and justice for mortals.
What is the lesson in Antigone?
The lesson that's learned in the play 'Antigone' refers to the enforcement of laws. Generally, laws must be respected and enforced. But not all laws are good. Some may be counterproductive, inhumane, unfair and unjust. In such cases, enforcement ultimately recoils upon the doers of such injustice.
Ismene is one of the main characters in the play 'Antigone' by Sophocles [496 B.C.E.* - 406 B.C.E.]. She's the sister of Antigone, and of the twin brothers Eteocles and Polyneices. She therefore is the daughter of Theban King Oedipus and Queen Jocasta, and the niece of Theban King Creon. Through both her mother's and father's family lines, she descends from Cadmus, the founder of Thebes; and from Poseidon, the sea god.
Did Antigone's father kill his wife?
No, Antigone's father didn't kill his wife. Antigone's father was Theban King Oedipus. Her mother was Theban Queen Jocasta. Antigone's father unknowingly killed Laius, his father and his King. He unknowingly married his own mother. The knowledge of the incest, parricide, and regicide resulted in Queen Jocasta committing suicide and in Oedipus blinding himself.
What are the sentinel's character and purpose in his first appearance before Creon?
In the story 'Antigone', the sentinel has a definite purpose in seeking his first audience with Theban King Creon. He wants to inform the King of evidence of proper funerary procedures having been carried out over the dead body of Polyneices, one of the disloyal Theban dead. Such procedures are in accordance with divine justice, morality, rites, rituals and traditions. But they are in direct contradiction of the King's manmade law on the non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. It's somewhat difficult to ascertain the sentinel's character. For he makes so few appearances in the play 'Antigone'. And he operates under the constraint of being a guard who doesn't have much culture or education, and whose livelihood depends upon carrying out the King's orders, be they wise or insensitive or foolish. Understandabaly, he and the other guards fight over which one is going to tell the King of the violation of the law. Not one of the guards wants to be blamed for the crime, charged with not doing their jobs, or found in the dangerous position of the bearer of bad news.
Antigone's crime is violation of a manmade decree that's enacted and enforced by her uncle, Theban King Creon. That violation is prompted by Antigone's respect for the higher moral authority of the gods. For her obedience to the royal decree would put her in direct opposition to god-given procedures for the preparation of the dead for their passage into the realms of the underworld god. Antigone committed the crime of burying her brother Polyneices. According to god-given justice and traditions, this wasn't a crime. But according to the decree of her uncle, Theban King Creon, the deed was forbidden and punishable by death.
Does religious tradition serve as a basis for morality?
No. It's actually the other way around. Morality is generally a basis for religious tradition, among other elements of any particular religion's history and culture. On the other hand, there are many who claim that there can be no morality without a sense of absolute right and wrong, which is one of the principles found in many religions. Therefore, it can work both ways. I agree with the above answer. We do not do things simply because a religious body or scripture says to do them. I have performed an experiment several times, when talking to a hardcore christian about religion I will show them the bits of the bible that tell them to shun un-believers (like myself), refuse them entrance into their house, etc etc - not a one has ever actually done it. I can show you parts of the bible which condone slavery, I can't imagine any christian would, upon reading them, go out and advocate we bring slavery back.
Why does antigone risk death to bury polyneices?
Antigone risks death to bury her brother, Polyneices because she follows the laws of the Gods, not the law of what her uncle, King Creon makes.
Who is the playwright about Oedipus?
Sophocles [496 B.C.E. - 406 B.C.E.] is the playwright of the Oedipus plays. Specifically, he's the author of 'Oedipus Rex', 'Oedipus at Colonus' and 'Antigone'. The first play deals with Oedipus' fall from grace, the second with his death and the third with the fates of his four children.
Whom does Creon assemble in the beginning of the first scene?
The Elders, who are the community's wise men, are those whom Theban King Creon assembles in the beginning of the first scene. He makes decisions on his own as the ruler of Thebes. But he needs to keep the Elders informed of his decisions, after if not before the fact.
Who is both the king's son and Antigone's fiance?
Haemon is both the king's son and Antigone's fiance. He's the last surviving child of King Creon and Queen Eurydice of Thebes. He's looking forward to marrying his first cousin, Antigone.
