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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
In the play, Antigone is the first to die once the play begins. Her suicide by hanging quickly is followed by the self-inflicted, mortal stabbing of her fiance Haemon. The last death soon follows, with the suicide of Haemon's mother, Theban Queen Eurydice.
Why do you think Creon seems preoccupied with revolt and strife?
That a civil war between royal nephews Eteocles and Polyneices ends in success at high costs for Thebes, that he's the close relative of the recently disgraced Theban King Oedipus, that he rules as regent for the incorrect heir apparent, and that he supports the wrong but winning side are the reasons why Theban King Creon is preoccupied with revolt and strife in the play 'Antigone'.
Why does Creon use the imagery of the Ship of the State in Antigone?
The ship of state speech is something that Creon just thought about he didn't even know what he was taking about
What are examples of Antigone nemesis?
king Creon is her nemesi because he made the law polyneices was not alowd to be buried.Type your answer here...
Why did Thebes suffer from a plague in 'Oedipus Rex'?
The plague has come to Thebes, because the previous sovereign, Theban King Laius, was murdered. It was a most heinous crime to murder a king. His murderers weren't identified specifically, and never were punished. That unsolved crime of murder has encouraged the equally heinous crime, but yet unknown offense, of incest.
What is the initial incident in 'Antigone'?
The 'initial incident' is the first significant action in the story. In the case of the play 'Antigone' it's Antigone's mention of the decree by Theban King Creon. The King decrees that only those who were loyal to Thebes in the recent conflict with Argos are to be given proper burial. This decree is contrary to the god-given rules of preparation of the body for its journey to the realms of the god of the underworld.
Why does ismene refuse to help Antigone?
Ismene refuses to help Antigone because she follows Creon's laws. She knows the outcome of what will happen, and though she wishes to help Antigone, she claims herself as just a 'woman', meaning they can't fight against the men, and the laws they set up in their life.
in the end though, Ismene comes in to help Antigone, when she finally realizes what is actually right.
A bold adventure that has a fatal ending. It refers to when Icarus was given wings by his father and then flew to close to the sun so his wings melted and he fell into the sea below him. Wow this is a good and reasonable answer! It helped me alot.
One who is quick to answering Icarly trivia
An icarian adventure refers to the exploration of the unknown, usually in a very rash manner. It pertains to the Greek youth, Icarus.
An Icarian Adventure Soaring too high for safety. Adventurous in flight. Derives from the Greek myth about Icarus and Daedalus
Who is the antagonist in Oedipus the king?
The antagonist in this play is his fate because it is opposing him.
Yes, Antigone is stubborn. She's adamant, demanding, inflexible, and uncompromising in her convictions. She's as passionate in the talk as in the walk. The problem is that the way in which she packages her opinions is equally adamant, demanding, inflexible, and uncompromising. Her stubborn insistence upon the rightness of her stance brooks no discussion that could lead to compromise or negotiation.
Why did the citizens fo Thebes not investigate Laius' murder at the time it occured?
the people of Thebes were too worried about the Sphinx. they were being plagued
How are the differences between the play and the film 'Oedipus Rex' significant?
Yes, some of the differences between the written and the viewed versions of the play 'Oedipus Rex' may be significant. At the same time, no, others may not be significant, particularly in regard to the 1957 version directed by Sir William Tyrone Guthrie [July 2, 1900-May 15, 1971]. But if the differences in the Guthrie film are typical of those between filmed, read and staged versions, then they don't change the overall impact of the characters and the story on the reading and viewing audience.
First, a structurally significant difference is an explanatory narrative that's given at the beginning of the film. There's no such equivalent in the play, which begins with the expected prologue.
Second, another structurally significant difference is the crowd of Thebans having a lengthy dialogue at the beginning of the actual performance in the film. Again, there's no equivalent in the play by Sophocles [496 B.C.E.-406 B.C.E.].
Third, an insignificant difference is the film using the play's English translation by William Butler Yeats [June 13, 1865-January 28, 1939].
But at the same time, the Yeats' translation is used in significantly different ways. For example, the film doesn't have the translated passages include Theban King Oedipus' pivotal curse upon himself. So the audience doesn't know that Oedipus calls the same curse upon himself as upon the harborers of the killers of Theban King Laius should he host the murderer as a guest in his own house and with his own knowledge.
The film likewise has the translation omit Theban King Creon's pivotal comment about being forced to do things against his will should he plot to become a solely reigning sovereign.
And the film has the translation omit Oedipus' having to ask for a description of Laius. Instead, the film has Jocasta give the non sequitur information in response to Oedipus' asking what Zeus' plans for him could be. This omission may or may not be considered significant.
Fourth, an insignificant difference is the film's omitting the role of the boy who guides Teiresias the blind prophet into Oedipus' presence.
Fifth, a structurally significant difference is the film dividing the parts for the chorus among several members of the crowd. So the choral odes of the play become crowd odes in the film.
Sixth, an insignificant difference is the film having Teiresias lying on the ground when he speaks his parting words about his lack of prophetic skills only being evidenced should his prophecies fail to come to pass. It's unlikely that the ancient Greeks would have had the blind Teiresias speak his words other than standing up. It especially is awkward for him in the film, because he comes and goes without the play's provision for a boy guide.
Seventh, the film has all of the choral odes spoken except for the half sung last ode. In fact, ancient Greeks expected the play to be performed with the chorus singing and dancing through their odes. This may or may not be considered significant.
What does Creon decide to do with Antigone and Ismene in 'Antigone'?
Place them under house arrest, sentence them to death and then spare the younger and execute the elder are what Creon decides to do with Antigone and Ismene in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Creon decides to arrest his nieces, Princesses Antigone and Ismene, for burying their brother Polyneices despite his law to the contrary. He expects to impose upon both sisters the mandatory punishment of death by stoning. But he settles on sparing Ismene, whom he considers wise from birth, and punishing Antigone, whom he considers foolish from birth, by walling her up in a remote cave.
Why do Oedipus' parents abandon him?
A dreadful prophecy motivates Theban sovereigns, King Laius and Queen Jocasta, to abandon their three day old infant, Oedipus. Laius is warned that he will be killed by his own son. His wife becomes pregnant, and delivers an infant son. Laius tells Jocasta to kill little Oedipus.
The order to kill one's own son sounds brutal. But in ancient Greece, the killing of one's father and of one's sovereign are heinous crimes. A much lesser crime is the killing of a child who's destined to grow up to be a law breaker.
Jocasta doesn't want to lose her husband. But neither does she want to kill her son. She gives the baby to her most trusted servant, a shepherd. The shepherd is supposed to kill Oedipus by leaving him alone on the mountain, and therefore exposed to the weather and the wildlife.
But the shepherd can't bring himself to carry out the deed either. He ends up giving Oedipus to a fellow shepherd, whose home is in Corinth. Upon his return to Corinth, the second shepherd gives Oedipus to the city's childless sovereigns, Corinthian King Polybus and Corinthian Queen Merope.
What French dramatist authored a version of 'Antigone'?
Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh [June 23, 1910-October 3, 1987] was a French dramatist who included among his literary output his modernistic play 'Antigone'. Anouilh's version was an updated, retelling of the play of the same name by Sophocles [496 B.C.E.* - 406 B.C.E.], a famed ancient Greek playwright.
Anouilh didn't limit his creativity on the stage to the penning of tragedies. In fact, he described himself as the author of seven types of plays. He identified his plays as aristocratic, baroque, fantastic, historical, realistic/tragic, sarcastic, or unsuccessful.
*Before the Christian Era
Why are Jocasta and Oedipus happy to hear about Polybus' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?
That Polybus dies of illness and old age and not at Oedipus' hands and that all prophecies may not come true are the reasons why the Theban royal couple, Jocasta and Oedipus, are happy to hear about the death of Oedipus' presumed father.
Specifically, years before the action of the play, Oedipus hears a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. He is so horrified by the prospect and so frightened by the prophecy being carried out that he runs away from home. That he was no where near Polybus at the time of the latter's death give Oedipus and Jocasta hope that the rest of the prophecy will not come true either.
What are eight important scenes in 'Antigone'?
One important scene is the meeting between the sisters, Antigone and Ismene. Antigone foredooms her tragedy by deciding to violate the non-burial law by honoring the corpse of her brother Polyneices. A second important scene is Theban King Creon's announcement of his non-burial decree. The King foredooms his tragedy by deciding to violate the god-given rights of all Thebans to proper burial rites and rituals. A third important scene is the announcement by the Sentry of the law's violation with the honoring of Polyneices' corpse. The result is the King's decision to arrest and punish the perpetrator. Antigone's arrest and court appearance bring the criminal and the punisher together in the tragedy of deliberate crime and equally deliberate punishment. A fourth important scene is Antigone's sentencing. The commuting of the capital punishment from death by stoning to death by live burial in a walled-up, remote cave opens up the possibility of the victim's suicide. A fifth important scene is the meeting between Theban King Creon and his son, Haemon. Their opposing views on Antigone's fate foredoom Haemon's tragedy. Haemon must decide whether to repudiate or rescue his cousin and bride-to-be. A sixth important scene is the meeting between Teiresias the blind prophet and Theban King Creon. The King's insults and threats lead the Prophet to reveal the woeful fate of the royal household. A seventh important scene is the meeting of the King with the dead Antigone and the mourning Haemon in the cave. Haemon's suicide is one of two straws to break the camel's back. The second straw, in the eighth important scene, is the news of the suicide of Queen Eurydice. It's all over for King Creon, who once had it all.
What is one example of comic relief in 'Antigone'?
An example of comic relief in the play 'Antigone' is the reference to the victory celebrations of the Thebans over the invading forces from Argos. The chorus talks about the night-long dancing and singing that's planned to take place in all of the temples of Thebes. The chorus refers to the festivity leadership of Bacchus, who may let get things get so out of hand that his 'dancing shakes the land of Thebe'.
Is it possible for a stepdaughter to have an Oedipus complex over her stepfather?
No, it isn't possible in Freudian psychology for a stepdaughter to have an Oedipus complex over her stepfather. The Oedipus complex is applied to the relationship of a son to his mother. The equivalent for a daughter to her father is the Electra complex.
The two complexes get their names from stories in ancient Greek mythology. The Oedipus complex refers to Theban King Oedipus' albeit unknowing, abnormal relationship with his parents. He kills his father, Theban King Laius. He weds and beds his mother, Theban Queen Jocasta.
The Electra complex refers to Argive Princess Electra of Mycenae. She thinks it's o.k. for her father, King Agamemnon, to bring back as his lover, the war prize Cassandra, from Troy. She doesn't think it's o.k. for her mother, Clytemnestra, to have cousin-in-law Aegisthus as a lover. Electra and her brother Orestes end up planning the murder of Clytemnestra for having murdered Agamemnon.
So the Oedipus complex warns of an abnormal attachment between son and mother. The Electra complex warns of an abnormal attachment between daughter and father.
Who has the tragic reversal in 'Antigone'?
The most tragic reversal in the play 'Antigone' happens to Theban King Creon. He loses everything that gives his life meaning. His wife and his son choose to commit suicide rather than spend one more minute above ground under his dictatorial, insensitive, selfish rules. He loses the friendship and respect of Teiresias the blind prophet. It in fact is Teiresias who bails the King out with his insightful advice and his prescient predictions. And he loses his job. He no longer has the kingly position and powers of which he is so proud throughout most of the play. He no longer has the love and respect of his relatives or his people. He's headed for a miserable, beggarly existence in exile.
How much do you think Creon is to blame for the suicides of Antigone and Haemon and Eurydice?
Creon is to blame for everyone's suicides. Creon places Antigone and Haemon in a situation where they only way they saw to get out of was to commit suicide. When Eurydice found out that Haemon had committed suicide due to Creon she went to her room, where she cursed Creon before taking her own life.
If Creon had not be so stubborn and not placed Antigone in the cave no one would have died. But it is a greek tragedy, so the ending must of course be tragic. :]
Does Antigone recognize her error and accept the tragic consequence?
Yes, Antigone accepts the tragic consequences of her acts. In the play 'Antigone', the main character of the same name always is aware of the consequences of disobedience to manmade laws and compliance with god-given justice. No, Antigone doesn't recognize her acts as erroneous. She indicates that she may have been able to replace husbands and children. But she has no choice in regard to Polyneices. For both her parents are dead, and so a dead brother may not be replaced with another.
