Antigone

Break Antigone into pleading scared little pieces is what Creon vows to do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon accepts no contrary opinions or opposing viewpoints. He particularly brooks no opposition from the feminine gender that he so disdains. He especially cannot tolerate defiance from his niece, Princess Antigone, whom he heartily dislikes for speaking her mind and standing up for the rights of such disgraced family members as her parents Oedipus and Jocasta and her brother Polyneices.

Help her bury their brother is what Antigone asks her sister to do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone asks her sister, Princess Ismene, to help bury their brother Polyneices. With Ismene, Antigone can give her brother the below ground burial to which he is entitled. Without her, Antigone can give no more than a partial burial under a layer of dust.

Jocasta diesbefore Oedipus blinds himself in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.E.C.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta realizes first that Theban King Oedipus is not only her husband but also her son and the half-brother of their children. Incest is a blasphemous offense against the gods, and so Jocasta goes into the royal palace to kill herself. Shortly afterward, Oedipus realizes his true self-identity, goes into the palace, and finds Jocasta's body hanging from a noose made of the threads from her own robes.

A reminder of obedience to the gods is the purpose of the choral ode following Creon's edict in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the ode criticizes Polyneices for attacking Thebes in defense of his legitimate royal claims. The chorus describes Polyneices as offending Zeus with supposedly proud boasts and deeds. The members observe that no disobedience or disrespect goes unpunished by the gods.

In Storr's English translation*, there are at least three approaches to alliteration. One is Creon's line, 'Banishment, or the shedding blood for blood. This stain of blood makes shipwreck of our state'. Another example is Teiresias' line, 'Not Creon; thou thyself art thine own bane'.

*http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html

It is the ruler whom Creon thinks owns the city in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon gives his opinion on city ownership during his interaction with his son Prince Haemon in the third scene of the play. Haemon insists that a ruler must consider the opinions of others and not just his own. He maintains that the city belongs to no man whereas Creon responds that it belongs to the ruler.

That she is cautious, scared and young is what Ismene's response says about her character in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene hesitates to break the law since she sees law abiding citizenship as the safest course in a city trying to heal from a recent civil war. She is afraid of engaging in criminal activity that carries a humiliating, painful death sentence. She lacks the experience to be able to figure out how to beg, cajole or intimidate her way out a situation in which she has the distinct disadvantage.

The deaths of Oedipus and his sons Eteoclesand Polyneices,the crowning of Creon and the betrothal of Antigone are what happens between "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, "Oedipus Rex" ends with Theban King's house arrest. "Antigone" begins with Princesses Antigone and Ismene discussing whether or not to bury their disgraced brother Polyneices. "Oedipus at Colonus," which is the middle play in the trilogy, acts to inform the audience of Oedipus' exile with his two daughters, his death in the presence of Athenian King Theseus, and the conflict between Eteocles and Polyneices.

Sometime around 440 B.C.E. is the general time period of the first performance of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the above-mentioned play forms a trilogy with "Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus Colonus" as to the life and times of Theban King Oedipus and his children. The above-mentioned play is the last in terms of a correct chronology of events. But it is the first to be written, with "Oedipus Rex" following about 20 years later and "Oedipus at Colonus" showing up around the time of the author's death.

That proper Theban-style burial rites are being respected for their brother Eteocles but not forPolyneices and she intends to bury Polyneicesis the information given by Antigone to Ismene at the beginning of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone says that their uncle, King Creon, is issuing an edict that honors god-given burial and funeral rites to loyalists such as Eteocles but denies them to perceived traitors such as Polyneices. Antigone intends to obey divine will and disobey Creon's law. With her sister Ismene's help, she can bury Polyneices underground. On her own, she can give a partial burial by which the body is left above ground and completely covered with a layer of dust. Either way, the body is considered buried.

Supportively to the edict, Antigone's punishment, Ismene's release in the beginning and then supportively to Polyneices' burial and Antigone's release in the end are the ways in which the chorus leader reacts to Creon's decision in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus leader begins the play with the observation that kings rule the way that they must. He criticizes Theban Princess Antigone's emotional and disrespectful outbursts. He does not oppose Antigone's arrest and punishment, but does come out in defense of Princess Ismene's innocence. But by the end, he moves from support for his sovereign to criticism. For example, he firmly states that the bodies of Polyneices and the disloyal Theban dead need to be buried and that Antigone needs to be released from her live burial.

That there is still the concern over the pestilential environment and the polluted altars is the reason why the chorus calls on Dionysus for help after Creon goes to bury Polyneices and free Antigone in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a pestilence afflicts Thebes. It arises because of the exposed bodies of the enemy and Theban dead. The chorus hopes for divine help in removing the pollution from the altars.

Haemon is the person whom Antigone is supposed to marry in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone is engaged to marry her first cousin, Prince Haemon. Haemon is the only surviving child and heir of his parents, King Creon and Queen Eurydice. His father is Antigone's uncle.
Haemon is the person that Antigone is supposed to marry. They're engaged, and in love. They're cousins, because Haemon's father is the brother of Antigone's now dead mother, Theban Queen Jocasta.

But Haemon's father also is King of Thebes. As the royal ruler, Theban King Creon makes and enforces laws. One such law is non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. It's a law that Antigone breaks, for her brother Polyneices. And Creon isn't a king to make exceptions. He calls for the death sentence even though Antigone is his niece and his future daughter-in-law. That ends any marriage plans for Antigone and Haemon.

Remove her body from the noose, place her on the floor, remove the gold brooches from her robes, and blind himself are what Oedipus does when Jocasta die in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hangs herself with threads from her own robes. Oedipus removes the body from the noose and places it on the floor. He then removes the gold brooches that help hold her robes together and uses them to blind himself.

Yes, Creon is exiled from Thebes according to some versions of the stories about the Theban royal family.

Specifically, Creon issues an edict that is contrary to the divinely expressed will of the gods. Offenses against the gods are punishable, and the punishment tends to be execution or exile in terms of royal perpetrators. The play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) ends with Creon being deserted by his family, all of whom choose suicide over life with him and with his losing his job and being escorted away from the public eye.

That they kill each other in battle over the throne of Thebes is what happens to Polyneices and Eteocles, Antigone's and Ismene's two brothers.

Specifically, the twins inherit the throne when their father, Theban King Oedipus, is forced into exile for having - albeit unknowingly - killed his royal predecessor and own father, Theban King Laius. The twins are to alternate years of rule in a joint power-sharing arrangement. But Eteocles refuses to give up the throne and forces Polyneices into exile. Polyneices comes back with an army of invading Argives and disgruntled Thebans. The two brothers end up fighting and killing each other.

Tragedy is the genre of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the term genre describes a literary type within the major forms of drama, novel, novella, short story or tragedy. The play in question is drama because it is structured around character interactions that favor performance before a live audience. The play's type of drama is tragedy because it tells the story of Theban Princess Antigone's sacrificing her life for the defense of family, gods and traditions.