Antigone

Yes, Antigone is the protagonist of the play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the protagonist is the main character whose actions, feelings, thoughts and words tend to inspire admiration and respect. The title and the position description fit Antigone well. Thebans are inspired by Antigone's selfless commitment to divine will and the protection of those vulnerable to disrespect and injustice. By her commitment, she defends not only her beloved dead brother Polyneices but also those of the entire city of Thebes.

Antigone does not refer to her father as a general in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone calls her father by his name in the opening lines of the play. At the same time, she discusses the latest actions taken by her uncle King Creon. She refers to Creon as a captain.

Creon is not a static character in the play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon goes through a complete reversal in actions, beliefs and feelings between the beginning and the ending of the play. For example, he starts out issuing an edict that is contrary to divine will and Theban traditions; he ends up having to withdraw that edict. He starts out believing that women are trouble and can be replaced by a more docile model; he ends up facing a life without Queen Eurydice, who commits suicide rather than spend one second more with him. He starts out feeling superior to everyone else; he ends seeing himself as among the most despicable and unfortunate of mortals.

That Creon is consulting with the oracle at Apollo's shrine is the initial step that Oedipus indicates as already having been taken in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, this is the information that Theban King Oedipus shares with the priest of Zeus and the Theban citizens gathered outside the royal palace. He already knows of the pestilence that is bringing on ailing livestock, declining birthrates, and failed harvests. So he does what any royal would do in ancient Greece: he sends an important, trusted person -- in this case, Creon, his brother-in-law and co-ruler -- to consult the nearest oracle.

Respectful in the beginning, then disappointed and finally angry and alienated are Haemon's attitudes towards Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon tries to show respect to King Creon, his father and his sovereign. But Creon is not strong on people skills and quickly disappoints the son that he appears not to know at all well. Haemon quickly ends up so furious that he tries and fails to kill his own father but succeeds in killing himself. The alienation and the break are complete between father and son.

That her actions affect all other actions is the reason why Antigone is the main character in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the dramatist identifies his main character by honoring her name in the play's title. He also indicates that Theban Princess Antigone is the main character by having all action be affected and determined by what she does. For example, King Creon issues the royal edict that his niece decides to disobey. But she steps forward as the only protester. All actions trace back to her protest.

The land of Phocis is where Theban King Laius dies in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Phocis was and remains a region of central Greece. Its significance to the play is that it includes Delphi, the location of the oracle that Laius is seeking to consult when he is murdered. The precise location of the murder is at the crossroads for access from Thebes to Daulia and Delphi.

No, Antigone's conviction about burying Polyneices does not mean dislike for her brother Eteocles in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone volunteers that she is fine about the burial honors conferred to her brother Eteocles. What she dislikes is the unfair, illegal and disrespectful way in which her brother Polyneices' body is treated. Both brothers are divinely guaranteed as Thebans to below-ground burials and anointing with special liquids from sacred ewers. Antigone acts to make sure that both brothers in fact get their due.

Adjustable sails on the water and bending branches in a storm are two examples that Haemon uses to show Creon that it is wise to be flexible in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon advises that decisions and policies are not carved in stone. He cautions that flexibility is a more successful approach than rigidity. For example, he identifies the likelihood of branches to break when they do not bend in a storm and of ships to sink or stray when their sails are not adjusted to waves and winds.

Following is a list of ten (10) similarities between the plays "Antigone" and "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.):

1. The area just outside the main entrance to the royal palace of Thebes is the main setting.

2. The chorus indicates that Theban King Oedipus and his daughter/half-sister Theban Princess Antigone may be victimsof a divine curse on the House of Theban King Labadacus, from whom they descend.

3. The critical deeds of Oedipus and then of Antigone are motivated by passion and defended without recognition or respect for an opposing viewpoint.

4. The entire environment of Thebes is polluted by disrespect to the dead - the death of Theban King Laius in "Oedipus Rex" and the non-burial of Theban Prince Polyneices - as crimes against the gods and by omission of cleansing rituals.

5. The explanation for and the resolution to the environmental pollution are given by the blind prophet Teiresias.

6. The fates of Oedipus as the victor over the Sphinx and of Antigone as the respecter of the old ways and the burier of her dishonored brother are consolidated by the doing of the above-mentioned great, heroic deeds: No good deed goes unpunished.

7. The motives of Theban King Creon are questioned by Oedipus as his brother-in-law and co-ruler and by Antigone as his niece and intended daughter-in-law;

8. The Queen of Thebes, Jocasta, is the mother of Oedipus, who becomes her second husband, and of Antigone, who thereby ends up as Oedipus' daughter and half-sister.

9. The seer Teiresias is insulted and threatened - with unenviable consequences - by the reigning sovereign, with the king being Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" and Creon in "Antigone."

10. The tragedies end with the suicide of Jocasta and Antigone as the respectively main female characters in "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" and with the personal and professional shaming of Oedipus and Creon as the respectively main male characters in "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone."

Arrogance is a word that describes Creon's character in the play "Antigone" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, arrogance involves an exaggerated sense of self-importance and an overbearing manner. The description fits Theban King Creon. He believes that a king rules alone, over instead of with the inhabitants of his city and against the expressed will of the gods and the cherished traditions of his people.

Straightforward communication and sutbbornness are Creon's respective strength and weakness in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, there is no misunderstanding Theban King Creon. He means what he says and says what he means. But that straightforwardness wears thin since he stubbornly says the same things over and over without any allowance for consequence or second opinions.

That it is a lie is the reason why Antigone refuses to permit Ismene to share responsibility for burying Polyneices in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigones asks her sister Ismene to help give their brother Polyneices' body a proper below-ground burial. Ismene refuses out of fear of the death penalty for breaking one of their uncle King Creon's laws. Antigone seeks capture for giving Polyneices a partial burial under a layer of dust because the royal law contradicts divine will and Theban traditions. She wants to make a statement in suffering the consequences and not to have anything to do with a sister whom she considers base.

That he rules as he must and then that he needs to rethink his position are ways in which the chorus reacts to Creon's new edict in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon informs the chorus about his edict against burial of the disloyal Theban dead. The chorus observes that Creon must rule as he must and makes no comment on the law violating divine will and Theban traditions. But just before the end of the play, the chorus says that Creon must violate his own law by burying Polyneices and setting Antigone free.

That his nephew becomes the enemy of Thebes is a way in which Creon's decision regarding Polyneices' burial is justified in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon views his nephew Polyneices as an enemy for marrying into the Argive royal family and then leading combined Argive and Theban forces in an invasion of Thebes. Victors in ancient Greece get to leave the enemy dead above ground and exposed to desecration and dismemberment by wildlife. Creon decides that Thebans who attack their hometown in defense of a legitimate royal claim cease to be Thebans. He therefore concludes that the disloyal Theban dead no longer are eligible for god-given rights of all Thebans to below-ground burials and proper funeral rites.

That they know a special conference is being called but that they have no idea why is the reason that the chorus of Theban elders are puzzled by Creon's summons in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon is new on the job since the previous officeholder, Eteocles, dies in the last battle of the civil war over the Theban royal succession. The chorus of Theban elders guesses that their new king must be making up his mind about something new since he is just starting his reign and a special meeting is being called. But whatever is going on, it is clear from the parados that the chorus is not impartial and that they support Eteocles and Creon against Polyneices' legitimate claim to the crown and throne of Thebes.

No, Creon shows no regret or hesitation in sentencing Antigone to death in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon dislikes his niece, Princess Antigone. He does not like the way she talks or what she does with her time. He likes the thought of removing her permanently from the presence of Prince Haemon, his only son and Antigone's betrothed.

That pride goes before a fall is the choral moral at the end of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus leader summarizes the events in Theban King Creon's life as proving that happiness goes hand in hand with wisdom and vice versa. He also states that the best way to know and to show wisdom is reverence to the all-powerful gods. Finally, he says that seemingly smooth sailing through the waters of pride and irreverence always catch and trip mortals up.

Thebes on the day after the end of the recent civil warare the setting and time span of "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Sophocles respects the ancient Greek guideline of the unity of time, plot and place in drama. That guideline demands the presentation and resolution of a problem within the confines of one place in no longer than a 24-hour period. All onstage action in fact takes place in front of the main entrance to the royal palace of Thebes even though the dialogue may refer to offstage events taking place elsewhere. The temporal setting is identified during the opening scene as the day following the end of the recent civil war over the royal succession.

Himself is the person whom Creon blames for the deaths of Eurydice and Haemon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon finally accepts responsibility for his foolish decisions and actions. He finds himself all alone, without anyone or anything left to give his life meaning. He realizes that he is his own worse enemy and that his self-serving, insensitive deeds and words are what cause his wife, Queen Eurydice, and his only surviving child, Prince Haemon, to take their lives rather than spend one second more in his presence.