Chorus quotes

Zeus hates with a vengeance all bravado, the __________________.

Zeus hates with a vengeance all bravado, the mighty boasts of men.

• The chorus in this stasimon recounts and rejoices in the victory of the attack on Thebes, and states that Zeus does not approve of pride. This foreshadows and uses dramatic irony as Creon and Antigone are burdened with pride that they are unable to recognise later in the play, leading to the main conflict. 

Man the _________, the ____________!

Man the skilled, the brilliant!

• Power and potential of man

Man the master,...When he ___________ in the _____________, and the _______________ that binds his oaths together _____________ rise high— but the city casts out that man who __________ to ____________ thanks to _____________.

Man the master,...When he weaves in the laws of the land, and the justice of the gods that binds his oaths together he and his city rise high— but the city casts out that man who weds himself to inhumanity thanks to reckless daring.

• In this stasimon the chorus highlights the significance of both divine and civil law, insinuating that the ‘city will rise high’ only when ‘the laws of the land and the justice of the gods’ are ‘[weaved]’ together.

Attacks on _________ never go unchecked,...your ________________________________ you.

Attacks on power never go unchecked,...your own blind will, your passion has destroyed you.

• Antigone’s ambition to help her brother destroyed her future

• “Attacks on power never go unchecked” refers to the fact no one gets away with trying to overpower the king. 

The power of __________, dark, terrible wonder—

neither _______ nor ________________ black hulls lashed by the salt can save _______________

The power of fate is a wonder, dark, terrible wonder—

neither wealth nor armies towered walls nor ships black hulls lashed by the salt can save us from that force.

• The chorus accentuates the unavoidable destiny of characters, that is ultimately inescapable. 

• The juxtaposition of “wonder” with “dark and “terrible” highlights that fate is an incredible force that shapes the outline of an individual’s life, however it is up to the beholder to make wise decisions.

_______ is by far the ___________, and reverence toward the gods must be safeguarded. The __________of the _________ are paid in full with _______________, and at long last those ________ teach us ___________.

Wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy, and reverence toward the gods must be safeguarded. The mighty words of the proud are paid in full with mighty blows of fate, and at long last those blows will teach us wisdom.

(EXODUS)

• The chorus warns of the dangers of fate= when we do not act wisely-we may be victim to the“mighty blows of fate”

•  Through the concluding message of the chorus, Sophocles communicates a message regarding the importance of wisdom and dangers of fate or daily to hold “reverence toward the gods”. 

• The chorus display the viewpoint that neither Creon or Antigone were right, as they both failed to display wisdom, proving incapable to alter their actions or listen to the differing views of others. =>e.g Creon was too prideful so the deaths of Eurydice, Haemon and Antigone forced him to see the error of his ways and lack of good judgement or wisdom.

You went ____________, the last limits of daring- smashing against the ___________________! Your life's in _________, child

You went too far, the last limits of daring- smashing against the high throne of Justice! Your life's in ruins, child

But good advice, Creon, __________ now, you _________.

But good advice, Creon, take it now, you must.

• The chorus is not in power. 

• The chorus comments on Creon’s hubris, stating that he is too stubborn to listen to reason.

• Creon's refusal to listen to others stems from an insecurity and stubborn pride, as he likens fault with weakness, especially since he needs to live up to the stereotype of being a man

_________________, you see what justice means.

Too late, too late, you see what justice means.

(EXODUS)

• Now Creon he can see the agony and injustices he put Antigone through

• The leader is showing fate and how this has now become Creon’s fate. 

• Creon has learnt the justice he has been avoiding, with his hubris, but now he has to face the agony he caused Antigone

For mortal men there is no ________ from the______________.

For mortal men there is no escape from the doom we must endure.