CLASS 102 A1 Antigone II

CLASS 102 A1 Antigone II Outline

• Scene 3: The Agon of Kreon and Antigone

• Scene 4: The Agon of Kreon and Haimon

• Scene 5: Antigone’s Kommos

• Cast: Pauline Kästner (Antigone) and Michael Hochstrasser (Kreon), Staatstheater Nürnberg, 2022

• Director: Andreas Kriegenburg

Page 2: Scene Overview

Scene 3 (376-581)

• Characters: Kreon, Guard, Antigone, Ismene

• Three phases:

  • 376-445: The Guard returns with Antigone, who confesses to the burial of Polyneikes; the Guard then exits.

  • 446-525: Antigone and Kreon confront each other; Ismene is also accused of the burial.

  • 526-581: A dialogue involving Antigone, Kreon, and Ismene, with Ismene pleading for Antigone’s life.

• Chorus on Atē (582-625): Discussion on fate and consequences.

• Context: Sofocle's Antigone, directed by Federico Tiezzi, Arena del Sole, Bologna 2018.

Page 3: Scene 3, Phase 1 (376-445): The Second Burial

• The Guard/Watchman’s Rhesis (407-440):

  • Builds tension; Antigone is on stage while the Guard describes the events.

  • Highlights Antigone’s devotion to her brother Polyneikes; creates a sense of mystery around the burial.

  • Shows unexpected sympathy toward Antigone (lines 423-428, 437-440).

• Questions Raised: Why is Antigone surprised to find Polyneikes unburied?

  • Ambiguities regarding the nature of the first burial—was it done by the gods or was the guard mistaken?

  • Consideration of dramatic effect in confession without trial leading toward execution in Athenian law.

Page 4: Scene 3, Phase 2 (446-525): The Agon of Antigone and Kreon

• What is an Agon?: A competition or contest in language and argument rather than physical feats.

• Aristotle's Views:

  • Discussion of nomoi (customs/laws), contrasting private and universal perspectives.

  • Universal nomoi viewed as existing by nature (phusis).

  • Antigone's unwritten code of 'decency' represents a natural form of justice.

• The Agon:

  • Dynamics involve expressions of opposites: human vs. divine, pain vs. profit, and masculine vs. feminine characteristics.

  • Emotional conflicts highlighted along with contrasting views of Kreon and Antigone’s perspectives.

Page 5: Scene 4 Overview

Scene 4 (626-780): The Agon of Kreon and Haimon

• Kreon’s Rhesis (639-680): Kreon articulates his rationale for Antigone's impending execution for the sake of polis integrity.

• Haimon’s Rhesis (683-723): Engages Kreon in a heated stichomythia, representing tension.

  • Haimon vows Kreon will not see him again (762-765).

• Chorus’ Role: The Chorus appeals to Kreon for Ismene’s life to be spared, but Kreon remains firm on Antigone's punishment (766-780).

• Chorus Hymn: Celebration of Eros and Aphrodite (781-800).

Page 6: Structure of the Agon

• The agon encompasses both moral/political and personal dimensions.

• Rare portrayal of father-son conflicts on stage in Greek tragedy; indicates a need for sons to assert individual identities.

• Symmetrical Structure:

  • 4-line introductions.

  • Long rheses of roughly 42 lines.

  • 2-line chorus comments.

  • Conclusive stichomythia maintaining the tension.

Page 7: Scene 4, Kreon’s Position (639-680)

Kreon’s Three Phases:

1. Sons as Extensions of Fathers: Emphasizes obedience domestically extends to political order as a governance principle.

2. Women as Danger: Views women as potential distractions from duty, tying their desires to political disorder.

3. Strictures of Obedience: Alludes to the political necessity of obedience through domestic and military analogies; paints Antigone as an enemy of order.

Haimon’s Position (683-723)

• Advocates for flexibility and acknowledges citizens’ fears and admiration for Antigone, prompting Kreon to reconsider.

• A conflict arises where Kreon maintains his stance on Antigone but acknowledges Haimon’s moral victory in the debate.

Page 8: Scene 4, The Chorus Prevails (766-780)

• The Chorus successfully persuades Kreon to spare Ismene, signaling a shift in his perspective (though she disappears from the narrative).

• Re-declaration of Punishment: Antigone sentenced to entombment alive, minimizing bloodshed and avoiding miasma.

• Antigone’s fate depicted as a purgatorial 'marriage' to Hades, symbolizing her isolation and ultimate destiny.

Page 9: The Kommos (801-882)

• Definition: Kommos represents a dirge or lamentation vital for heightening emotional tension in the play.

• Musical Climax: Antigone laments her abandonment by gods and kin, showcasing the emotional turmoil.

• Chorus Response: Ambiguity in their stance creates tension, reflecting differing connections to Antigone and her predicament.

• Parallel Imagery: Antigone's lament mirrors Greek marriage rites—depicting her journey from familial bonds to her ultimate union with death.

Page 10: Scene 5, Antigone’s Rhesis on Philia (891-928)

1. Addressing Her Tomb: Use of tricolon and anaphora emphasizes her consciousness of impending doom and her sense of duty.

2. Connection to Deceased Kin: Antigone appeals to her lineage, emphasizing familial bonds, especially with Polyneikes.

3. Obligation to Polyneikes: Highlights her unique interpretation of duty and the concept of replaceability within familial dynamics.

4. Concluding Remarks: Comments on her treatment and the inaction of the gods underscore her isolation and despair, marked by the repetitive use of first-person pronouns.