Study Notes on Sophocles' Antigone

CLASSICAL GREEK TRAGEDY

Overview of Sophocles and Antigone

  • Author: Sophocles (496?-406 B.C.)
  • Translation: Antigone by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald
Characters Represented
  • ANTIGONE: Daughter of Oedipus and rightful defender of family loyalty.
  • ISMENE: Sister of Antigone, represents compliance with authority.
  • EURYDICE: Wife of Creon.
  • CREON: King of Thebes, enforces the law against burying Polyneices.
  • HAIMON: Son of Creon and betrothed to Antigone.
  • TEIRESIAS: Blind prophet.
  • A SENTRY: Guard charged with watching Polyneices' body.
  • A MESSENGER: Brings news of the actions and fates of characters.
  • CHORUS: Represents the voices of the Theban citizens reflecting on morality, fate, and the gods.
Setting
  • Scene: Before the Palace of Creon, King of Thebes. Includes a central double door and lateral doors leading to an orchestra or chorus-ground.
  • Time: Dawn after the repulsion of the Argive army from Thebes.

Prologue

  • ANTIGONE and ISMENE enter from the palace.
  • ANTIGONE expresses distress over the curse of their father Oedipus and the suffering they have already endured.
  • ISMENE is unaware of Creon's new decree.
Details of the New Decree
  • Creon has buried Eteocles honorably while forbidding burial for Polyneices, branding him a traitor.
  • Polyneices' body is to be left unburied as carrion for animals.
  • The penalty for violating Creon’s decree is stoning to death.
Debate Between Antigone and Ismene
  • ANTIGONE insists on honoring Polyneices despite the law and asks ISMENE to help her.
  • ISMENE refuses due to fear of punishment, emphasizing the dangers of defying Creon, citing their family's tragic fate.
  • ANTIGONE rebuffs ISMENE's fears, stating she cannot abandon her brother.
  • ISMENE feels powerless against the law but expresses love and concern for ANTIGONE.

Parodos (Chorus Entry)

  • The Chorus reflects on the battle, celebrating Thebes' victory and the storms faced by the Ship of State, guided by Heaven’s wisdom.
  • The CHORUS recounts the troubled history of Thebes and the fierce warriors who fought against the city’s defenses.

Scene I: Creon's Address

Introduction of Creon
  • Enter CREON, who addresses the CHORUS with a confidence born out of victory.
  • Shares his recognition of loyalty to past rulers and outlines his contempt for those who put personal interest above the public good.
Creon's Command Regarding the Brothers
  • Eteocles, honored with burial, is praised for dying bravely while defending Thebes.
  • Polyneices, condemned as a traitor, is to remain unburied.
  • CREON emphasizes that honoring traitors undermines the State.
CHORAGOS’ Support
  • CHORAGOS expresses support for Creon’s decree, acknowledging his authority.

Scene II: The Sentry's News

  • Enter SENTRY, who explains the fears of delivering bad news. He reveals that Polyneices has been buried, presenting an unprecedented occurrence.
  • The SENTRY describes locating the mound of dust over the body, noting the absence of tracks or disturbances.
  • Accusations among guards arise, leading to a decision by Creon to find the culprit.
Creon's Reaction
  • CREON suspects treachery and demands the guilty party be apprehended, expressing frustration over bribery and corruption.

Ode I: The Chorus on Humanity

  • The Chorus reflects on the wonders of humanity, emphasizing man's ability to conquer nature while acknowledging the inevitability of death.
  • They remind that the breaking of laws brings ruin to cities and homes.

Scene III: Antigone's Arrest

Antigone's Captivity
  • SENTRY returns leading ANTIGONE, confessing he found her in the act of burying Polyneices.
  • CREON confronts ANTIGONE, demanding to know if she heard of his order against burial.
Antigone’s Defiance
  • ANTIGONE admitted her actions; she claims that divine laws supersede Creon’s edicts, clearly stating that her actions were honorable in the eyes of the gods.
  • CREON challenges her by presenting Eteocles’ status as a soldier, and ANTIGONE argues that both brothers deserved equal respect in death regardless of their actions in life.
ISMENE's Admission
  • Enter ISMENE, who attempts to share in ANTIGONE’s guilt.
  • ANTIGONE, however, refuses to let ISMENE take blame for actions she did not partake in.

Scene IV: The Chorus on Love

  • The Chorus meditates on love’s power, depicting it as a force that can create discord between a father and son (Creon and Haimon).

Scene V: Teiresias' Prophecy

  • Enter TEIRESIAS, who warns CREON of his stubbornness and the consequences that await if he continues to defy divine law.
  • He speaks of disastrous omens and predicts that Creon will suffer for the unburied body and his treatment of Antigone.
Creon's Stubbornness
  • CREON dismisses Teiresias’ warnings, insisting he will not yield.
  • He accuses the prophet of corruption, failing to recognize the broader implications of his actions.
Teiresias’ Revelation
  • Teiresias prophesies direct retribution, hinting at personal loss (death of his son and wife) due to his current course of action.

Climax: Creon's Change of Heart

  • After a heated exchange, CREON realizes his error and resolves to free ANTIGONE and give Polyneices a proper burial, driven by regret and the pressing sense of fate.

Exodus: The Tragic Outcome

Death of Haimon
  • News arrives that HAIMON has taken his own life after finding Antigone dead by suicide in the tomb.
Death of Eurydice
  • EURYDICE commits suicide, cursing CREON for the deaths of their children before dying silently.

Finality of Tragedy

  • CREON recognizes his own culpability in the chaos that has ensued, lamenting the destruction of his family and feeling the weight of his actions.
  • CHORAGOS delivers a moral that wisdom and true happiness cannot exist alongside pride and disobedience to the gods.