Antigone is the third and final in Sophocles’ series of plays about the saga of Oedipus, the other two being Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus.
Synopsis of Antigone
Antigone tells of the fate of Oedipus’ children Eteocles, Polynices, Ismene and Antigone.
The play begins after the death of Oedipus. His sons Eteocles and Polynices had agreed to rule the kingdom together, alternating years of reign. However, when Eteocles’ year is up he refuses to step aside. Civil war breaks out in Thebes, and each brothers are killed by the other's hand. This leaves their uncle, Creon, to rule the kingdom.
Creon decries that it was Polynices who was the traitor and therefore should not receive any burial rites. Antigone, however, is determined to ensure both of her brothers have a proper burial.
The Life and Work of Sophocles
Sophocles lived from 495 to 405 BC. He was incredibly popular during his lifetime. He was also heralded by the generations that followed him. Aristotle described Oedipus the King as the perfect tragedy in his Poetics.
At the time of Sophocles, Athens was at the peak of its greatness and was the leading Greek state. Not just a playwright, Sophocles was also involved with public affairs. He held the post of magistrate, treasurer and general throughout his lifetime. It is believed that he began writing in his late twenties and continued until his death.
His prolific career is thought to have produced over one hundred plays. Unfortunately, however, only seven of his tragedies currently exist.
The influence of Sophocles on modern drama cannot be underestimated. He is believed to be the first playwright to use three actors. He is also thought to have pioneered the use of painted scenery.
Analysis of Antigone
Antigone is one of the most political of all the Ancient Greek plays. It is certainly Sophocles’ most blatant address of the issues surrounding the difficulties of running a state. It seems that this theme is equally as relevant in the modern world, because the play has been adapted and produced numerous times.
In the 1940s, the play was used to portray the threat of Nazism by both Jean Anouilh and Bertolt Brecht. It has since been used to attack South African apartheid and British Imperialism in Ireland.
Antigone is often seen as an individual who makes a stand against a dictator. However, the play also examines the difficulty of leadership and the issues involved with attempting to maintain control. It could be argued that Creon’s actions are defensible.
Creon: A Dictator?
Thebes was left in a desperate state after suffering through civil war and the kingdom required an urgent and firm hand to restore peace. However, history teaches that it is excatly these circumstances of political upheaval and strife which allow a despot to take power.
The other factor which makes it hard to argue Creon’s case is that he is not consistent. After having decided that Ismene is equally as guilty as her sister, he then changes his mind. Similarly, his feeling towards Antigone are erratic and he cannot decide upon her fate.
More than anything else, Creon is angry because his laws have been broken, not by someone attempting to make a civil protest, but by a young woman who is simply concerned for her brother’s soul. Antigone has no political motivation, she is merely carrying out what she believes to be her duty.
It is interesting, therefore, that the play is often interpreted as an individual's fight against a dictatorship. It's reasonable to assume that if it weren't for the rotting body of Polynices, Antigone would have quite happily obeyed her uncles' laws.
 |
