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Antigone: Ancient Greek Drama

This document provides background information on the ancient Greek drama Antigone. It summarizes the main characters, including Antigone, Creon, Polynices, and others. It also gives context for the backstory, including the myths of Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes. The drama centers around a conflict between Antigone and Creon after Creon declares that Polynices will not be buried, though burying the dead is a religious law. Major themes explored in the play include individual vs state, divine law vs man's law, and more.

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McEwan, Suzanne
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50 views

Antigone: Ancient Greek Drama

This document provides background information on the ancient Greek drama Antigone. It summarizes the main characters, including Antigone, Creon, Polynices, and others. It also gives context for the backstory, including the myths of Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes. The drama centers around a conflict between Antigone and Creon after Creon declares that Polynices will not be buried, though burying the dead is a religious law. Major themes explored in the play include individual vs state, divine law vs man's law, and more.

Uploaded by

McEwan, Suzanne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Antigone

ANCIENT GREEK DRAMA


Question

Would you ever break the law?


What would it take for you to break
the law?

Is there any circumstance were you


can be justified in breaking the law?
Main Characters
 Antigone – daughter of Oedipus.
 Ismene – her sister.
 Creon – King of Thebes, Uncle to Antigone.
 Polynices – Antigone’s brother, who is left unburied.
 Eteocles – Antigone’s brother, who was buried.
 Haemon – Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancée.
 Tiresias – a blind seer/oracle.
 Eurydice – Creon’s wife
 Soldier
 Messenger
Antigone Backstory:
2 Prequel Myths: Oedipus &
The 7 Against Thebes
Oedipus:
 Baby abandoned at birth (by King, his father)
 Raised by foster parents
 Prophecy is he will kill his father and marry his
mother, Jocasta. So, he flees his home in Thebes to
avoid this fate, but years later meets his father at a
crossroads, kills him in a fight, then saves Thebes from
the Sphinx, wins the prize of marriage to the
widowed queen (unknown to all, his actual mother!).
 Imagine what he, his wife-mother, and their FOUR
children will feel when they found out!
7 Against Thebes
 They find out. Oedipus discovers he has murdered his
father and married his mother,
 Jocasta kills herself. Oedipus blinds himself.
 Oedipus’ throne is taken from him and given in trust to his
uncle (and brother-in-law!) CREON.
 He is exiled, accompanied by Antigone. his daughter.
 His sons, Polynices and Eteocles, grow to manhood and
agree to alternate, year by year, ruling Thebes. But
Eteocles refuses to give up the throne when it is time;
Polynices flees to Argos, marries the princess and returns
with SIX heroes to attack Thebes.
 Meanwhile, Oedipus dies in exile (in Athens) and Antigone
returns to Thebes.
 In the attack of the SEVEN heroes on Thebes, Polynices
and Eteocles kill each other.
Tragedy
 Greek drama puts soap operas to shame.
 Greeks were fascinated by heroes with
tragic flaws (harmatia) that led to their
demise.
 Why do we enjoy these painful stories?
The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed
it was due to catharsis: the release of
emotion. In a sense, we feel what the
hero feels, and then release our own
feelings.
Ted-Ed: Tragic Hero
The best way to analyze
Major Themes
this play is by looking at
the central conflicts.
Female vs Individual vs Old vs
Greeks loved conflicting Male the State Young
views – the more
antithetical, the better.

Divine Law
vs
Man’s Law
Other themes

Death Incest Justice Power

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