Monday, October 24, 2011

Sophocles - Antigone


Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, who died in the preceding story. Creon is her uncle/grandfather (the genetics are a bit muddy here) and he is leading the ruler of Thebes as the fight in a war. Creon declares Polyneices disgraces as he died fighting for the throne in Thebes during their civil war, while Eteocles will be given proper burial rights. Polyneices is the brother of Antigone and Ismene. They decide to procure his body and give him the proper burial rights, though Ismene's fear of the death penalty keeps her from going through with it. Creon discovers this and demands to speak with her, they argue and he decides she should be punished for her actions. He then calls Ismene to them as he suspects she had something to do with it. She falsely admits to helping her sister in order to die by her side but Antigone wouldn't have that so Ismene was spared. He decides to bury Antigone alive in a cave. Tiresias soon enters and demands Creon bury Polyneices for if he does not he will lose his own sons. Tiresias is always a blind prophet in the majority of these greek plays. Creon eventually goes to correct his mistakes and comes to learn that both Haemon (his son) and Antigone have taken their lives (they were engaged). When Eurydice (Haemon's mother) finds out she takes her life as well. Creon blames himself but remains king. He asserts the punishment by the gods will bring him wisdom.

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