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Description edit
Filled with passionate speeches and sensitive probing of moral and philosophical issues, this powerful and often-performed Greek drama reveals the grim fate that befalls the children of Oedipus.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
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... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters edit
- Antigone (Ἀντιγόνη): The daughter of Oedipus, Antigone was seen in Oedipus Rex as a young girl after her father blinded himself and requested Creon take care of her. She was also one of the main supporter of her father in the previous play and led him along similar to how Teirsias is led by a boy. She is not said to be as beautiful as her sister Ismene and yet Haemon has chosen her as his fiancé. In this play, Antigone chooses to do what is right rather than what is law. She risks her life to bury her elder brother Polyneices and then boldly admits she has done it, challenging Creon straight on. Most people support her but are afraid of Creon's death penalty.
- Ismene (Ἰσμήνη): The beautiful sister of Antigone, Ismene discourages Antigone's reckless actions at the play's start. Ismene can be flaky, often moving from one side of the story to the other. Although flaky, he provides very useful information.
- Creon (Κρέων): Creon is the brother of Jocasta, father of Haemon and husband of Eurydice. Following the death of Polyneices, he has taken the throne with the help of Teirseias. He begins the play by telling the chorus he hates nothing more than anarchists and traitors. He has decreed that Eteocles shall receive a proper and honourable funeral but that anyone burying Polyneices, who has betrayed his country, shall be killed by stoning.
- Eurydice (Εὐρυδίκη): Wife of Creon, mother of Haemon
- Haemon (Άιμον): Haemon (also spelled Haimon) is Creon's son and lover of Antigone. He tells his father that he has heard the people speak their disapproval of his death penalty and then fights with him.
- Teiresias (Τειρεσίας): Teiresias (also written as Tiresias) is a blind prophet, led by a boy. He brings omens from the gods and his warnings should always be headed.
- Guard: Add a description of this character.
- First Messenger: <see spoiler>
- Second Messenger: <see spoiler>
- Chorus: made up of Theban Elders. For more on chorus in Greek plays, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_chorus and the section on the SparkNotes (see external links) They are background singers during intense parts of novel, and show there opinions through song.
First Sentence edit
Come, Ismene, my own dear sister, come!/What more do you think could Zeus require of us/to load the curse that's on the House of Oedipus?/There is no sorrow left, no single shame,/no pain, no tragedy,/which does not hound us, you and me, towards our end.
Table of Contents edit
Prologue
First Episode
Second Episode
Third Episode
Fourth Episode
Fifth Episode
Epilogue
Themes & Symbolism edit
Series & Lists edit
This is book 3 of 3 in Theban plays. (standard series)
Preceded by Oedipus at Colonus.
This book is in Western canon according to Harold Bloom. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Sophocles (Author)
Other Contributors:
- Robert Fagles (Translator) - English translator with introduction and notes with Bernard Knox
- Nicholas Rudall (Translator) - English
- Richard Emi Braun (Translator) - English
- Rudall and Bernard Sahlins (Editor) - Editors for the "Plays for Performance" edition
- J.E. Thomas (Translator) - English
- Paul Moliken (Editor) - Senior Editor for J.E. Thomas translation
- Kelly Valentine Vasam (Cover Artist) - Cover design for J.E. Thomas translation
- Paul Woodruff (Translator) - English
- Elizabeth Osborne (Editor) - Editor for J.E. Thomas translation
- Robert Fitzgerald (Translator) - English translator with Dudley Fitts
- Dudley Fitts (Translator) - English translator with Robert Fitzgerald
First Edition edit
Original Language: Greek
Publisher: Prestwick House, Inc.
Country: USA
Publication Date: written before or in 442 BCE
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 52
Publisher: Prestwick House, Inc.
Country: USA
Publication Date: written before or in 442 BCE
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 52
Classification edit
- Copyright Status: Public Domain
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 832.912
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Antigone Wikipedia Page
- Read R. C. Jebb Translation Online: It's free-ee ♪
- SparkNotes: Notes by Jean Anouilh. Plot Overview; Character List; Analysis of Major Characters; Themes, Motifs, and Symbols; Summary & Analysis; Important Quotations Explained; Study Questions and Essay Topics; Suggestions for Further Reading
Movie Connections edit
- Antigone (1961 film) (IMDb): Jean Anouilh's adaption starring Irene Papas. play.
- The Theban plays: Antigone (1984 T.V. film) (IMDb): The third film in the series. Translated and directed by Don Taylor. Starring: Juliet Stevenson (Antigone), John Shrapnel (Creon), John Gielgud (Teiresias) and Gwen Taylor (Ismene). aired on the BBC
Books with Additional Background Information edit
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