Well I couldn't upload the presentation, so I will
paste it slide by slide.
Slide 1
Playwright:
—Sophocles (497/6 BC – winter 406/5 BC) is one
of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His
first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than
or contemporary with those of Euripides. According to the Suda,
a 10th century encyclopedia, Sophocles wrote 123 plays during the course
of his life, but only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, The
Women of Trachis, Oedipus
the King, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus
at Colonus.
Slide 2
About the play:
It is a tragedy.
Written in or before 441 BC.
Antigone was written at a
time of national fervor. In 441 BC, shortly after the play was released,
Sophocles was appointed as one of the ten generals to lead a military
expedition against Samos.
It is important to read it because “it makes your life
seem a lot more cheerful.” –Wade Bradford
Slide 3
Setting:
Is set in that disaster-prone city-state known as
Thebes.
In the fifth century B.C.
Slide 4
Plot:
Oedipus was banished from Thebes, when the prophecy of
patricide and incest was proven true. Oedipus left Thebes a blind and broken
man. Creon took over the throne because Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and
Polyneices, were too young to become rulers. As time passed, and the two sons
aged, Eteocles claimed the throne for himself, exiling his older brother
Polyneices. Polyneices then gathered a giant army and attacked Eteocles for the
throne. Neither of the two sons won because they both ended up killing each
other in battle.
Creon then resumes power and declares that Eteocles
will have a proper burial; however, Polyneices’ body will be left for the dogs
and vultures to eat, as a punishment for his disgrace. Antigone, Polyneices’
sister, then learns of such news and decides that she must give her brother a
proper burial. Her sister, Ismene, warns her against the dangers and
consequences and states that she will not have any part in helping her sister
with her scheme. Antigone then goes to her brothers’ guarded body and pours
dirt and sand over him, performing the proper burial rights.
As guards brush the dirt off the body, she reveals
herself willingly. Creon is enraged and imprisons both Antigone and Ismene, who
he believes to be an accomplice. Creon’s son, Haemon, pleads with his father to
release Antigone, his bride-to-be. Creon ridicules Haemon for his ridiculous
thoughts of freeing Antigone. Haemon then runs off, crushed that his father
would treat his so badly. Creon then states that Ismene’s innocence is clear
and that only Antigone should be punished, so he takes Antigone to a cave
outside the city and buries her alive. Teiresias, the blind prophet then warns
Creon that the gods are unhappy for the lack of proper burial and that his
son’s death shall be the punishment.
Creon mocks Teiresias, but the chorus reminds Creon
that the prophet has never been wrong. Now worried for his son’s life, Creon
performs the proper burial rituals for Polyneices’ body. Creon then rushes to
free Antigone, but it is too late, she is dead, and Haemon has killed himself
for her. A broken man, Creon returns to the kingdom only to learn that his
wife, Eurydice, has killed herself after learning about her son’s death. Creon
is then lead away by the chorus, lamenting in his own self misery.
Slide 5
Characters:
Antigone(Protagonist)- She is the oldest daughter
of Oedipus and Jocasta.
Ismene- She is the youngest daughter of Oedipus
and Jocasta.
Creon(Antagonist)- He is Jocasta’s brother and
the ruler of Thebes. He is also Haemon’s father.
Haemon- He is Creon’s son.
Polyneices- He is the eldest son of Oedipus and
Jocasta.
Eteocles- He is the younger son of Oedipus and
Jocasta, and is the younger brother to Polyneices.
Eurydice- Creon's wife and Haemon's mother.
Teiresias or Tiresias- A blind prophet who warns Creon
that the gods do not approve of his treatment of Polyneices' body or the
punishment of Antigone.
Slide 6
Conflict:
Internal conflict- The internal conflict of “Antigone”
is that she disregards Creons law and act according to divine law. Antigone
respected the living and the dead. She was against Creons law that the disloyal
Theban dead are to be left above ground and exposed to the elements, dogs, and
birds, etc.
External Conflict- The external conflict is between
Antigone and Creon in whether or not to bury Polyneices. Creon has declared
that the body of Polynices may not be given a proper burial because he led the
forces that invaded Thebes, but Antigone wishes to give her brother a proper
burial.
Complication- The complication is that Antigone buries
Polyneices, but is caught and brought to Creon. Antigone challenges Creon’s
decision and moral authority to prohibit the burial.
Slide 7
Plot Structure:
Exposition- Antigone arrives in Thebes and finds that
her brothers are dead, and finds out that Polyneices’s body isn’t buried and
that there is a royal edict against burying him.
Rising Action- Antigone decides to bury her brother
but gets caught doing it.
Climax- Creon sentences Antigone to death and locks
her away.
Falling action- Creon decides to release Antigone
Conclusion- When Creon arrives to release Antigone, he
finds that she, Haemon, and his wife have all killed themselves.
Slide 8
Play Segment:
I didn't say yes. I can say no to anything I say vile,
and I don't have to count the cost. But because you said yes, all that you can
do, for your entire crown and your trappings, and your guards—all that your can
do is to have me killed.
Analysis:
The political heroism in Antigone's resistance is her
refusal of state power. Antigone says no to all she finds vile, and in this
sense she is more powerful than the ruler beholden to his throne. Despite all
his trappings of power, Creon finds himself helpless, unable to act on his own.
He wants not to execute Antigone but cannot help ordering her death. Having
said yes to state power, he is circumscribed by his own kingship, by very the
throne that makes him the master of the land. He has surrendered himself
entirely to the state and knows his circumscription all too well. Unlike
Antigone, he has completely ceded his desires to take upon the mantle of
governance. Creon is rendered loathsome, terrified of what his office requires
of him and yet unable to act otherwise.
Slide 9
Movie Version:
Antigone is a 1961 Greek film
adaptation of the Ancient
Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. Directed by Georges
Tzavellas
Actors:
Irene Papas - Antigone
Manos
Katrakis - Creon
Maro
Kodou - Ismene
Nikos
Kazis - Haemon
Ilia Livykou - Eurydice
Giannis Argyris - A Sentry
Byron Pallis - A Messenger
Tzavalas Karousos - Tieresias
Thodoros Moridis - First Elder of Thebes
Giorgos Vlahopoulos - Elder of Thebes
Yorgos Karetas - Elder of Thebes
Thanasis Kefalopoulos - Elder of Thebes
Slide 10
Personal Opinion:
What did you think about the play?
It is an entertaining play but in our personal opinion
it is not a play that we would go and see if it’s not a class assignment.
Did you like it or not?
We did like the play because it’s entertaining but we
prefer a comedy.
Would you recommend it to someone else?
We would recommend it to someone that enjoys tragic
plays.
Sorry you had to go through all this trouble.
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