Antigone

The Story Behind the Story

The Myth of Oedipus

• Laius (King of Thebes) and Jocasta (Queen) conceive a child.

• Laius consults the Oracle at Delphi for a prediction of the future

• The Oracle predicts that a son born to Laius and Jocasta will kill his father and marry his mother.

If you were the parent of this soon-to-be-born child, what would you do?

OMIGOSH!

• When the son is born, Laius and Jocasta attempt to avert their fates:o They drive a rivet into the child’s ankleso They give the child to a servant and instruct him

to abandon the baby on Mt. Cithaeron. What do you think of these parents’ attempt to avert

fate?

A Guilty Conscience intervenes

• The servant cannot abandon the child to die, so he gives the child to a shepherd who carries it to Corinth.

• The child is raised by the King and Queen of Corinth, who name the baby Oedipus (means “swollen foot”).

• When Oedipus is a young man, he begins to think “I need a life…”

• He consults the Oracle. What did the Oracle predict for him?

Fate averted again (or not)

• Oedipus leaves Corinth to avoid his awful fate.

• On the journey, he meets a man who rudely forces him from the road.

• In retaliation, Oedipus pulls the man from his chariot and kills him.

What do you think of Oedipus’ action here?

Oedipus travels to Thebes…

• Thebes is under seige by the Sphinx.• Oedipus saves the day.• Oedipus receives the throne of Thebes (the Queen is the

bonus).• All goes well for 20 years, until the truth of Oedipus's past is

revealed.• The bulk of Oedipus the King tells how this truth "comes to

light."• Oedipus reacts by blinding himself, and Jocasta kills herself. • What do you think of their reactions?

Where Antigone comes in…

• Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta

• She has three siblings:o Ismene, sistero Polyneices, brothero Eteocles, brother

• Antigone, Ismene live with their uncle, Creon, King of Thebes

As Princess of Thebes, what kind of life does Antigone enjoy? Think about everything!

Prior to the story of Antigone (before the play opens)

• In a fight for control of the throne of Thebes, Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other on the field of battle.

• Because Polyneices raised an army against Thebes, Creon brands him a traitor.

• He accords Eteocles full burial honors; but not Polyneices…

The characters of the drama

• Antigone (daughter of Oedipus)• Ismene (her sister)• Creon (their uncle, the brother of Jocasta)• Eurydice (your-id-i-see) wife of Creon• Haimon (son of Creon & Eurydice)• Teiresias (Tie-ree-see-as) a blind prophet

Essential Questions in Antigone

• When, if at all, is it our responsibility to protest or break an unjust law?

 • What price should someone be willing to pay if

s/he breaks an unjust law? • What is good leadership? Can a good leader show

uncertainty and maintain leadership?• How much power do we have over our fates?

 

Show me your thinking.

• Write your responses to the presentation questions in your notebook. All questions are in red.

• Title should be, My Thinking about Antigone