Transcript Document

ANTIGONE
The Story Behind the Story
Nafis Kamal
Reg. No: 13116003
Department of English
University of Asia Pacific
THE MYTH OF OEDIPUS
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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.
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If you were the parent of this soon-to-be-born child, what
would you do?
OMIGOSH!
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When the son is born, Laius and Jocasta
attempt to avert their fates:
o
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They drive a rivet into the child’s ankles
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
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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)
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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…
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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.
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What do you think of their reactions?
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WHERE ANTIGONE COMES IN…
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Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and
Jocasta
She has three siblings:
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Ismene, sister
Polyneices, brother
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)
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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
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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

After Oedipus is exiled, he
leaves the ruling rights of
Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles
and Polynices who must take it
in turns to rule.

Eteocles rules first but the two
becomes enemies after Eteocles
refues to give up the throne,
and Polynieces is exiled.

At the beginning of the play,
both brothers are dead,
apparently slain by the other's
hand.

The current ruler,
Creon, has made a
decree: Since
Polynices fought
against Thebes, he
shall not be buried.
Meanwhile,
Eteocles is to be
buried with full
military honors.
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Antigone, the daughter of
Oedipus and the sister of
the dead brothers, believes
this proclamation to be
against the gods' orders.
She confides her plan to
bury Polynices herself to
her sister Ismene. The more
timid of the two, Ismene
refuses to take part out of
fear, but agrees with her
motive.
Why study Antigone?
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Ancient Greek Drama is the basis for all modern
drama and film
The story gives many important clues to the Ancient
Greek culture and character
Tragedies still contain the basic elements that they
originated with
Film Versions of Antigone
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Antigone (1964)
Directed by Yorgos Javellas,
Sophocles’ play about the daughter of
King Oedipus caught in a moral
dilemma about whether to obey the
laws of the state or to follow her
conscience is brought to the screen
with Irene Papas performing the title
role. English subtitles

Antigone (1974)
Directed by Gerald Freedman, this
screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play
stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach,
and Fritz Weaver.

Antigone (1984)
Don Taylor directed this made for TV
adaptation of Sophocles’ play