What is the basic plot of the play Antigone?

Antigone is a tragedy written by Sophocles in the year 441 BCE and is a play about the aftermath of a civil war in which the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other, where the new king and their successor, Creon, tries to punish Polyneices for his disloyalty by not burying him properly.

How is free will shown in Antigone?

Free will is the ability to make choices independent of external pressures. The act of burying her brother Polynices, the traitor, against Creon’s edict shows not a carefully reasoned act of free will on Antigone’s part, but is rather a display of blind loyalty, presupposed obligation, and thoughtlessness.

What is the role of Tiresias in Antigone?

The blind prophet, or seer, who warns Creon not to execute Antigone and not to stick so rigidly to his decision to disallow the burial of Polynices. When Creon insults Tiresias, the seer prophesies that the gods will punish Creon for Antigone’s death by taking the life of his child.

What are the main events in Antigone?

Terms in this set (5)

  • Scene 1. Creon summon the old men to speak to him.
  • Scene 2. Creon restates his edict that Polyneices shall not be buried.
  • Scene 3. The guard returns bringing Antigone as his captive.
  • Scene 4. Haemon appears.
  • Scene 5. Antigone is led to a cavern where she will be sealed inside of a tomb.

What is the theme of Antigone sparknotes?

Antigone in particular manifests her hatred for the ideal of femininity Ismene incarnates in their childhood, brutally binding her sister to a tree to stage her mutilation. Anouilh attributes Antigone’s hate and envy in Ismene’s capacity to figure as an object of desire, as the woman men want.

Why did Creon punish Antigone?

Creon feels he must punish Antigone because, by defying his authority and trying to bury her brother, Antigone has become a threat to his rule.

What is the role of fate and free will in Antigone?

By Sophocles A central theme of Antigone is the tension between individual action and fate. While free choices, such as Antigone’s decision to defy Creon’s edict, are significant, fate is responsible for many of the most critical and devastating events of the trilogy.

What is the theme of fate vs free will?

To make good decisions, you need to understand the difference between fate and free will. Life is a delicate balance between the two. Fate brings you opportunities, and free will determines whether or not you take them. Fate is the destiny that is pre-planned for you, but it’s up to you to do something with it.

What happens to Tiresias in the end of the play Antigone?

Eurydice, Creon’s wife, commits suicide after hearing of the death of her son Haemon. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, is alive at the end of the play. We do not learn of her eventual fate. Tiresias, the prophet, is also alive at the end of the play.

What is the most important scene in Antigone?

The opening scene of the play is of great significance. In it, Antigone discusses the central conflict of the play—her piety and devotion to her brother Polynices against the edict of Creon, king of Thebes and her uncle.

What is the main idea of the first choral ode in Antigone?

The Chorus sings an ode about how man dominates the earth and how only death can master him. But it warns that man should use his powers only in accordance with the laws of the land and the justice of the gods; society cannot tolerate those who exert their will to reckless ends.

How are Polynices and Eteocles killed in the play Antigone?

Play Summary Antigone After the bloody siege of Thebes by Polynices and his allies, the city stands unconquered. Polynices and his brother Eteocles, however, are both dead, killed by each other, according to the curse of Oedipus, their father.

Who is Antigone’s father in the book Sophocles?

Antigone’s Twisted Family Tree A brave and proud young woman named Antigone is the product of a really messed up family. Her father, Oedipus, was the King of Thebes. He unknowingly murdered his father and married his own mother, Queen Jocasta.

Who are the two brothers in the play Antigone?

CHORUS OF THEBAN ELDERS. The action of “Antigone” follows on from the Theban civil war, in which the two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, died fighting each other for the throne of Thebes after Eteocles had refused to give up the crown to his brother as their father Oedipus had prescribed.

Why did Antigone bring Ismene to the meeting?

In the opening of the play, Antigone brings Ismene outside the city gates late at night for a secret meeting: Antigone wants to bury Polyneices’ body, in defiance of Creon’s edict. Ismene refuses to help her, fearing the death penalty, but she is unable to dissuade Antigone from going to do the deed by herself.