Drama Review, & Overview of Antigone Dr. Stephen Ogden BCIT Liberal Studies

Antigone and Tragedy Tragedy imitates action that is as follows: Tragedy imitates action that is as follows: 1. Admirable ☑ 2. Complete ☑ 3. Possessing magnitude ☑ 4. Pleasurable language ☑ 5. Separated into different parts (sections) ☑ 6. Acted not narrated ☑ 7. Effecting fear and pity ☑ 8. Through fear and pity, purifying the emotions ☑

Antigone: Plot—Basic Concepts MAGNITUDE: a sense that too small and too large are incomprehensible, so a plot has to sufficiently sized to be held in memory & comprehension ☑ MAGNITUDE: a sense that too small and too large are incomprehensible, so a plot has to sufficiently sized to be held in memory & comprehension ☑ UNITY & DETERMINATE STRUTURE: each component event must be related to the concepts of drama (e.g. exciting fear & pity) and must be such that the removal of it dislodges & changes the whole. ☑ UNITY & DETERMINATE STRUTURE: each component event must be related to the concepts of drama (e.g. exciting fear & pity) and must be such that the removal of it dislodges & changes the whole. ☑

Antigone: Plot—Basic Concepts UNIVERSALITY: ☑ UNIVERSALITY: ☑ The dramatist says what would happen, as opposed to the historian who says what has happened. The dramatist says what would happen, as opposed to the historian who says what has happened. Thus the dramatist is more philosophical & serious than the historian: the historian expresses particulars but dramatist expresses what is universal. [p 51] Thus the dramatist is more philosophical & serious than the historian: the historian expresses particulars but dramatist expresses what is universal. [p 51] ‘Universal’ means speech or action that agrees with some given kind of person in accordance probability or necessity. ‘Universal’ means speech or action that agrees with some given kind of person in accordance probability or necessity. The facts of life require plausible responses and expected responses: e.g. parents protect their kids The facts of life require plausible responses and expected responses: e.g. parents protect their kids [Literally] no “Deus ex Machina.” [Literally] no “Deus ex Machina.”

Antigone: Plot—Character Four things that make for effective character in drama; Four things that make for effective character in drama; 1. Goodness: makes deliberate good (socially & personally beneficial) choice. ☑ 2. Appropriateness: consistent with probability or necessity. ☑ 3. Likeness: not too high or low compared with us ☑ 4. Consistency: a given, again, in terms of probability or necessity. ☑

Antigone: Overview The play personifies (which is what literary art does uniquely and powerfully) the relationship between crucial and universal Doubles: The play personifies (which is what literary art does uniquely and powerfully) the relationship between crucial and universal Doubles: Piety and Patriotism Piety and Patriotism Church and State Church and State Individuality and Corporate Duty Individuality and Corporate Duty Mercy and Rule of Law Mercy and Rule of Law

Antigone: Overview, con’t The play—like all great Greek drama— demonstrates the immutability of Fate and the supremely great evil of HUBRIS. The play—like all great Greek drama— demonstrates the immutability of Fate and the supremely great evil of HUBRIS. these two are interrelated these two are interrelated HUBRIS is usually the hamartia in the drama. HUBRIS is usually the hamartia in the drama. So Hubris is an error (i.e. avoidable) not an (unavoidable) flaw. So Hubris is an error (i.e. avoidable) not an (unavoidable) flaw.

Antigone: Overview, con’t Note that Hubris is independent of the moral quality of the matter on which the agent is acting: it is the hamartia that is the evil, not the substance of the decision Note that Hubris is independent of the moral quality of the matter on which the agent is acting: it is the hamartia that is the evil, not the substance of the decision Creon is presented explicitly as the right kind of ruler: i.e. he follows the Rule of Law (lex rex) rather than his own opinion—which, if he did, would make him (by definition) a Dictator. Creon is presented explicitly as the right kind of ruler: i.e. he follows the Rule of Law (lex rex) rather than his own opinion—which, if he did, would make him (by definition) a Dictator.

Drama as Technology Katharsis: purification of the emotions Katharsis: purification of the emotions (the complex (best) plot has effected fear & pity in the audience.) (the complex (best) plot has effected fear & pity in the audience.) A medical idea: early psychiatry A medical idea: early psychiatry Aristotle recognises what is a very modern position— that emotions are an important part of human health. Aristotle recognises what is a very modern position— that emotions are an important part of human health. Disordered emotions lead to ‘stress’ which effect physical symptoms to the point of fatality. Disordered emotions lead to ‘stress’ which effect physical symptoms to the point of fatality. Drama is thus a means of ordering, or balancing, the emotions so that good individual and social health are promoted, Drama is thus a means of ordering, or balancing, the emotions so that good individual and social health are promoted, this seems like a direct engagement with Plato’s position on drama (that drama excites the emotions over Reason and thereby creates individual and, ultimately, social imbalance.) this seems like a direct engagement with Plato’s position on drama (that drama excites the emotions over Reason and thereby creates individual and, ultimately, social imbalance.)

Drama as Technology, cont Thus we see that Aristotle has made drama a technology—that is, an extension of man. Thus we see that Aristotle has made drama a technology—that is, an extension of man. an amplification of man’s ability to control his individual self and the social aggregation by a (a.) demonstration of the destructive effects of Hubris, and (b.) effecting (through artificial stimulation of Fear and Pity) katharsis, which means that emotions (which control and order behavior) are purified. an amplification of man’s ability to control his individual self and the social aggregation by a (a.) demonstration of the destructive effects of Hubris, and (b.) effecting (through artificial stimulation of Fear and Pity) katharsis, which means that emotions (which control and order behavior) are purified. And a Double: A Rational use of Emotion And a Double: A Rational use of Emotion