Antigone Background Notes Greek Drama

I. Origin of Tragedy A. Religious festivals in the spring to honor Dionysus Dionysus (Bacchus), god of wine and revelry

Sophocles-one of the great dramatists of ancient Greece Sophocles-one of the great dramatists of ancient Greece. * Born near Athens in 496 BC in the town of Colonus. * Lived to be 91 years old. * Died in 406 BC

Particularly handsome and talented as a young man Particularly handsome and talented as a young man. * Lived in Athens all his life. * Held several public offices throughout his life. * Father of two sons.

Wrote around 123 plays. * Won 24 festivals. * Only 7 plays remain intact.

Relation to today: OEDIPUS COMPLEX: For Freud, the childhood desire to sleep with the mother and to kill the father. Freud describes the source of this complex in his Introductory Lectures (Twenty-First Lecture): "You all know the Greek legend of King Oedipus, who was destined by fate to kill his father and take his mother to wife, who did everything possible to escape the oracle's decree and punished himself by blinding when he learned that he had none the less unwittingly committed both these crimes" (16.330).

According to Freud, Sophocles' play, Oedipus Rex, illustrates a formative stage in each individual's psychosexual development, when the young child transfers his love object from the breast (the oral phase) to the mother. At this time, the child desires the mother and resents (even secretly desires the murder) of the father. (The Oedipus complex is closely connected to the castration complex.) Such primal desires are, of course, quickly repressed but, even among the mentally sane, they will arise again in dreams or in literature. Among those individuals who do not progress properly into the genital phase, the Oedipus Complex, according to Freud, can still be playing out its psychdrama in various displaced, abnormal, and/or exaggerated ways.

B. Thespis, “Father of Drama” (thespians) introduced the first actor and dialogue The three great tragedians: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides C. Sophocles 1. added third actor 2. fixed number of the Chorus to 15 3. introduced painted scenery 4. made each play of a trilogy separate in nature (each play could stand alone) Oedipus Rex Oedipus on Colunus Antigone

Euripides

Antigone Oedipus with both daughters Oedipus (with Ismene and Antigone) condemns Polyneices

II. Structure of Theatre A. theatron: “seeing” place where the audience sat B. orchestra: circular dancing place where actors and Chorus performed C. thymele: altar to Dionysus in center of the orchestra D. skene: building used as dressing room E. proskenion: façade of skene building which served as backdrop F. parados: entrance to the theatre used by Chorus

Greek Theatre

III. Actors and Acting A. The playwright took the leading role B. All male performers (played female roles too) C. Never more than 3 actors (changed characters) 1. protagonist, deuteragonist, tritagonist D. Costumes and Masks 1. long, flowing robes (colored symbolically) 2. high boots with raised soles 3. large masks made of wood, linen, cork a. identified age, gender, emotion b. exaggerated features (eyes, open mouth)

The Chorus A. Music and Dance B. Function of the Chorus 1. music: flute, lyre, drums 2. dance: expressive rhythmic movements B. Function of the Chorus 1. sets overall mood and expresses theme 2. adds beauty through song and dance 3. gives background information 4. divides action and offers reflection on events 5. questions, advises, expresses opinion (usually through Chorus leader)

V. Conventions of Greek Theatre A. Aristotle’s Unities 1. action (simple plot) 2. time (single day) 3. place (one scene throughout) B. The Messenger (sentry) 1. tells news happening away from the scene 2. reports acts of violence not allowed to be seen C. Limitations of the Theatre 1. the Chorus is constantly on the stage 2. no intermission 3. no lighting, no curtains

VI. Important Terms 1. tragedy: an imitation of a serious action which will arouse pity and fear in the viewer 2. tragic hero: a character, usually of noble birth, neither totally good nor totally evil, whose downfall is brought about by some weakness and error in judgment (a tragic flaw)

3. hamartia: a tragic flaw, weakness of character or error in judgment which causes the downfall of the hero (tragic flaw) 4. hubris: the tragic flaw of pride 5. catharsis: the “purging” or release of emotions the audience feels 6. deus ex machina: a person or god that intervenes in the action

Oedipus’ Family Relationships Laius- Oedipus’ father the King of Thebes Jocaste- Oedipus’ mother Queen of Thebes Creon- Oedipus’ brother-in-law Antigone&Ismene- Oedipus’ daughters Eteocles&Polyneices-Oedipus’ sons Teiresias- blind prophet- seer King Polybus- king of Corinth (adopted father of Oedipus) Merope- queen of Corinth (adopted mother of Oedipus)

VII. The Original Dysfunctional Family King Menoeceus King Laius Jocasta Creon Eurydice King Oedipus Jocasta Megareus Haemon Eteocles Polyneices Ismene Antigone

Oedipus Rex (name means “swollen foot” Trilogy Oedipus Rex (name means “swollen foot” Oedipus at Colonus (where Oedipus lives and dies) Antigone

Antigone and Ismene

Aristotle’s Theory of the Tragic Flaw a tragic hero possesses a defect or tragic flaw that brings about or contributes to his or her downfall. Ex: poor judgment, pride, weakness

King Laius and Jocasta have a son, Oedipus King Laius and Jocasta have a son, Oedipus. The Oracle predicts Oedipus will grow up and kill his father, so Laius leaves him on a mountain top.

Baby Oedipus is rescued by a shepherd. He grows up and hits the road Baby Oedipus is rescued by a shepherd. He grows up and hits the road. Meets the Sphinx. Answers the Sphinx’s riddle. Sphinx kills herself. Do you know the Sphinx’s riddle?

Riddle What walks on 4 legs in morning, 2 mid day and 3 at night? Man

Oedipus argues with and kills a man on the road who, unbeknownst to Oedipus, is his father Laius. Oedipus continues and when he reaches Thebes, he is rewarded for killing the Sphinx that has been plaguing their town (no one has been able to come and go since the Sphinx has been guarding the road). Oedipus is given the newly widowed queen to marry. Look back at the family tree…

Oedipus and his “wife” have four children Oedipus and his “wife” have four children. Eventually, a new plague strikes Thebes and the Oracle is consulted again. The soothsayer, Teiresias, tells them that Thebes is suffering because of Oedipus and Jocasta’s crime against nature.

Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus takes her brooch and blinds himself Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus takes her brooch and blinds himself. He is exiled from Thebes and Antigone and Ismene, his daughters, dutifully lead their father through the lands during his exile.

A civil war breaks out about who will be the new ruler of Thebes A civil war breaks out about who will be the new ruler of Thebes. Eteocles and Polyneices fight to be heir to the throne. They kill each other and their Uncle Creon steps up. He believes one was the rightful heir (the oldest son) and other was a traitor to the state for challenging him. Creon refuses a proper burial for the “traitor” and this makes Antigone angry; she believes BOTH her brothers deserve a proper burial.

Antigone and Polynices

Remember your mythology? Why was a proper burial so important to the Greeks?

Done!

You need to get to Hades! Once a person has died, s/he must pay the ferryman, Charon, to take him/her across the River Styx to the Underworld. Otherwise, the soul will not be able to rest. Michelangelo’s Last Judgment

The story of Oedipus Rex… recap https://www. youtube. com/watch