...ALICE LAMBAJO COURSE: STUDIES IN DRAMA QUESTION: ATTEMPT A DRAMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE PLAY ANTIGONE BY JEAN ANOUILH Dramatic analysis is the process of identifying the elements of the structure of a dramatic work such as a play, or film. There are six elements used when analyzing a drama which includes: exposition, inciting incidence, rising action, climax, falling action and the resolution. The exposition provides the background information needed to properly understand the story, such as the problem in the beginning of the story. It introduces the characters and the basic conflict in a play. Inciting incidence is an incidence which comes after the introduction of the characters and the basic conflicts. The rising action is when the basic internal conflict is complicated being the introduction of related secondary conflicts including various obstacles that frustrate the protagonist attempt to reach his goal. Climax, also referred to as turning point marks a change for the better or the worse in the protagonist affairs. Falling action therefore, is a moment of reversal after the climax. The conflict between the protagonists unravels with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist. Denouement, resolution or catastrophe comprises the event between the falling action and the actual ending scene of the drama. It serves as a conclusion of the story where the conflicts are resolved. Jean Anouilh’s Antigone is an adaptation of Sophocles’ tragic play of...
Words: 1408 - Pages: 6
...In Antigone, by Sophocles, two sisters, Ismene and Antigone, have two different views on what it means to be human. Ismene understand “being human” or “life” in a biological sense. She believes in continuing, by being a female, in continuing the family bloodline. Antigone however, understands “being human” in a sense of family honor and reputation. Both are important, but neither is right nor wrong. Creon, the ruler, has his own views on how to rule the city. He believes that he is in charge and everyone is to do as said with no questions. Ismene’s view of life is biologically impacted. Although she loves her brother, Polyneices, it is against the law to bury him according to Creon. Creon having set law that anyone to touch the corpse to be stoned to death publically causes Ismene’s view of life to become a problem. With her and Antigone being the last two members alive within the family, they must stay alive to continue the family bloodline. Now there are only the two of us, left behind, And see how miserable our end shall be If in the teeth of law we shall transgress Against the sovereign’s decree and power. You ought to realize we are only women, Not meant in nature to fight against men. (Antigone. 57-62) Within this quote we realize not only is Ismene aware they are the only two left to fulfill the families obligation biologically to keep the bloodline alive, but we also see that she understands they both will be killed if going against...
Words: 764 - Pages: 4
...Min Hyuk Lee 10/27/2014 Throughout the course of the Greek tragedy, Antigone, one can not only observe the conflict and struggle between the characters, but can clearly discern the clash between two widely differing concepts. Antigone, the cursed daughter of Oedipus and the mourning sister of Polyneices and Ismene, continues to collide with the King Creon for what she believes to be the right thing to do. Antigone is desperate to give her brother the rightful burial that she believes he deserves, while Creon is determined to uphold his laws and traditions to keep order with the values that he holds so dearly. Throughout the course of the play, the reader is stricken with the decision and dissolution of what is ultimately the “right” thing to...
Words: 1990 - Pages: 8
...ANTIGONE Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 441 BC. Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays but was written first. The play expands on the Theban legend that predated it and picks up where Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes ends. This play is based on the life story of Antigone, the daughter of Oeudipe and Jocaste. It is a legend of her sacrifice for her loved ones, her believes and her honour. Antigone’s brother Polynice had betrayed his country and died during the war. Creon, the king of Thebes had refused to give him a burial. Antigone is outraged by this decision and goes as far as sacrificing her life, to give her brother a burial he deserves. Even law of the king does not stop her from doing what she thinks is right. Antigone is the tragic heroine of the play and this play revolves around her struggle against the autocratic laws of the state. Even she manages to give Polynice a rightful burial but, this burial costs Antigone her life. SYNOPSIS In the beginning of the play, two brothers leading opposite sides in Thebes' civil war died fighting each other for the throne. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, has decided that Eteocles will be honored and Polyneices will be in public shame. The rebel brother's body will not be sanctified by holy rites, and will lie unburied on the battlefield, prey for carrion animals like worms and vultures, the harshest punishment at the time. Antigone and Ismene are the sisters of the dead Polyneices...
Words: 2726 - Pages: 11
...sections on October 2-3 and will be returned Oct 8-10. Final Papers due October 15. No late submissions will be accepted without prior approval. Papers should be emailed to NYU classes AND a hardcopy turned in. Directions: * Select one out of the following three questions. Write an essay of approximately and no more than 1200 –1500 words. (Use the “word count” function in your word processor). * Quoting: you should quote from the text. Make sure that the quotes do not take up too large a part of your paper and only supplement (rather than substitute) your own words. Whenever you quote, you MUST provide a citation in parentheses. Here are some examples: (Symposium, 175E), (Exodus 22:1). Quotes should not stand on their own. They should be attached to some part of a non-quoted sentence (it can be as short as: For example, “……..” or Sophocles states, “…………”). * How to begin your paper: Jump straight to answering the question. Do not summarize the text, but rather write with a reader who is familiar with the text in mind. Also avoid general sayings such as “In human history, women have always been subordinated” or “Leaders tend to be very interesting figures.” One way to start your paper is with a question you will be answering. But don’t use the same wording – try to rephrase it, paraphrase it, or break it up. * Make sure you have a thesis statement that is not a statement of fact, but rather a statement of an argument. You do not need to write “in my opinion” or “I...
Words: 1575 - Pages: 7
...State control A well established theme in Antigone is the right of the individual to reject society's infringement on her freedom to perform a personal obligation,[14] obvious in Antigone's refusal to let Creon dictate what she is allowed to do with her family members. She says to Ismene about Creon's edict, "He has no right to keep me from my own."[15] Related to this theme is the question whether Antigone's will to bury her brother is based on rational thought or instinct, a debate whose contributors include greats like Goethe.[14] [edit] Natural law and contemporary legal institutions In Antigone, Sophocles asks the question, which law is greater: the gods' or man's. Sophocles votes for the law of the gods. He does this in order to save Athens from the moral destruction which seems imminent. Sophocles wants to warn his countrymen about hubris, or arrogance, because he knows this will be their downfall. In Antigone, the hubris of Creon is revealed. [edit] Civil disobedience The contrasting views of Creon and Antigone with regard to laws higher than those of state inform their different conclusions about civil disobedience. Creon demands obedience to the law above all else, right or wrong. He says that "there is nothing worse than disobedience to authority" (An. 671). Antigone responds with the idea that state law is not absolute, and that it can be broken in civil disobedience in extreme cases, such as honoring the gods, whose rule and authority outweigh Creon's. [edit]...
Words: 3266 - Pages: 14
...Demonstrations of Family Loyalty In ancient Greek societies where a woman’s most important role is that of caring for the home and family, the extent of a woman’s loyalty to her family is worthy of exploration. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, whose long absence from home tests her loyalty to him. In comparison to Penelope, Antigone from Sophocles’ Antigone is tested in family loyalty when a law forbids her to bury her brother. Jocasta from Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, similarly to Penelope, is tested when her husband’s innocence in a murder case is called into question. While Antigone displays more action in her demonstration of family loyalty, Penelope exhibits the ideal way of showing loyalty to one’s family as her willpower and careful strategies are more successful than that of Antigone and Jocasta. Women in most ancient Greek societies had few rights compared to men, and were submissive to their male superiors, but both Penelope and Antigone’s actions in defense of the loved ones contradict this custom. Penelope is more passive in her actions, telling her eager suitors, “‘Young men, my suitors… go slowly… until I can finish off this web… This is a shroud for old lord Laertes, for that day when the deadly fate… will take him down’”...
Words: 685 - Pages: 3
...Colton James Spurlock Mrs. Young Composition 2 10/1/2013 Concepts of Free Will: A Look at the Principles of Stance Applied to Antigone Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal opposite reaction. When decisions are made solely based off of free will and neglect external pressures the reactions and repercussions are of extreme magnitude. Stace’s external forces of free will are thrust upon Antigone most severely during her quarrel with Creon and during her death from her own hand; Ismene also has similar external forces thrust upon her, when she is questioned by Creon regarding her involvement with her sister’s affairs, yet responds in a different manner than Antigone. Antigone’s free will choice, made against the external force of human law when she defies Creon. The decision to bury Pholynices was made with complete disregard to the laws of the land. When Creon, questions Antigone, he first asks if “she was aware of the public notice?” The legal authority which put in place the regulations that inhibited Antigone’s actions first want to make sure that understood the law. Creon wanted to verify that Antigone’s actions were that of utter defiance. Antigone answers that her actions were in fact done in complete defiance, “…how could I not it’s public knowledge.”[Antigone] Antigone’s answer to Creon’s chance for penance, show’s that her decision was hers, and hers alone; made in complete disregard to Stace’s principal of the external...
Words: 894 - Pages: 4
...In scene three of Sophocles Antigone, there is a conversation between Creon, the king, and his son, Haimon. Haimon comes to his father to talk to him in grief and concern over Antigone, his bride-to-be. Creon questions Haimon and is unsure if he agrees with him or not. Haimon tells his father that he, Creon, is his guide and that no marriage is as important as his fathers continuing wisdom. Creon being satisfied with his sons answer, he tells his son that he is subordinate, and that is the way to behave towards his fathers will. He continues to tell his son that he should be loyal, hate his enemies; in the end an obedient son will turn out to be good leader. Creon also views Antigone inferior, and does not want to be put down or given rule over by a women, even if it is just and the right thing to do. After Creons chat with Haimon, Haimon gets a chance to talk about how he feels. Haimon tells his father that he might be wrong and mistaken about his decision. He thinks his decision is too harsh and unjust, and the people of the city agree. Creon says it is not up to the people and he can not pardon her or it will make him look weak. Creon makes all the decisions; he is the state, not the people. At this point he has become a dictator and what he says is all just and true. Haimon threatens his father that if he takes Antigone life, then another will be taken, being he. His father does not like the threat and demands Antigone to be bought out and killed in front...
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
...Does Antigone Deserve to Be Punished? Antigone has been acclaimed as a model that challenges authority and insists on just acts. However, according to Aristotle, a tragedy requires a man’s harmartia, which means error. Therefore, as a main character of a great tragedy, Antigone must possess flaws. Antigone’s self-certainty is one of her mistakes that contribute to her tragic fate. She regards burying dead people as absolute just behavior under any circumstance. This rite is important in Ancient Greek culture, but weather or not gods desire appropriate arrangement of Polyneices’ body is under question. It is Zeus that brings death to Polyneices because Polyneices brings war to his country and undermines the peace of Thebes. He “sought to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the shrines of his father’s gods, -sought to taste of kindred blood, and to lead the remnant into slavery”. In Creon’s opinion, Polyneices is so wicked that even gods do not want to see him buried. When asked whether the gods have covered Polyneices’ body, Creon replies angrily that “was it for high reward of trusty service that they sought to hide his nakedness, who came to burn their pillared shrines and sacred treasures, to burn their land, and scatter its laws to the winds”. Creon ‘s opinions are reasonable before Teiresias gives out the correct interpretation of gods’ wills. If Antigone realized the limit of her wisdom, she would hesitate to kill herself and Haemon...
Words: 735 - Pages: 3
...Analysis on Antigone Antigone is a play about a woman who defies her king. She does this because she feel her brother was unjustly disrespected. Because of her fight, she knew the consequences of her actions: death. She dies but dies for her cause; dignity for her brother. Sophocles’ play Antigone, depicts divine law pitted against the laws of man as a major theme because Antigone uses of divine laws as her defense for her actions against King Creon societal laws. It all begins when Antigone is aware that every one of the land is talking about her family. She discusses this with her sister Ismene. In conversation, she tells her sister about her plans for the burial of their brother. It is here that she decide to fight for her brother rights regardless of Creon laws. In lines 43-44, Antigone clearly understand her fate for her actions “anyone who acts against the order will be stoned” (Sophocles 3). She defends her actions in line 92-93 by stating “My honours for the dead must last longer than those up there” (4). Antigone believe that the gods will honor her good deed; her divine right to bury her brother. Despite the consequence, Antigone went against the laws of Creon and buried Polynices. Sophocles theme continued to echo when Creon summons Antigone for going against his written law. In dialogue, Creon questions Antigone unforgivable actions for defying the laws of the land. In rebuttal, she claims that there is no such laws in the eyes of God. Argued in lines...
Words: 526 - Pages: 3
...In “Antigone”, Haemon, though only briefly appearing, heavily impacts Creon’s character, by changing his actions and development, and reinforces the theme of “Antigone”. The theme of Antigone is the correctness of the natural order of life, from birth to life to death to burial. Haemon’s speech to Creon makes him begin to question his decision to execute Antigone, and be more open to others’ thoughts. Haemon does this by mentioning that the people of Thebes believe Antigone shouldn’t be punished, and by leaving after saying that Creon will “never see my eyes again”. Haemon’s speech makes Creon second guess his decision to execute Antigone for burying her brother’s body. As king, Creon needs his people to believe that he is a just...
Words: 398 - Pages: 2
...Indranie Sharma QMHS Antigone by Sophocles 7/3/14 In this story the theme loyalty is portrayed through Antigone when she defies her uncle to bury her brother Polynices. Apparently Antigone couldn't bear for one brother to be buried with honor and the other left to rot in the sun. Since she felt that it was her duty to give Polynices a burial because he was her brother and was deceived by Eteocles when it was his turn to rule the kingdom. Unfortunately Antigone was caught and she believed that her Uncle Creon's order was an act of betrayal to their family. 7/7/14 The setting of the play takes place in Thebes which is located in Ancient Greece. The setting is important because in Ancient Greece two rulers were allowed to rule a kingdom. Also wars took place between family members on who had the right to rule. Apparently this was the reason on why Eteocles and Polynices fought and killed each other in battle. This leads to influence Antigone's decision and have a major impact on her life as well because of the ruling from Creon. 7/8/14...
Words: 2493 - Pages: 10
...Sophocles’ tragic play Antigone tells of the conflict between Antigone and King Creon. The conflict among Creon and Antigone leads to fall of the house of Creon. Creon is the major cause of this destruction which he brought upon himself. King Creon has been corrupted and fallen to the idea of power. A review of his actions proves that his ruling is based largely on family turmoil which is how the basis of this ruling and his subsequent actions in the play. Creon is the proclaimed king in the beginning of the play. The first order as King is by prohibiting the burial of Polynices, based on the Polynices being seen as a traitor for fighting against his country and not for his country. The target of Creon's law not to bury the dead are Antigone and Ismene because they are the living realtives of the deceased King Oedipus . King Creon states he is not worthy of a burial based on Polynices actions. Creon says “whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing.” Creon considers the duty to the state a priority than to another man. This is reinterated when he states “our country is our safety.” His order of not to bury Polynices could possibly be based on Polynices humiliating him by ousting him when he took the position of King as soon as Oedipus is laid to rest. Creon logically convinces his people that his order not to bury Polynices is justified. This justification has his people accepting the no bury order. A sentry discovers the grave of...
Words: 1133 - Pages: 5
...contrasting, yet overlapping moral questions. Both upset the powers in charged of their communities and both are willing to die for their beliefs. However, the details of each of their journeys have many differences. Humans can hold multiple moral ideas and when situations arise to cause these ideals to overlap in a conflicting manner, everyone has to decide for themselves what is the best moral resolution. Every individual has to balance for themselves when, if ever, an immoral act is acceptable or if there are reason for an act once thought immoral to no longer be immoral. Both Antigone and Socrates are examples of threat to the political order of their societies. Antigone does this by challenging the orders of the city's new ruler in name of her dead brother and her religious beliefs which states that he should be...
Words: 476 - Pages: 2
