Journal

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Journal

• Free Topic

Antigone By Frederic Leighton
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Love

• Important throughout Section III, Ode III and
  Section IV.
• Haimon willing to do the unthinkable (murder,
  suicide, give up the throne) because of his love
  for Antigone (Section III)
• The Chorus (Ode III) mentions the power of love
  to work good and evil over both mortals and
  immortals.
• Because no one can escape it, the chorus almost
  makes love sound as powerful as The Fates
  themselves.
• Dreaded Aphrodite? Why?
• Section IV Antigone mourns the loss of her
  brother and future husband and children, an act
  of love.

Venus of Arles By Praxiteles
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Curse

• Generational Sin Sin that crosses generations
  an act that will haunt your children and your
  childrens children.
• Cursed Marriage Is this why Antigone is here
  now?
• Antigone says yes. Had her parents acted
  differently, she would not be in this situation
  now.
• Chorus says no. This act is of her own choosing.
  She could have avoided this fate.
• What role do the Fates play in this? Can the gods
  curse if something is fated to happen? Is this
  unfair?

Antigone By Antonio Verico
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Curse II

• Is the curse transferred to Creon because of what
  he does?
• As she is led away, Antigone curses Creon. In
  doing so, does she kill her own fiance? Does
  Haimon die if Antigone doesnt curse him?
• Tiresias Gods are unhappy because of what has
  happened, and their curse is upon Creon.
• Hades Angry because he wants the soul of
  Polynieces and because Antigone goes to the
  Underworld alive (buried alive).

Creon and Tiresias From a performance of
Antigone by St. Marys College
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Stoicism

• Refusal to show pain or emotion, and refusal to
  change once a decision is made.
• Valued in the Romans especially, but also with
  the Greeks (youll see this a lot next semester
  in Julius Caesar).
• Both Creon and Antigone are headstrong and stoic
  to the end.
• Creon refuses to change his mind despite wise
  counsel of Ismene (what about your son?), Haimon
  (the town all believes she is innocent), and
  Tiresias (the gods are angry).
• Why?
• Because he would be less of a man if he did
  change his mind. Is this still the mindset of the
  day?

The Sentry and Antigone A Scene from
Antigone Directed by Yiorgos Tzavellas (1961)
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Stoicism II

• Antigone Refuses to back down from what she
  believes to be right, even though wise counsel
  (Ismene, choragos) tells her otherwise
• Note the change in Antigone as she is being led
  away in Section IV. Where has this stoicism gone?
• Why would stoicism be valued in men and cursed in
  women?

Antigone led to the Tomb From a performance of
Antigone by St. Marys College
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Death

• Important in all tragedies
• Death is reported rather than depicted. Why?
• All three suicides, yet Creon is responsible.
  How?
• Is there any honor in Antigones death? Haimons?
  Eurydices?
• Will to live, right to die Creon has neither.
  How would you describe the rest of his existence?

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Moral Ending

• Moral The lesson learned from a text what the
  reader should walk away with
• Moral of Antigone?
• Always follow the laws of the gods and do not be
  so stubborn as to fail to listen to reason.
• Why does Sophocles end with a moral? Is this a
  strong ending? How could it have been stronger?