#The blind prophet of thebes was full
#The blind prophet of thebes was free

Given this background, it is striking that the play contains absolutely no political propaganda or contemporary allusions or references to Athens, and indeed betrays no patriotic interests whatsoever.Īll the scenes take place in front of the royal palace at Thebes (conforming to the traditional dramatic principle of unity of place) and the events unfold in little more than twenty-four hours. It was a time of great national fervor, and Sophocleshimself was appointed as one of the ten generals to lead a military expedition against Samos Island shortly after the play’s release.

The Chorus closes the play with an attempt at consolation, by saying that although the gods punish the proud, punishment also brings wisdom.Īlthough set in the city-state of Thebes about a generation before the Trojan War (many centuries before Sophocles’ time), the play was actually written in Athens during the rule of Pericles.

The order and rule of law he values so much has been protected, but he has acted against the gods and has lost his child and his wife as a result. A second messenger then brings the news that Eurydice has also killed herself and, with her last breath, had cursed her husband and his intransigence.Ĭreon now blames himself for everything that has happened and he staggers away, a broken man. Creon himself begins to understand that his own actions have caused these events. Creon’s wife, Eurydice, is distraught with grief over the loss of her son, and flees the scene. Creon, shaken now by the prophet’s warnings and by the implications of his own actions, is contrite and looks to right his previous mistakes.īut, a messenger then enters to report that, in their desperation, both Haemon and Antigone have taken their own lives.

However, the terrified Chorus beg Creon to reconsider, and eventually he consents to follow their advice and to free Antigone and to bury Polynices. Tiresias warns that all of Greece will despise him, and that the sacrificial offerings of Thebes will not be accepted by the gods, but Creon merely dismisses him as a corrupt old fool. The blind prophet Tiresias warns Creon that the gods side with Antigone, and that Creon will lose a child for his crimes of leaving Polynices unburied and for punishing Antigone so harshly. She is brought out of the house, bewailing her fate but still vigorously defending her actions, and is taken away to her living tomb, to expressions of great sorrow by the Chorus. The two men are soon bitterly insulting each other and eventually Haemon storms out, vowing never to see Creon again.Ĭreon decides to spare Ismene but rules that Antigone should be buried alive in a cave as punishment for her transgressions.

Despite her innocence, Ismene is also summoned and interrogated and tries to confess falsely to the crime, wishing to die alongside her sister, but Antigone insists on shouldering full responsibility.Ĭreon‘s son, Haemon, who is betrothed to Antigone, pledges allegiance to his father’s will but then gently tries to persuade his father to spare Antigone. Creon, with the support of the Chorus of elders, repeats his edict regarding the disposal of Polynices‘ body, but a fearful sentry enters to report that Antigone has in fact buried her brother’s body.Ĭreon, furious at this wilful disobedience, questions Antigone over her actions, but she does not deny what she has done and argues unflinchingly with Creon about the morality of his edict and the morality of her deeds. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, has declared that Eteocles is to be honoured and Polynices is to be disgraced by leaving his body unburied on the battlefield (a harsh and shameful punishment at the time).Īs the play begins, Antigone vows to bury her brother Polynices‘ body in defiance of Creon‘s edict, although her sister Ismene refuses to help her, fearing the death penalty. 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.

GUARD, set to watch the corpse of Polynices

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire (Catullus 8)ĭramatis Personae – Characters ANTIGONE, daughter of Oedipus.

Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus (Catullus 5).

Passer, deliciae meae puellae (Catullus 2).

#The blind prophet of thebes was free

#The blind prophet of thebes was full