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Homework Help: English: Books, Novels & Plays: Antigone
by Emily McPherson
Antigone: A Greek classical play
In what way does the character of Antigone change during the play?
Antigone distorts her values and personality, in my view for the better,
as the tragedies of the play uncoil into a meshwork. Her character at
the beginning was a self ruled, self assured, aggressive and very much
unlovable creature. These traits control the drama.
The slipperiness in Antigone's masculine assertion is seen in the
last scene which she contributes to in person- we see her change from
being full of self pity and glory, to a more loving individual. At this
point in the drama, Antingone seems to be loving towards her family and
fiancee, and backing off from her egotistical image of standing firm on
her principles. By seeing a softer side to her personality, compassion
is felt for her and we admire her stature as well as her feminine
beauty.
There is a slide into the female space, as demonstrated spectacularly
by her own death: hanging with its noose signals her submission to the
patriarchal order.
What is the role of the character Teiresias?
Creon, the king of Thebes, is seen in the play to have made a
fundamental mistake which effectively leads to his self destruction. As
things in the play start to become undone, Creon's authority becomes
tyrannical as he looses the concept of what kingship is about.
Totally unable to cope, the police falls apart while Creon grabs powers
and absolute obedience. At this point, he calls upon the fortune teller
Teiresias to 'lead the way...and...keep the city straight on course'.
Teiresias makes the king, Creon, realize that he is in dangerous waters.
He does this by bringing in the dimensions of the gods- reminding him
especially of the laws of Zeus.
Homework Help: English: Books, Novels, and Plays
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