Once Upon a Greek Stage: Summary
King Oedipus has died in exile, leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices. The king had decreed that his two sons are supposed to take turns as rulers; they agree, initially. After Eteocles refuses to step down after one year, the two brothers fight over the prize. Polynices attacks Thebes, leading to civil war, and in the end both brothers are dead, each by the other’s hand. Creon, their uncle, assumes the role of king. He gives a state funeral to Eteocles but orders that the body of Polynices be left to rot in the sun as an example to his supporters.
King Oedipus has died in exile, leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices. The king had decreed that his two sons are supposed to take turns as rulers; they agree, initially. After Eteocles refuses to step down after one year, the two brothers fight over the prize. Polynices attacks Thebes, leading to civil war, and in the end both brothers are dead, each by the other’s hand. Creon, their uncle, assumes the role of king. He gives a state funeral to Eteocles but orders that the body of Polynices be left to rot in the sun as an example to his supporters.
Antigone, Oedipus’s daughter, meets her sister Ismene at the
gates to Creon’s palace in Thebes. Antigone feels duty bound to bury her
brother Polynices despite Creon’s edict and asks her sister for help. Ismene
refuses, arguing that as women they should not go against the decisions of men,
especially those of the king.
The Chorus is summoned to the palace. Creon informs the Chorus that he claims the throne and that Polynices is to be left unburied. However, Antigone has stealthily sprinkled Polynices’ body with a layer of dirt, giving her brother a symbolic burial. A guard runs to Creon and reports the attempted burial. Creon is furious and accuses the guard of being involved. One of the elders says it is the work of a god, but Creon disagrees. He threatens to torture and kill the guard unless he captures the real perpetrator. The Chorus sings about the wonder of humanity, but for the city to be safe, humanity should both honor civil law and revere the gods.
The Chorus is summoned to the palace. Creon informs the Chorus that he claims the throne and that Polynices is to be left unburied. However, Antigone has stealthily sprinkled Polynices’ body with a layer of dirt, giving her brother a symbolic burial. A guard runs to Creon and reports the attempted burial. Creon is furious and accuses the guard of being involved. One of the elders says it is the work of a god, but Creon disagrees. He threatens to torture and kill the guard unless he captures the real perpetrator. The Chorus sings about the wonder of humanity, but for the city to be safe, humanity should both honor civil law and revere the gods.
The guards brush the dirt off Polynices’ body and then hide,
looking to ambush whoever tries to rebury him. Antigone soon arrives and tries
to bury Polynices again, but is caught by the guards. She is brought before
Creon, where she readily confesses. They argue over her actions and his decree.
Creon tries to reason with Antigone, urging her to renounce her crime and
assuring her of total indemnity so that she can go on to marry Haemon as
planned and, presumably, to lead a happy life. Antigone, however, will have
none of Creon’s proffered happiness, preferring to die rather than to take part
in her uncle’s political scheme. Creon decrees that she must die. Ismene is
brought in and questioned. She demands that she share the guilt. Antigone
argues with her.
Creon’s son Haemon argues with his father, trying to
convince him to relent. Creon remains stubborn and Haemon threatens to die with
Antigone. Creon decrees Antigone to be entombed alive. Antigone mourns her fate
and the curse on her family. The Chorus is divided in loyalty between Antigone
and Creon. Antigone defends her actions and asks the gods to punish Creon. The
Chorus reminds the audience of others who suffered because they tried to
subvert the gods’ will.
The blind prophet Tiresias tells Creon that he has angered
the gods and that Creon is to blame for the people’s prayers going unanswered.
A sickness plagues Thebes, and neighboring cities bear Thebes ill will. Creon
accuses the prophet of being paid to upset him. Tiresias calls Creon a tyrant
and warns him that he will lose his son. This troubles Creon, and he asks the
Chorus for council. They advise him to yield and release Antigone. Creon agrees
and leaves. The Chorus then asks Dionysus to help Thebes.
A messenger arrives and relates to the Chorus what happened
at the tomb. The messenger says that Creon and his men went to bury Polynices
and to release Antigone, only to discover that she had killed herself. Haemon,
weeping over her body, then kills himself before their eyes. Eurydice overhears
the messenger. Creon arrives and openly accepts responsibility for the deaths
of Antigone and Haemon. A second messenger arrives and tells him that his wife,
too, has committed suicide. Creon prays for death. The Chorus delivers one of
the moral lessons of the tragedy: Obedience to the laws of the gods comes
first.
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