... here himself to make it plain to those that have not heard it, and to enforce it. This is no idle threat; the punishment for disobedience is death by stoning."" Antigone, p. 127 Creon, the king of Athens, declares that Antigone's brother, Polynices, is to be left un-buried after a fight to the death with his other brother, Eteocles, and whoever disobeys will be ... , where as Polynices was attacking it. Creon reeks of sexism during his first speeches. Right away a reader can for tell what will happen, from the opposite personalities of Antigone and Creon. "Therefore, I have to hold law, ...

• Word Count: 961
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . I uncovered a variety of themes that were expressed in both "Antigone" and Greek history and culture. A theme that I felt stood out the most was the theme of striving for perfection. I found that the characters Antigone and Creon were both drawn by the need for perfection in the same vein as the Athenians during the Golden Age of ... it in his heart and mind to create the perfect polis. He proclaimed the law, which forbid the burial of Polynices, the brother of Antigone, for this reason of perfection. Because Polynices died as an enemy of the country, Creon thought it was only right to ...

• Word Count: 704
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the mother. However the plays of that time do not reflect the evidence that we have about the women in classical Athens. The tragedies of Medea, Antigone, Electra, and even Agamemnon, show women are strong and free willed and are capable of doing things on their own. In Euripides" Medea, Medea ... is constantly talking about the conditions that women face in her time. Sophocles Antigone is a very impressive portrayal of a woman in fifth century Athens, and she is able to produce sympathy from the audience, making the audience aware of ... her decision to kill her children. She has extrac...

• Word Count: 1759
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... her fate. Everyone considers her chosen fate too harsh, but Creon carries out his decision and is punished for doing so by the death of his own son and wife. This next play, Antigone does not teach lessons as the others do, but it does show the effect of many people with similar ... her beloved son. The chorus, or the people of Thebes, are somewhat loyal to Oedipus's family, for they were very much against the punishment of Antigone, and I believe that part of their instinct to protect Antigone was the loyal promise that Creon had made to Oedipus, to protect his young girls when he was ...

• Word Count: 2002
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... kalokagathia, and physis were terms that could define these new contributions to Greece. In literary works such as "The Odyssey", "Allegory of the Cave" and "Antigone", and in such forms as "Sculptures", or the Parthenon, we are able to see these how the Greeks developed these new concept words. Odysseus' will ... abalze behind them. When they are finally able to see the sun it becomes a source of purpose for them, as if it is their fate. This relates to the concept of ananke. In the tragedy of "Antigone" the concept of humartia is manifested. Humartia meant an error, an unintentional si...

• Word Count: 664
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... elected him to high military office. Sophocles composed more than 100 plays, of which 7 complete tragedies and fragments of 80 or 90 others are preserved. The seven extant plays are Antigone, Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King), Electra, Ajax, Trachiniae (Maidens of Trachis), Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus (produced posthumously in 401 BC). Also preserved is a large fragment ... 430 to 415 BC. Philoctetes is known to date from 409 BC. All seven extant tragedies are considered outstanding for their powerful, intricate plots and dramatic style, and at least three - Ant...

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... throne. He reformed Athens government so all had a say and repealed many of Draco's harsh laws. Following his reforms, numerous tyrants competed for power. Though possible to become oppressive, most tyrants served the people well and kept peace. Throughout these reigns, citizens enjoyed the theatre. Live ... performances were a large part of Athenian culture andlife. The technologies used in amphitheatres preceded their time. Stages were surrounded by tiered seating for as many as 18,000. Athenians knew the plots to the plays, as they commemorated great events or explained religion. Howe...

• Word Count: 1061
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... were three great tragic playwrights ancient Athens; Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles. Sophocles (496-406 BC) wrote over 100 plays including Antigone, Oedipus Rex, Electra, Ajax, Trachiniae, Philoctetes, and Oedipus of Colonus. Most of the plays deal with tragedy. For example, in Antigone, Antigone disobeys the king's order and buries her brother who was killed in a rebellion. She does this knowing she will be ... killed for going against the king, who is her husband. This play shows family values where blood is thicker than water (Doc. 6, ... and with in drama, tragedies and comedies...

• Word Count: 1333
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• Grade Level: High School

... a small number of girls who were selected to partake1. Even then, nevertheless, only the noble and higher class families were regarded as eligible for participation. The women of Athens can be placed into three common classes. The lowermost class was the slave women, who carried out most of ... Children in Athens were continuously subject to voluminous religious rites and festivals. Juvenile girls and women regularly played a part in these festivals (For some of the women, it was the only communication the women had with each other outside of their general surroundings), however, the most...

• Word Count: 2025
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography

... an actor who conversed with the leader of the chorus, and by his reports of events occurring off the stage could provide the chorus with materials for fresh songs in new scenes. Through the addition of a second actor (by Aeschylus) and a third (by Sophocles), the representation was made possible ... When he discovers what he has done, he blinds himself in a paroxysm of horror and remorse. Every tragic situation results in severest suffering for the protagonist. In most cases the protagonist's suffering is so severe that he is destroyed by it, and very often the protagonist's entire .....

• Word Count: 1396
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... legislation was introduced to try and curb ostentatious behavior by women at funerals. Proper mourning and burial were extremely important to the ancient Greeks. In the play, Antigone, by the tragedarian dramatist Sophocles, Antigone was willing to sacrifice her reputation and life to properly bury her brother against the wishes of the king. Divorce was relatively unknown in the early years of ... of the importance of Demeter. She was the mother of Persephone, who was seized by Hades, the god of the underworld, and made his wife. Demeter finally won release for her daughter for half of ...

• Word Count: 7196
• Approx Pages: 29
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Odysseus' slaughter of the entire younger generation of the Ithacan aristocracy. Sophocles' Ajax sees nothing wrong in his attempt to kill the commanders of the army for denying him the armor of Achilles; his shame springs simply from his failure to achieve his bloody objection. But Medea is a woman, a wife and ... to Athens. Medea's success contrasts her completely from other Greek heroes. Ajax triumphs but he is dead; Oedipus wins, but he is blind; Antigone achieves victory after she hanged herself. Medea is quite sure, however, that the gods are on her side. From her first appearanc...

• Word Count: 1681
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... , the Greeks left influential footprints on western culture. They were the first ancient civilization that truly displayed humanistic qualities such as respect for knowledge, indulgence in the arts and the desire to better themselves instead of falling to their knees before deranged monarchs and mythical " ... the furies and how they punished man for wrongdoings. This shows that he believed that chaos would be punished because order (and law) is the ideal state. Sophocles is best known for his pornographic and incest-filled plays of Oedipus and Antigone. Those plays dealt with family and ...

• Word Count: 1064
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... reign and increased the popularity of drama and philosophy. Through the help of the people, Athens also became a beautiful city-state; well known for its buildings, temples, statues, and a government system that still continues to influence nations today. Many of the key features of Pericles" era ... today's version of the Grecian council, while the citizens in the U.S. have the ability to discuss legislation, and to a limited degree, vote for or against it. In Athens, there were citizens who represented every Athenian tribe, just as we have governors, Senators, and Congressmen to repres...

• Word Count: 1370
• Approx Pages: 5